Bruce's POV

Three weeks without Beverly felt like dying by inches. I saw her only during Emma's handoffs that lasted five minutes and involved nothing beyond polite exchanges about feeding schedules and diaper supplies.

She looked different every time, lighter somehow. The dark circles under her eyes had faded and she smiled more easily and moved through the world without the burden I had watched accumulate for months.

I refused to beg her to come home. If Beverly needed space then I would ...