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“It’s what I’m here for. You have a safe flight.”

Blake hung up the phone and leaned his head back against the chain-link fence, the sun warming his face.

Finally climbing to his feet, he stopped off at Sparks’s office and stepped inside. Sparks looked up from the papers on his desk and sat back in his chair expectantly.

“I’ve decided to take you up on your offer of a couple of days of leave. I’m going to book the first flight I can get to Texas.”

Sparks nodded approvingly. “I think that’s the right thing to do.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you do.” Blake thumped his fist against the doorframe, pausing with his back to his friend. “And thanks for always looking out for me, even when I didn’t want you to.”

“It’s what brothers do.”

Blake swung by the study hall and apologized to his guys, promising to make it up to them, and as he walked out to his car, he realized he did that a lot to the people who cared about him. He hurt their feelings and promised to make it up to them. He’d always been that way.

Maybe it really was time for him to change.

He got in his car, and putting aside his pride, he called Hannah. He wasn’t surprised when it went to voicemail, and he waited for the beep.

“Hey, Han, it’s me. I got your note. I just wanted to let you know I’m going out of town, but if you want to call, I’ll have my phone on me.” He paused briefly and went for broke. “I’m going to miss you, baby.”

He hung up with that and slowly inhaled.

Then drove home to pack.

HANNAH LISTENED TO Blake’s message for what felt like the hundredth time while waiting for her OB-GYN to come into the room. She still hadn’t told anyone but Nicki and Dani, mostly because she was confused about what to do. And Blake’s message had really messed with her head. She’d told him she just needed a break, but his I’m going to miss you, baby had made her think this might actually be permanent. That Blake would hate to lose her, but he’d get over it.

But how was she going to get over him?

There was a knock on her door, and in walked Dr. Grant, smiling widely. The heavyset older woman was in her late forties, with silver-streaked black hair. Her nurse stood behind her, pulling an ultrasound machine.

“Well, Hannah, that’s an affirmative on being pregnant, but I thought we’d do an ultrasound, and then I’ll be able to tell you how far along you are. Sound good?”

“Sure.”

“Can you lift your shirt up, exposing your abdomen, and lower your pants?” Hannah pushed down her leggings and lifted her shirt, jumping a little when the nurse sprayed warm goo on her stomach.

“No daddy?” Dr. Grant asked.

“No, he’s out of town.” Not that it was any of her business.

“Okay, well let’s see what we got. Here is your uterus.” Dr. Grant pointed to the screen. “And that little peanut in there is your baby. I’d guess you’re about seven weeks, but we’ll take some measurements.”

Hannah stared at the screen, her heart stuttering at the blip. It was real.

“Are you taking prenatals yet?”

“No, not yet.”

“You can pick them up in any pharmacy section over the counter, and make sure you take them. I’d avoid foods with too much salt and sugar. If you’re nauseous, there are suckers and tea that can help with that. We’ll get you some pamphlets. Now, it says here that when you made the appointment, you wanted to discuss your options?”

The nurse handed her a printed ultrasound picture, and Hannah smiled. “No, that’s okay. I think I have all the information I need.”

“Great, here, let’s clean up the goo, and we’ll see you back in four weeks. You can make the appointment at the checkout desk.” Dr. Grant touched her knee with a sparkling smile. “Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

When they left the room, Hannah almost dialed Blake’s number but chickened out. Instead, she listened to his voicemail again, her eyes closed, letting his voice drift over her.