“Elissa!” Ernest hurried after her.

Bent over the toilet, Elissa was wracked with uncontrollable retching.

Without hesitation, Ernest knelt beside her and gently gathered her hair, holding it away from her face. The only thing she had managed to eat that night—a bowl of soup—was gone now.

When the sickness passed, she pushed herself up and rinsed out her mouth at the sink.

“Here.” A towel appeared in front of her, offered by Ernest, who watched her with clear worry. “Let me have something made for you. What do you feel like eating?”

A slight shake of her head was all Elissa gave. “I don’t want anything.”

Confusion creased Ernest’s brow. He tried to recall how her appetite had been steady, even with the usual waves of morning sickness. Meals had never been a struggle before. Her grief for Addy seemed to have taken away even that small comfort.

“Maybe just a glass of milk?” he suggested, searching for any option. “You shouldn’t go hungry. The baby needs you to eat something.”

Uncertainty flickered across her face. After a pause, she gave in with a faint nod.

“I’ll bring it,” said Ernest, hurrying off.

He soon came back, warm milk in hand, and offered it gently. “Take your time with this. It’s better when it’s warm.”

Lifting the glass, Elissa barely managed a sip before the scent turned her stomach. Her head dropped lower, and she forced down a swallow.

A gag rose up, and she shoved the glass into his hands, bolting for the bathroom as her body lurched with dry heaves.

“Is something the matter?” Perplexed, Ernest hurried after her. “What’s wrong with the milk?”

Shaking her head harder, Elissa pleaded, “Just get it away. I can’t stand it. The smell is too much.”

“Okay, I’ll take it,” Ernest agreed quickly, removing the glass. When he returned, she looked pale and utterly spent.

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Worry clouded his expression. “Is there anything at all that sounds good to you? Anything you want?”

“No! Just leave me alone!” Elissa’s frustration boiled over, her words snapping out. “I don’t want anything, so stop pushing!”

Elissa flopped onto the mattress, yanking the blanket over herself. “I’m worn out. I need to just lie here for a while.”

“That’s fine.” Ernest decided not to press her anymore. He carefully tucked the blanket around her shoulders. “Get some sleep. I’ll be right here. Let me know if you need anything.”

Without another word, Elissa let her eyes close.

She could hear him quietly moving about the room—first over by the closet, and then into the bathroom.

After a few moments, he made his way back. The bed shifted as he settled in beside her. She listened to his calm, even breathing just inches away.

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