Your Forever Love (The Bennett Family 3)

“I’m still divorcing you, even if I am pregnant.”

“I want to know. I won’t abandon a kid of mine.”

Terence grew up with his dad. His mom took off early on, and he didn’t even remember her. It was perhaps his one redeeming quality, not wanting to do to his child what his mother did to him, but it was too little, too late.

I went to the bathroom and did one test. It came out negative. Through sobs, I did the other ones. They all came out negative. I didn’t have the energy to leave the bathroom, so I cracked the door open and said, “They’re all negative. Now, leave.”

“Thank fuck. And don’t you think I’m walking away from this marriage with nothing. I did three years. That has to count for something.”

His reply set off a wave of devastating pain. Then he left. I spent the night in the bathroom, hugging my knees to my chest, rewinding the past years in my head, analyzing everything. Retroactively, everyone’s smarter; I saw signs everywhere. But at the time I met him, I didn’t. He was charming and went out of his way to please me. He didn’t even seem interested in my money.

When Sebastian and Logan told me they wanted Terrence to sign a prenup, I immediately agreed, because the two of them had set up Bennett Enterprises. It was their right to want to protect it. Terence kept his cool when I told him about it. I suppose he didn’t realize how long ten years were.

At least it was over.

***

Lying on my back on the couch, I hug my belly, even though it’s still flat. There is a small baby in here. My lips curl in a smile.

“Well, hello, little one,” I whisper. “We haven’t met yet officially, but I already love you very much. You’ll be the first Bennett baby, and you’ll have so many uncles and aunts you’ll lose count of them. They will spoil you even more than I will. God, I can’t believe I’m rambling already. You should get used to it. We’ll have lots of talks over the next nine months. If you’re a boy, your name might be Seamus.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Eric

The room is quiet as I wait for Julie to wake up. At my demands, the doctors gave her a room of her own, so it’s just the two of us here. I’m sitting on the couch that will also be my office for the three days she will be here.

They administered a pain reliever in the evening, and she slept through the night. I couldn’t sleep a wink.

There is something very peaceful about watching my daughter sleep. As a matter of fact, it’s the only peaceful thing right now. I keep replaying the talk with Pippa. Now, with a clear head, I can finally think straight, and I identified the problem. I don’t want to go after Pippa to bid her good-bye.

I want to go after her and tell her I won’t let her go. Of course, that’s assuming she still wants me. My gut clenches at the idea that she might not.

Sometime between watching her walk away and jolting awake from my stupor, it’s become clear that I want this woman in my life for good. I have to find a way to make it happen, and at the same time not let my kid down. As Mother said, it’s time to stop looking for excuses and start finding solutions.

Moving here will not be easy on Julie. She will have to adapt to a new school and a new life. She will have to leave her friends behind, but there are strong arguments in favor of moving here.

The most important one is Pippa, obviously. She loves my daughter, and my daughter loves her back. Then there is the Bennett family, which embraced Julie like one of their own.

I drum my fingers on the armrest of the couch, waiting for Julie to wake up so I can discuss all this with my baby girl.

She stirs hours later, and the first thing she says is, “You’re here.”

I move from the couch to the edge of her bed, patting her cheek with the back of my hand. “Of course I’m here, sweetie. Does it hurt?”

Julie shakes her head, yawning. “I slept a lot, didn’t I?”

I chuckle. “Yeah.”

“You slept here too?”

“Yes.”

“You’re the best dad in the world.” She leans her head on my arm, sighing. “Where is Pippa?”

“She… Uh….” Why didn’t I anticipate that this would be one of her questions? Julie pulls away from my hug, frowning at me.

“Pippa left yesterday, and didn’t come back. Is it your fault?” she asks.