Meryl's POV
Standing outside the hospital room, I froze when Gavin's soft voice drifted through the partially opened door. My hand hesitated on the handle as his words reached me, each one like a knife twisting in my chest.
"Mommy gets sad when I talk about Daddy," he was explaining to someone inside. "She told me it makes her heart hurt because she misses him too much. She said he's away with the soldiers, but when he comes back, we'll do fun things together. Maybe go see the animals at the zoo. Or play in the sand at the beach."
My eyes squeezed shut, fighting back the wave of guilt that crashed over me.
Dear God, what have I done?
Taking a shaky breath, I finally pushed the door open. Three sets of eyes instantly locked onto mine.
Dad's face remained stone-cold, but his gaze spoke volumes. The message was crystal clear - we needed to have a serious conversation, and soon. My stepmother wore the same expression, outwardly composed but clearly brimming with unspoken questions.
