Seventh Heaven (Allendale Four 4)

“Oh my god, you look fine. Go.”

We walked off to meet the others, each watching Heaven closely. Following the photographer’s directions, we huddled close, a circle of protection and love around our girl. I couldn’t help but wonder if people could tell about us when we were all together like this. If they knew.

As the camera flashed and we smiled, celebrating success, I knew damn well that not one of us really cared.

26

Heaven

Three days later, I arrived home from shopping to the sound of shrieking children and splashing in the pool. Sadie raced around the pool’s edge, trying to get to Anderson, who was holding a small child in his hands. Across the pool, Jackson urged a bigger child to jump to him.

It was like I’d entered the twilight zone.

I opened the gate and walked through. “Make sure you close it,” Anderson said. “Davis is quite the runner.”

I snapped the latch in place. “So, what’s going on?”

Oliver walked out of the house with a tray of snacks. Crackers, cut-up fruit, cheese. “Monique stopped by and asked if we could watch the kids—she had an appointment and no babysitter.”

“And you all just said yes—to watching a stranger’s children?” Jackson’s charm apparently worked on three-year-olds as well, because Davis jumped happily into his arms.

“She was in a bind,” Hayden said. I turned and found him lounging on a chair in the shade. “We couldn’t say no.”

“Huh.” I watched Ashley, in a bathing suit with built-in floaties, smile as Anderson cruised her around like a boat. It prompted me to ask, “How did you even know how to do that?”

“What?”

“Make her happy?”

He shrugged those broad shoulders and continued entertaining the little girl. “I taught swim lessons in high school. You know that.”

“I guess.”

That didn’t explain whatever bromance Jackson and Davis had started up by the stairs or the little smile on Hayden’s mouth as he laug

hed at Ashley’s giggles.

“I guess you guys have it under control. I’ll head inside for a bit.” I’d been craving a nap the whole time I was running errands.

“Why?” Oliver asked. “You don’t want to stay out here with us?”

“I’ll come back out. I just need to put this stuff away and do a few things.”

“Need any help?” Hayden asked.

“No, thank you.” I smiled and slipped into the house just as Davis jumped in again, trying to splash Jackson.

I wasn’t trying to be weird. I was trying to keep my emotions in check. I didn’t care that Monique asked for a favor—god knew how she did it alone all the time. I should have offered before. But today something heavier lingered on my mind and I tightened my grip on the plastic bag in my hand and made a beeline for my bathroom.

I pulled the box out of the bag and laid it on the counter, trying to calm my nerves. It was just a test—a test that could change my life, rock my world.

Thirty minutes later I’d taken it out of the box and the stick sat on the counter while I sat on the closed toilet lid, studying the directions over and over.

This was dumb.

I wasn’t pregnant.

I was just late.