“What’s going on?” he pressed.
“You’ll see.”
They called me back and had me undress.
“Do you want me to leave?” he asked.
“Seriously? You’ve seen more of me than I have.” I quickly stripped and put on the gown. A few minutes later the nurse and doctor came in. She introduced herself as Dr. Williams and I introduced Ryan.
“Ms. Landon, when did you take your pregnancy test?” she asked.
“It was at the end of my week of placebo pills,” I said. I heard Ryan’s intake of air.
Dr. Williams looked up at him and smiled.
“He didn’t know until now,” I explained.
“I hope it’s a good thing,” she said.
“It’s a very good thing,” he answered. Then he took my hand and kissed the top of it.
Dr. Williams asked me, “How many weeks ago was that?”
“I think it was three weeks ago.”
“Then let’s get your ultrasound done. Let’s see if we can detect a heartbeat. How does that sound?”
“Good,” I answered.
“You can do that?” Ryan asked.
“We sure can.”
The ultrasound person came in and I was surprised when she inserted a wand inside of me. I was expecting her to rub the goo all over my belly and put a paddle on it. It was a little weird but when the images popped on the screen, I was amazed. Ryan was fascinated, even though neither of us quite knew what we were staring at until she explained. Then Dr. Williams said the heart was strong, which was a very positive thing.
Ryan looked like he’d gotten clobbered in the head with a hammer. He really was quite comical. We left the office with a long list of things I needed to do and things I wasn’t able to do. When we got in the car, he asked me how I was feeling.
“Sick. I throw up a lot. It’s pretty icky to be honest. And I’m tired.”
“You have to stop working,” he demanded.
“I will not. That’s crazy.”
“This baby takes precedence over everything.”
“I agree, but it doesn’t mean I can’t work,” I huffed.
He ran a hand through his hair. Clearly, he was agitated. But I wouldn’t be dictated to. “Why would you work?”
“Why do you work?” I tossed back at him.
“Because I like to and because it’s in my blood.”
“That’s the same reason I work.” I crossed my arms and was ready for his argument.
“But that’s ridiculous.”
“That I like to work? What’s ridiculous about that?”
He opened his mouth and slammed it shut. Then he steepled his fingers and attempted another approach. “It’s like this. I have to work. You don’t. I want to make this easy on you.”
“I want to work, even if I don’t have to, easy or difficult.”
“You’re impossible.”
I shrugged, started my car, and drove home. He pouted and in my head I shouted, Score one for me.
We were getting out of the car when I asked him, “Why’d you buy me half the company?”
He rubbed his chin. “I made a promise to you.”
“You promised you’d buy the company, not give it to me.”
“Yes, but I wanted you to have it.”
“Why?”
We’d reached my front door by this time. He took my keys from me and unlocked it. “You deserved it. After… well, after everything. You and me… I felt it was more than just a passing fling.”
“How much more?”
He took me in his arms and kissed me. But it wasn’t a passionate kiss like the ones I was used to. “There is more we need to talk about, but I’m already late for a flight.”
“You’re leaving.”
“I have to,” he said. “Trust me, I wouldn’t if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.” I nodded, though I’d hoped he would spend the night. “There is one thing…”
“What?” I asked.
“Will you marry me?” he asked, shocking me to my core.
“M-marry you?”
I’d never seen this man act shy, but he was certainly doing it now. “Be my wife. You’re carrying my child.” A hesitant smile appeared on his face. “It doesn’t have to be today or tomorrow. But promise me you will be Mrs. Witmore one day.” He didn’t give me a chance to answer. “Think about it. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Then he was gone, and I struggled with his question. Yes, it seemed superfast. But it was right when it was right, and this felt right. Until he showed up at my door the next day.
He looked handsome as ever in an expensive suit, though something was definitely on his mind. It scared me because I’d seriously considered saying yes to his proposal. He loosened his tie.
“Chloe, you remember my question, don’t you?”
“Yes, about that.”
He held up a hand. “Before you answer you need to take a seat.” He waved at the sofa. “Trust me. There are some things I need to tell you.”
I remembered the last time he’d told me to trust him and he’d come through. It didn’t feel the same this time around.