chapter 1 - drifted

"someone to hold his finger when I leave his hand"

Hardin and Tessa learn the truth about Tessa's health, when they thought things couldn't get worse in their ruined marriage.
That news brings them closer than before but also drifts them further apart.

She wants an offspring and experience parenthood with him, while he wants her to spend as much time with him before the time comes when she'll be forced to leave his hand forever.

But she wins.