The Moment of Truth

But first things first.

“Don’t tell me you’re quitting school,” Zack said.

“You aren’t leaving Shelter Valley, are you?” Cassie looked just as stricken as Zack.

“No, of course not. What gave you guys that idea?”

“The expression on your face,” Cassie replied. “You look like you’re about to tell us you ran over a dog or something.”

“To the contrary,” she said, feeling heat rise beneath her skin. “I’m going to be moving in with my boyfriend. He just bought a house and is having a set of kennels built for me in the backyard to house dogs for Love To Go Around.” This whole thing, lying about Josh loving her, admitting that she’d had unprotected sex with a man she’d only known a matter of weeks...

And Cassie would know that because she’d been present when Josh and Dana first met.

“Kennels?” Zack and Cassie chorused together, looking like kids at Christmastime.

“That’s wonderful!” Cassie said. The two of them talked about logistics and ways they could assist Dana, making house calls to her backyard when necessary.

The rest of it, growing Love To Go Around, could come with time. After the baby was born and she got her degree. If everything worked out.

“That’s great news,” Zack said for about the fourth time. And Dana knew she was letting her window of opportunity slide by.

“I have other news, as well.” She couldn’t look at Cassie. “I’m pregnant,” she said. “Josh and I are both really happy, excited about the future. We haven’t known each other that long, but...”

“Josh?” Cassie said. The vet was probably doing the math right then, counting back to the day she’d brought Little Guy in to see her.

“Josh Redmond?” The woman clarified.

“Yes. I met him here, as a matter of fact.” When there was an elephant on the table, it was best to acknowledge it.

“You and Josh Redmond are having a baby,” Cassie said one more time.

At which point Dana looked her straight in the eye. “Yes.” If people were going to be judgmental, that was their problem. If they thought she wasn’t good enough for Josh, well, they weren’t going to know the truth about that.

“He bought a house and you’re going to be living together.”

Aware of Zack standing there, watching the byplay, Dana said, “Yes.”

The grin that split Cassie’s face startled her so much she wasn’t prepared when the other woman reached out and hugged her. “Congratulations,” Cassie said, letting her go immediately. “I think that’s wonderful.” The woman was looking straight at her, smiling, so Dana couldn’t be reading her wrong. “If there’s anything I can do, anytime, you let me know. Here—” She pulled out a card and scribbled a number on it. “That’s my private cell. If you need anything, you call me.”

Promising to do so, Dana made a quick retreat. She’d survived the first telling. And if everyone in Shelter Valley was so kind, she’d definitely moved to the right town—and found a new permanent home.

She’d learn to live with Josh without being a recipient of his love. Just as she had with Daniel.

And hopefully, as the pregnancy progressed, her appetite for sex would wane, as well.

* * *

HE NEEDED IT ALL LOCKED IN. The home. Dana in the home. And him there, too, watching over it all. He stayed at her place until she kicked him out Thursday night. They’d made some good progress, even with L.G. and Dana’s little ball of fur helping. He’d gone to work early on Friday and gotten the final stamp of approval on the first of many fund-raisers that were going to net the university the money to open a medical school on campus; this was the initial phase of a five-year goal. He’d given his landlord notice for the end of the month, although he didn’t plan to wait that long. As soon as the movers he’d hired had moved Dana into the house, they were heading straight to his rental to get him moved, too.

He was also looking into veterinary programs in Arizona. Dana wanted to be a veterinarian. He needed to be prepared to help her become one. Their child would be three by the time she got her undergraduate degree. Ready for day care and self-sufficient enough for his or her mother to attend grad school.

On Friday, he signed the minor paperwork required to buy a home when paying cash for it, took possession of the keys and was on his way to his rental place with the back of his SUV filled with empty moving boxes, telling himself he was going to be just fine.

Pulling into his driveway, he noticed the new Ford F250 King Ranch parked in front of his house.