Her Motherhood Wish (Parent Portal 3)

“I didn’t know they could do such things.”

“I didn’t, either, until today. Apparently it’s done like the amnio, with ultrasound assistance, except the needle goes directly to the baby.” She shuddered. “I’m going to put that one out of my mind.”

“Good idea. They’ve caught it early, and that’s always better than not.”

She nodded. Wanted to believe that there was no real danger. Had been hoping so hard to hear that the test would show nothing wrong with her baby at all. That the ultrasound shadow had been just that...a shadow.

But her baby didn’t have a terminal blood disease. That was the bottom line. Elation flooded through her again, a muscle-weakening euphoria that brought on another threat of tears as the reality started to sink in. There was a slight complication, but her baby was healthy overall. With a normal life prognosis.

She was really going to have a baby! A child of her own to live with, raise and love.

“If a transfusion is needed, my blood is available,” Wood said, his hand on the keys.

She nodded again. Filled with conflicting emotions and gratitude and something deeper, too, as she looked at him.

Aware of an if-only that was dangerous at best.

If only they were a couple, not just the mother and father of the child she carried. They’d be kissing, touching, spending the day together, celebrating the day’s good news and sharing the tad bit of worry, as only parents could. Others would love her baby. She had no doubt about that. Love it fiercely. But not with the special bonding love of a parent.

Almost as though he could read her mind, Wood glanced away. Put his hand on the key in the ignition. But didn’t turn on the vehicle. “So...is it a boy or a girl?”

She’d been keeping the news to herself. Trying to keep herself in check. He was the donor, not the father. Shouldn’t the baby’s family be the first to know?

And the presence of him, the warmth, the touch of his fingers on her cheeks, the look in his eyes, the willingness to stay up most of the night texting with her about old television shows, his awareness of struggles she was keeping deeply hidden inside her...

Was he hoping for one or the other? Did it make a difference to him?

She truly hadn’t cared about the sex of the baby. And yet...knowing made her love that little body growing inside her even more. Made the relationship that much more solid. Real.

He wasn’t there for a relationship. With either of them.

He’d started the engine. Accepting her silence without argument. Or even persuasion.

“It’s a boy,” she said as he put the truck in gear. “I’m going to name him Alan, after my father.”

She didn’t know what to think when Wood backed up and pulled out of the lot without saying a word.

Chapter Nine

“Have you got a couple of minutes? I have something to show you.” Wood kept his gaze on the road as he made the request, not allowing himself to so much as look in her direction as he digested the news she’d just given him. He was going to have a son.

Only biologically.

In that initial moment, the idea was killing him.

He’d debated for a minute or two, following through on the plan he’d concocted Wednesday after he’d dropped her off at home. Might have changed his mind, donated the bench he’d made. Only the fact that he’d already delivered his offering to its intended location earlier that morning, a location she’d certainly be visiting probably that weekend, prompted him to ask the question.

“Of course,” she said, and he allowed himself to live with the anticipation of her pleasure during the short drive—attempting to shut out all else.

He was going to have a son in the world, but not in his life. He’d done a favor for Peter.

Like the night before Peter had married Elaina. He’d asked for Wood’s promise that, if anything ever happened to him, Wood would look after his wife.

He’d made the promise. Because he’d been protecting his brother, tending to his needs, his entire life. But he’d have asked Elaina to marry him even if he hadn’t told Peter he’d take care of her. She had no real family of her own. No insurance without Peter’s job providing it. The other driver had been underinsured and had no money.

And there was Elaina’s future. They hadn’t even been sure she’d walk again.

She’d put her own career plans on hold to work two full time jobs to put Peter through medical school.