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“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. Just sleep on it.”
There was no way he would be able to sleep after hearing this news. “I can’t believe this is happening,” he whispered.
“I know it’s not what you were expecting to hear.”
Her voice held such sadness, and it broke his heart. And before he knew what he was doing, he’d pulled her into his arms.
She stood there stiffly at first, arms hanging at her sides, until she eventually softened and wrapped her arms around his back, letting him hold her.
“I’m sorry, Duncan.” Her voice caught on his name.
“Don’t apologize. I was there too.”
“I remember.” Her breath tickled his neck and sent the best kind of chills up his spine.
He remembered too. Every detail. Every moment. He would never be able to get her out of his head. And now they would have a little reminder of that night for the rest of their lives.
The fire was almost completely out. Most of the family were long gone. Jamie had gone home. But Duncan sat staring into the dying embers, Jamie’s words playing on a loop in his mind, reeling with the news that he was going to be a dad. A dad? He could barely wrap his mind around it. He thought about his father and his grandfathers. All family men, who married the women they loved and made good Christian homes. They had settled down with the right girl, provided for their families, and never made the kind of mistakes Duncan had made.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his palms. He wasn’t ready for this. And what would it look like for him? Married to Dréa and living where? In Denver? While Jamie and his baby lived in Michigan? How would that even work? He didn’t want to be that far away during the first years of the baby’s life. Dréa would surely understand that, right?
His mind returned to their past conversations. Dréa was so set on staying in Denver, working her DJ job. She would never agree to move. But maybe he wouldn’t have to worry about that. She might not want to marry him once she learned about the pregnancy. Maybe this would be too much for her to forgive. He wouldn’t know until he talked to her, but he couldn’t do that tonight. He couldn’t wake her, even though he was dying to get this off his chest.
He pictured Jamie’s face on the dock earlier when she’d told him. He wished he’d been a little more supportive and asked some questions. How long had she known? That day she came to the house and met Dréa? Had she told Shannon? Was that why she came there tonight? To tell them both?
A hand on his shoulder startled him.
“Can I sit?” Shannon asked.
He nodded.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really.” His throat tightened as tears threatened to fall. “Do you know?”
“Yes, I know. And it’s going to be all right, D.”
As soon as his sister wrapped her arm around his back and pulled him into her side, the tears spilled down his cheeks. He couldn’t hold it in any longer. A mixture of fear, confusion, and worry churned inside him. He’d never felt such an intense ache within his heart. Sobs ripped through him as he let it all out.
Shannon sat with him and let him cry until he couldn’t cry anymore.
He moved his arm up, resting it around her shoulders, and leaned his head against the side of hers. “Why did this have to happen?” he murmured. “I just found Dréa. We have this perfect plan.”
“You’ll make a new plan.”
“What if she doesn’t want me now?”
“Then it wasn’t meant to be.”
“I did this,” he said with sadness in his voice. “I ruined everything.”
“You don’t know that. Don’t think the worst. I truly believe there is a reason for all of this, and we’re going to see God work in this situation in big ways. Trust me.”
“I did something I shouldn’t have, and now I’m dealing with the consequences of that choice. I’m being punished, and it serves me right.”
“This child is not a punishment.” She got choked up, and he knew it was because of her PCOS.
“I’m sorry, Shan. I didn’t mean …”