Page 82

“I haven’t had my period since I’ve been back,” I breathe out. “God, I didn’t even notice with everything going on.”
Laurie takes the phone away from my shaking hands. “We should take a test to confirm. Here, go sit in my car, and I’ll settle the bill and meet you outside.”
She hands her keys over to me.
I use the restroom at the drugstore to take the test, and moments later, Laurie and I are back in the parked car, hunched over a small stick that holds the answer to something that could change my life forever.
We stare at the stick as though it’ll make the results come any faster, “Maybe it’s just stress, right? It can be. Right?”
“Right.”
A gasp escapes my lips. There it is. Two red lines.
I look up at Laurie, horrified.
“Do you… I mean… is the father… Enzo?”
“Of course. There hasn’t been anyone else.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to understand.” She grabs my hand.
“What am I going to do, Laurie?”
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, life throws me yet another curveball.
“I think you should tell him, at least. You’re not working anymore, either. How are you going to handle being pregnant all on your own?”
I hesitate and lean back in the car seat. “I think you should drive me back home. I need to lie down.”
Laurie doesn’t argue. Our plans for the night are effectively soiled.
Back at the house, the first thing I do is step into a hot, long shower. The stream of water does a good job at clearing my head and easing the cramps.
Pregnant. With a man who doesn’t want me in his life.
Liam and I had only skirted around the topic of having children. It wasn’t that I didn’t want them—I did, and always had—but the moment never felt right with him. When I got divorced, I had never thought I would have to deal with being a single mother.
Yet, that’s exactly what my future is looking like now because getting rid of the baby is out of the question.
Steam filled up in the bathroom as I stepped out of my shower. I take a towel to clean one of the mirrors and examine my naked body.
It looks the same. The baby is nothing but a little pea at the moment. Still, there’s a rush of overwhelming motherly instincts, and I wrap my hands around my belly.
“I love you, sweet pea.” Tears prick in my eyes. “I also love your daddy. I miss him.”
I haven’t told him yet. I can’t.
He made himself clear about where he stood. If he didn’t want me in his life before, he might think I’m using the baby to get closer to him or take advantage of him.
I would never do that.
And I don’t want him to see me as a charity case who can’t raise a child on her own.
Tears begin to fall freely now. We’re going to have to go on this journey alone.
Just me and you, sweet pea.
26