In her life, she was used to pain. Used to hardship and self-preservation. But nothing had prepared her for the role she'd been delivered.

John was collapsed in the chair next to her bed. She'd put him though a miniature version of hell for 30 hours. She'd said things that made her marine husband blush and he'd taken it all in stride.

It had been well worth it to see his smile as the doctor put their son in his arms. The minute the baby's fingers curled around John's forefinger, she knew.

He was going to be a wonderful father.