Page 119 of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House

He blew out a long sigh, resting his hands on the counter in front of him. ‘What do you want me to say, Iris? Why are you here? Why haven’t you responded to my texts? Where the hell have you been? Why did you leave?’

She winced a little and it broke his heart all over again.

‘I’m pregnant.’

Archer’s thoughts stopped, his words stopped, the actual rotation of the earth stopped.

‘You’re—’

‘I’m pregnant, and I’m sorry and I kind of freaked out, but I thought about it and I want to keep it—and it’s yours by the way, of course it’s yours—and I wanted to tell you, but I know you already have Olive, and I know I hurt you both and I’m so sorry but I was scared and I?—’

He was in front of her, holding her face in his hands before she could finish, before she could say any more. He dropped his forehead to hers.

‘You’re having my baby?’

A tear slid down her cheek.

‘Yes.’

‘Iris…’ Her name was cracked and raw, torn from his throat.

‘You don’t have to be involved if you don’t want to, I just … I wanted you to know.’

‘Jesus, Iris. Of course I want to be involved.’

‘You do?’

‘Yes.’ More than anything. He wanted this, Iris, a family, hisbaby. More than anything.

‘Do you still love me?’ she asked.

He huffed a disbelieving sigh. How could he have stopped loving her? ‘God, yes.’

He could feel her smile more than he could see it, the way her cheeks lifted beneath his palms. ‘Do you still love me?’ he asked.

Her hands were on his arms now, squeezing, holding him in place. ‘Yes. I love you and I’m so sorry for leaving.’

‘It’s okay.’

‘It’s not. But I promise not to do it again.’

‘Good.’

He pulled back, letting his hands slide from her face down the sides of her body, over the small swell of her belly.

‘You’re having my baby,’ he said again to make sure it was real.

‘Well, it’sourbaby,’ she corrected with a grin, putting her hand over the top of his.

‘Ourbaby.’

‘So, you’re not freaked out?’ she asked, her gaze searching his face.

‘Of course I am. I barely have a grasp on a five-year-old. A newborn is going to be a shitshow.’ His life was about to turn upside down again but this time he wouldn’t fight it. This time he wanted it, however crazy it was. He wanted it with Iris.

Iris laughed, tears still filling her eyes.

‘But I’m happy,’ he said. ‘And I’m so fucking happy you’re back.’