Claire stared down at the money in her hand, the reality of the last thirty seconds settling over her with a slow, cold clarity that made her stomach twist. Behind her, the hospital's automatic doors slid shut, sealing away the warmth and careful attention of the maternity ward, leaving her exposed now on the open sidewalk with nothing but a hospital gown, a diaper bag, and a two-day-old infant.
"You want me to take the bus?" she said, her voice cracking as the absurdity of the situation fully registered. "Marcus, I just had a baby two days ago. Your baby."
Marcus didn't turn back fully, his hand already on the SUV's door handle, his expression carrying an impatience that suggested he'd already mentally filed this conversation as concluded. "I've got a flight to catch," he said. "This isn't — Claire, I told you from the beginning I wasn't looking for this kind of commitment."
"You didn't tell me that when I was in labor for fourteen hours," she said, her voice rising now despite the tears gathering hot and fast in her eyes. "You didn't tell me that when you signed the birth certificate yesterday."
He didn't respond. He simply pulled the car door open, sliding into the driver's seat with the same brisk efficiency he'd shown handing her the cash, and the heavy thud of the door slamming shut landed in Claire's chest like a physical blow.