“She shouldn’t have made you hold the baby,” Dev said in a low rasp as he gripped Tina’s hand harder.
“It’s all right.” Tina’s voice was soft as she returned to their table. “She wanted to share her happiness.”
Dev shook his head. He couldn’t forgive the other woman’s thoughtlessness. “Her daughter was due the same time as our son. Shanti knew this. She knew about the miscarriage.”
Tina didn’t look at him. “Maybe she thought we were over it.”
The words were like a punch in the chest. “Over it?” he said in a harsh whisper.
“Look at how our family acts about the miscarriage,” Tina pointed out as she sat back down in her chair. “My sisters never offered their condolences or visited me in the hospital. Your parents don’t speak about our son. It’s as if he has been forgotten.”
“I don’t want to forget our son.” Their son had never gotten a chance to be born but Dev would always love him.
“I’m not going to forget, either.” Tina’s hands fluttered against her eyes as she brushed away a wayward tear. “I want to honor him in some way.”
“We will,” Dev said hoarsely.
She gave a sharp nod and took a deep breath. Dev knew the signs. Tina didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He was tempted to keep talking, consider ways they could honor their son, but he knew he wasn’t feeling strong enough for the both of them.
“Until then,” she said briskly, “I need to find some work.”
Dev rubbed his hands over his face. He wanted to tell her that she didn’t have to work, and that she didn’t have to take the first role that was offered. But he knew whatever he said would be taken the wrong way.
Now he understood why Tina was driven to work. It wasn’t ambition; it was duty. She had taken whatever was offered and made the best out of it. And she would accept any role, any assignment, despite the fact that she wasn’t healthy enough to work. He had to keep that from happening since she wouldn’t take care of herself.
“You should take your time and consider your options,” he told Tina. “The pressure can be intense. I know what it’s like. I’m the only child and have to continue the Arjun dynasty. There was a great deal of pressure from my parents to perform to their expectations. If I had failed...” He shuddered at the thought of it.
“But you didn’t,” Tina argued. “You exceed expectations every time. Your parents have almost always been proud of you.”
Almost. He caught the word. His parents had not been happy with his choice of wife and they didn’t hide their opinion. No matter what she did or how she behaved, they disapproved of Tina.
“I’m surprised they weren’t at your party,” she muttered.
“You really don’t know, do you?” he said in a whisper.
Tina stiffened and turned sharply to meet his gaze. “Know what?”
He wasn’t sure if he should tell her. He may have decided he wasn’t going to treat her like a fading flower, but he wasn’t sure how Tina was going to handle the news. “My father died.”
Tina’s lips parted in shock. “How? When?”