Page 85 of Shattered Hope

Jayden jumped up. “I’ll take her to bed,” he offered, picking me in his arms and carrying me to his bedroom. I hadn't slept in mine ever since we made love.

And it was when it struck me. I hadn't told him about the baby.

He placed me in bed as carefully as possible and kissed my forehead.

“Get some rest. I’ll call Phoebe and make sure things are going as expected,” he said as he straightened, but I pulled him back.

“Wait… there’s something I haven’t told you,” I said in a shaky tone.

He frowned. “Is it important?”

“I think so…”

He nodded. “Go ahead.”

“Remember our first night?”

“How could I forget it?”

“All of it?” I insisted, trying to find the words to explain it to him, unsure of his reaction.

“Please, get to the point.”

“I forgot to go to the pharmacy the following morning,” I stuttered. “Your mother came by, and it slipped my mind.”

He sat in bed next to me. “What exactly are you trying to tell me?” he asked, but I couldn’t read his mood from his words, and it scared me a bit.

I took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant. The doctors found out when I was taken to the ER, but they assumed I had miscarried with everything that happened…”

“But you didn’t,” he concluded.

“No… against all the odds. The embryo was so small, it wasn’t affected by the beating. They confirmed it a couple of days ago, and I have been trying to find the way to tell you about it,” I confessed.

“You were afraid.”

“I was…” I admitted. “Afraid you would blame me… you had been so distant, and I was so confused…”

“You’re still afraid, aren’t you?”

I let out a bitter laughter. “Dark baggage, remember? We never discussed these things, and I have no way of knowing how you feel about the whole idea.”

He pulled me into his arms. “I would have preferred some time with just you, to pamper you and make you the happiest woman in the world…,” he confessed. “It also scares the hell of me. Being a father was never in my plans… not with my family background.”

My heart ached, and I trembled. “You don’t want it,” I said, struggling to silence my sobs.

He forced me to look him in the eyes. “I never said that,” he pointed out. “I never considered the possibility, but I would never abandon my child. You probably think you’re not ready for this, but I’m sure we can pull it together.”

“I’m not ready… but I still want it.”

He kissed me. “Problem solved. We’re having a baby,” this time, joy and excitement laced his words, and I sobbed, happier than I ever thought possible.

“We’re having a baby,” I repeated.

“We have to get married. Soon, so you don’t have to worry about the pictures being anything but perfect,” he continued, still excited.

“I’m covered in bruises…” I pointed out, amused.

“Right… well, as soon as they fade away. Does it work for you?”