The Things I Do for You (The Alexanders 2)

“That sounds delicious. If I was at home, it would be a microwave dinner, so I’m hardly going to complain.”

Despite how successful she’d become in recent years, Raina was wary of hiring help. She had enough people making up stories about her as it was. The last thing she needed was a tabloid tell-all from a chef or driver. Jackson had recommended a trustworthy maid service but other than that, she did things herself. And by doing things herself, she meant ordering takeout.

It was just one more thing she’d have to get used to changing in her life. Once filming started for the remaining episodes of her show, her well-guarded private time would be a thing of the past.

Ridley bustled around the table, filling her drinking glass with iced tea and spooning the pasta into their bowls. As she passed Raina’s chair, her foot accidentally bumped against the handbag sitting on the floor, knocking it over. Several colorful brochures spilled out of the top along with Raina’s cell phone and keys.

“What are these?”

Before Raina could react, Ridley picked up one of the pamphlets and flipped it open. Her forehead furrowed as she started reading. “Raina, what is this?”

“It’s just some stuff the doctor gave me.” Raina scooped them up and dropped them back in her handbag. Awkward silence descended o

n the table. Raina glanced at Ridley and was shocked to see tears in her eyes.

“Ri, what is it? Are you in pain?” She pushed away from the table and knelt next to her sister. It was an old habit, but she’d always thought of herself as Ri’s protector. Not because she was a scant three minutes older, but because her sister had always seemed so fragile. Easily hurt. She believed the best of people and Raina wanted her to be free to keep thinking that way. Even though she knew it was crap.

Ridley shook her head. “You’re thinking about having in vitro and you didn’t even tell me?”

“No, no. Ri, the doctor just gave me that stuff today. I was going to tell you all about it.”

Ridley sniffled. “Really?”

“Yeah, I wasn’t hiding it. I promise.”

She got up and sat in her seat. She twirled her fork in her spaghetti absently. “Remember how I told you a few years ago that I was diagnosed with endometriosis?”

Ridley nodded. “Yeah, I remember. The doctors thought you might have trouble conceiving one day.” She looked up sharply.

“Apparently I’m already running out of time.” Raina looked down at the swirl of noodles on her plate. “The doctor said things have gotten worse. We’ll be twenty-five soon, so I don’t have the luxury of taking my time. That’s why he gave me the brochures about egg harvesting and about surrogacy. He just wants me to be informed.”

“Does Steven… I mean, does he have issues?” Ridley blushed and looked down at her food. “Sorry. That was really nosy. Don’t answer that.”

“It’s okay,” Raina replied. “You can ask me anything. We’ve never had secrets. Plus, I’m not really sure. We haven’t talked about it.”

Ridley dropped her fork and glared at her. “How can you not have talked about it? How can you marry someone that you don’t even talk to?”

“Shhhh! Not so loud.” Raina glanced around, satisfied when she saw that the yard was empty. Jackson’s two sons were usually nearby and she knew that tiny ears heard everything. “I didn’t say we don’t talk, just that we haven’t talked about that yet. He’ll be back from New York tomorrow and he already agreed to start trying early if things got worse, instead of waiting until after the wedding.”

“The wedding is only two months away,” Ridley groused.

“Exactly. Close enough that it won’t matter if I’m pregnant since I won’t be showing yet. This isn’t the 1950s, so it’s not like I’ll be shunned because I’m not a virgin on my wedding night.” She snorted at the thought.

Even Ridley laughed at that. “It’s about a decade too late to worry about your virtue, huh?”

“Not a decade,” she cried. She swatted at Ridley with her napkin. “Anyway, I have no reason to believe that Steven can’t father children. I refuse to believe the universe is cruel enough to give both of us fertility issues and I don’t want him to undergo a lot of poking and prodding if he doesn’t have to.”

Ridley was smiling now, but she still didn’t look mollified. “I’m not worried about Steven being uncomfortable. I’m worried about you.”

Raina reached across the table and grabbed her sister’s hand. “I know you don’t approve, but I really need your support on this. Steven and I get each other. We may not have the typical relationship, but we want the same things. Financial security, stability, and a family. Plenty of people have gotten married with less in common than that.”

“I still don’t like it. He hasn’t even had time in his oh-so-busy schedule to come over and meet me. You deserve a man who loves you. Every guy isn’t like Brian.”

Raina pulled her hand back. “I know that.”

“Do you? I want so much more for you. I want you to find what I have with Jackson.”

Raina ignored the disapproving look on her sister’s face. “Don’t give me that look. Everyone isn’t lucky enough to be in twu-wuv like you two lovebirds.”