Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

The doctor asked me a lot of questions, occasionally glancing at my chart. When she seemed satisfied, she said, “It’s very common with pregnant women. You’re eating for two now. You’ll have to make some adjustments…”

She continued speaking, and I opened my mouth, then stopped, as a stone fell in my gut.

Finally I blurted, “Pregnant?” cutting off her spiel about diet. “You’re wrong. I got my period this morning.”

She frowned, then glanced at her chart. “The blood work is here. You likely experienced spotting, which is very common in early pregnancy.”

My lips parted, but no words came out.

I’d only slept with one person without protection.

Two months ago.

At his wedding.

“I can do another blood test to confirm, but congratulations, Miss Hale. You’re perfectly healthy, just pregnant.”

She left, and I sank back into the hospital bed. Pregnant? I couldn’t be pregnant. I had to leave. Get out. Not become my mother, not die as a ghost like my uncle.

Pregnant.

I exhaled, and my eyes traveled to the door, and my body went cold. Grayson stood in the doorway, holding peanuts.

Grayson dropped them to the floor. “You’re pregnant.”

Shit.

Fifteen

STORY

* * *

Grayson rushed to the hospital bed, pulling me so close my face smashed against his shirt.

“You’re pregnant,” he repeated.

“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” I managed to mumble. “That was private.”

He pulled me deeper into his chest, pressing his lips to my forehead. I was so shocked I let it happen.

I’d been withdrawn from his touch for months, and now his lips were on my forehead. His touch in my hair. Sweet words like satin on my skin.

“You’re pregnant.” He kept repeating the words against my forehead, carding his fingers through my hair.

You’re pregnant.

He didn’t say it like I had in my head. With dread. With nausea. He said it as though it was the most amazing miracle.

I pressed my palms to the soft linen to sit up, put space between us, but Grayson stopped me.

“Rest.”

“I feel fine.”

Discomfort twisted my chest. I needed to leave, not have Grayson looking at me with his soft eyes.

“What else did she say?” He caressed my cheek, pushing the hair out of my face. “Are you okay? Is the baby okay? When you fainted I brought you here. After Woodsy…” I could see the worry raw in his eyes.