Torn (32 page)

Her DirecTalk beeped loudly, interrupting her blissful haze. At first she worried it might be Mercer—they were in the process of rebuilding their friendship, after he'd professed his love for her, post-Olympiads. Davis had always known he didn't
really
love her—not her essence, just what she represented for him. But she was glad he was in the process of finding himself, that he'd stopped trying to hide from what he was. Still, things had been tentative between them.

She picked up the new, heart pendant Cole had given her—purchased with part of his Olympiads winnings—after she had abandoned the chain that reminded her of her birth mother.

A message from Tom Worsley—not Mercer—was projected into the air. “
Hospital,
” it read. “
Come quick. Rm 314.
”

Cole was already waiting for her when she arrived at the hospital ten minutes later. Davis dashed inside, barely able to form sentences due to her excitement and the fact that she'd sprinted over as fast as she could. He smiled broadly and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

“Did you come right from work?” she asked, indicating his brown contractor's uniform.

“Nope, I've just taken to wearing this thing around,” he said, rolling his eyes at the baggy tunic and matching pants. “Yeah, of course I came from work. Had to negotiate an early lunch, no big. You know I wouldn't miss this for the world.”

“I wish you
would
just wear it around,” she teased. “You look pretty cute.” She pulled him in for another, longer kiss on the lips. She'd meant it. Cole was healthy and rugged looking, now that he spent his days in the sun working on building up the Slants. He wrapped a muscular arm around her waist and pulled her against him. She leaned there for a second, listening to his heartbeat where her head pressed against his broad chest. He smelled like sweat and linen and something else all his own. She loved his smell. She loved that it had become familiar to her.

She pulled back, realizing there was something else that was different about him. Then it hit her: the worry that had once darkened his features was gone. He smiled at her, and it occurred to her that he smiled so much more now, and he and Davis had taken to teasing each other and laughing a lot. What had once been a relationship built against the odds now felt easy. She'd never been so happy, and she thought he could probably say the same.

Hand in hand, they ran toward room 314, in the Delivery wing.

“How is she?” Vera's health had been on the upswing since Thomas had perfected the vaccine. Still, he'd warned them that because of the physical toll the disease had already taken on her body, the birth would be high-risk. The thought of her friend in labor had put Davis's nerves into high gear. Plus, she was two weeks early. Thomas stood outside the room, looking grim, and her heart sank. Then he broke into a smile.

“Both mama and baby are perfectly healthy,” Worsley informed them. “We've got a little girl on our hands. Our little miracle baby.”

Davis brought a hand to her mouth, and Cole wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Can we see her?” he asked.

“She's awake now,” Worsley said. “She's been asking for you two. Go on in.”

Vera looked tired, but her smile glowed as she looked up from the little bundle in her arms to greet Cole and Davis.

“You came!” she said. “I'm so glad.”

“Of course we would,” Davis told her, rushing to her side. She gave Vera a kiss on her forehead and clasped her hand, gasping as she stared down at the baby's lovely face.

“Vera. She's incredible,” she said, meaning it with all her heart.

“Isn't she beautiful?” Vera asked. “Davis, I would love her no matter what. But it makes me so happy to know that none of her peers will be…” She trailed off, catching Cole's eye.

“They won't feel superior,” Cole finished. “They'll all be the same.”

“Not the same,” Vera corrected. “Just not perfect. Your dad made the right decision, banning in utero treatments. Hope is going to grow up in a world free of all this awful pressure and prejudice.”

“Hope,” Davis repeated. “I like that.”

“It's fitting,” Cole agreed. “She's a special little baby.”

“Would you like to hold her?”

Cole nodded, and Vera placed Hope in his arms. Davis watched as he cradled the infant, his face full of emotion.

“Cole,” Vera said suddenly. “How's the girl you're friends with? The one who was with you that day when you found me at the abandoned house?”

“Mari's doing well,” Cole told her, staring down at Hope's upturned face. “So's her father. Davis's dad helped them relocate to a safe commune.”

“It's fully integrated among Neithers, Gens, and Priors,” Davis added. “We've visited them there—they seem happy.” She smiled and leaned into Cole, bringing a finger to the baby's cheek. Hope's skin was soft and new. She was beautiful.

“That's wonderful,” Vera said, leaning back against her pillow. “I'm so happy to hear it.”

Davis was just happy. She'd never imagined she'd be able to stand freely in a room in Columbus with Cole and Vera like this. She leaned over and squeezed Vera's hand. Cole caught her eye and smiled, pulling her close.

“Little Hope,” he whispered to the baby, just loud enough for Davis to hear. “You'll heal us all.”

He was right, Davis realized, her heart filling at the sight of her best friend and the little baby that had brought them back together. Hope was a harbinger for a new kind of Columbus, a city centered on peace. She wrapped her arms around Cole, staring at the baby's bright blue eyes and tiny, shell-shaped lips.

Hope
was
perfect.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank the entire team at St. Martin's Press—in particular Jen Weis and Sylvan Creekmore (tireless, dedicated, and all-around wonderful)—for their efforts at making this book special both in content and design. As always, I owe a big thanks to Lexa Hillyer, Laura Schechter, Angela Velez, Tara Sonin, and the talented Alexa Wejko of Paper Lantern Lit. I am tremendously grateful for your perpetual support.