A few months later, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
The delivery went much more smoothly than I had expected.
The nurse brought the baby, all cleaned up, to my side.
"Mrs. Moore, congratulations. It's a beautiful baby boy," she said.
I looked weakly at the tiny, rosy little life, my eyes welling up slightly.
The delivery room door was pushed open. Charles strode in and rushed straight to my bedside.
This man, who never lost his composure under pressure, now had red‑rimmed eyes.
He didn't go to the baby first. Instead, he tightly grasped my hand and lowered his head to kiss my forehead.
"Clara, you were amazing," he said, his voice trembling violently, thick with lingering fear and heartache. "Thank you. Thank God you're safe."
I held his hand in return and gently wiped away th
