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Delta's Baby Surprise (Special Forces Elite 1)

Page 43

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“Last night was amazing.” She smiled. “I don’t feel as nervous for some reason.”

The sunlight whisped around her hair.

“I’m glad, doc.” I touched my lips to her forehead. “I wish I could say the same thing.”

“I think you need to follow your heart, Brett.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been a soldier for so long you’ve forgotten what it means to live. You’ve fought for everyone else, protecting our freedom, guarding us from evil, but you got lost in there.” Her palm pressed over my heart. “And once you came home your family started pulling you in a different direction, demanding you to step up, guilting you into taking a stand.” Her eyes shot to mine.

“No, that’s not why…”

“It doesn’t matter. I know what we have. I don’t really care how or why it happened.”

I stared at her, trying to process her words. Trying to figure out where she was going with this.

“You’ve given me something I never thought was possible. What I would label as a medical miracle.” Her hands slid to her belly. “I thought not being able to get pregnant made me undesirable, but the irony was it made you want me more. And look what happened. I’m having your baby.”

“What do you want me to do?” I felt the pain ache in my chest. I couldn’t leave her no matter how strong she was. We were bonded in ways I didn’t know were possible. “Tell me what you want. You always tell me what you want.”

“It doesn’t work that way this time,” she answered.

“Why not?” I needed her to guide me.

“Don’t stay because you feel obligated. Don’t stay because it’s some kind of manly duty. Don’t stay out of obligation. Stay because you love me. Stay because you want to start this family with me. From beginning to end. I don’t want you any other way.”

I closed my eyes. I wanted the answer to appear crystal clear. As clear as my need for her.

“Gretchen, I…” when I opened my eyes she was gone. The front door latched quietly.

I looked out at the woods. There was something I hadn’t done in a long time. Something that would calm the beast within. I had to make peace with this decision or I was going to regret it for the rest of my life.

Twenty-Three

Gretchen

I didn’t know when the clarity had struck me. I smiled as I washed plates and stacked them in the cupboard. When I awakened this morning I knew exactly what I needed. I wanted Brett to love me unconditionally. I wanted him to stay because it was what he wanted. If he didn’t, I knew he would be restless.

The military would always call to him. Delta would always call him. He had to make the decision on his own.

My heart would be split always wondering if he should be helping his team. I couldn’t be the reason he was torn. I loved him too much to guilt him into a relationship. Especially a marriage and fatherhood.

It was strange how the calm had washed over me. The stillness moved through me with certainty. Brett had to choose me because it was what he wanted. If Special Forces was still calling to him, I knew I wouldn’t come first.

My eyes drifted to the clock. He had been gone several hours.

I reached for a bowl and scrubbed until the bubbles washed down the drain.

Tomorrow we were supposed to get married. But today, I wanted to know if I was getting ready to send the father of my baby off to war. Because now, it wasn’t just about me anymore. I had to be strong enough for both of us.

Brett

The forest was quiet. Almost too quiet. I hadn’t climbed a tree or even run through the forest since my childhood. The solitude cleared my mind. I could finally think. I needed time and space to figure out what in the hell I was doing.

My ears snapped back when I heard the crack of a branch. From the high branches of the tree I could see a figure approaching. It was a man.

I took each limb slowly as I lowered myself to the ground.



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