When he finally lifted his head, his voice was ragged. "Ruby… I'm so sorry but there's no baby. Our baby's gone."
Her face went still, her breath catching. "No..."
"The smoke, the stress—" Stefan's voice broke. "There was nothing they could do. Noreen… she tried, but…" He shook his head, sobs tearing through him. "There was no heartbeat."
Ruby's lips parted, her gaze unfocused as though his words were too heavy to understand. Then, like the ground giving way beneath her, the meaning struck. He baby was no more.
A strangled cry left her throat. Her hand tore away from his to clutch her stomach, her eyes filling with devastation. "No. No, Stefan, no—"
He caught her before she could thrash against the tubes and wires, wrapping his arms around her as gently as he could, pressing her against his chest. His own tears poured freely, his heart shattering all over again at her grief.
