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He held up the test. “We’ll find out. If you are we’re going to need to have that talk without any arguments.”
She nodded then looked at the kit. He saw her hands were shaking as she took the test from his hands. “Can I take it in privacy?”
“Yeah.”
Henry followed her through to his bathroom. He took a seat on the bed and waited as the bathroom door closed.
You could be a Daddy.
The idea of fathering a child filled him with excitement and fear.
Would she accept his marriage proposal? He wouldn’t give her the chance to deny him.
The bathroom door opened seconds later.
“Don’t worry, I washed my hands.” In her hand she held a white stick. “It’s, erm, it’s not turned yet, but I thought we could sit and watch it together.” She sat beside him on the bed. “Here’s the box for you to look at.”
He read through the instructions to see what each result meant.
The stick shook a little in her hands, and he covered her wrist with his own. “Don’t worry about anything, April. I’ll take care of you and the baby. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you and loving you both.”
“Please don’t say stuff like that.”
He pushed some hair off her shoulder, exposing her neck. “I’m not going to lie to you, April. I love you.”
Her lip wobbled. “I know I shouldn’t, but I love you, too.”
“Do you mean that?” he asked.
“Yes, I’ve loved you for a long time. I tried everything to stop these feelings, but nothing stopped it. I’ve been in love with you for a long time, and this scares me. It’s all too new and fresh.”
He silenced her with a finger to her lips. “We’ll take it one step at a time. I love you, April. I’m not going to risk losing you.” He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
She glanced down at the stick, and he followed her gaze.
It’s positive. April’s pregnant with my kid.
“Wow, erm, I don’t know what to say,” she said, chuckling.
Taking the stick out of her hand, he threw it onto the floor, cupping her cheeks. “We’re going to have a baby.” He slammed his lips down on hers, the elation getting to him.
April chuckled, touching his face. “We’re going to have a baby. I don’t know what to say.” She kissed him back.
“You’ve got to move in here,” he said. “And you’ve got to quit working for Marcel.” He pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m not having you put your life at risk.” His child, son or daughter, was nestled in her stomach, growing.
“Whoa, Henry, back up. I’m not going to quit my job. I’m going to continue working through this pregnancy, and I’m not moving in with you.”
He withdrew. “You’re in love with me.”
“So? I want us to take some time. It’s too soon.” She looked at him, waiting. “I’m not running away. We’ve barely spent any time together. When I was here with Julia, I spent time with her, not you.”
Henry knew she spoke sense, yet he couldn’t help but be annoyed. As usual she was holding back from him. He was tired of her holding back. Julia came between them like all the other times before, and it pissed him off.
“I’m not running away from you, Henry. I’m asking for time.”
“I understand, but there’s got to come a time when you stop taking time, and make a decision.”
She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I do love you.”
“I don’t know where to go from here.” And he didn’t. What did she expect from him?
“We’re dating.” April licked her lips before pressing them to his. “And I’m excited about having your baby.”
She took his hand, pressing his palm to her stomach.
A lump filled his throat at what she held within her body. Their child, their son or daughter, was nestled within her.
Wrapping his arms around her, Henry closed his eyes, sending a prayer to the heavens that everything would be okay.
****
Against Henry’s request April went back to work for Marcel. It didn’t take him long to inform her boss of her new pregnant state. She hated being treated with kid gloves. The good news about returning to work, was that Katie and David hit it off and were officially regularly dating. She had a new friend in Katie, who did nothing but talk all the time.
The silences at work were few and far between. April liked listening to Katie talk. The other woman knew how to make her happy. When she wasn’t at work she spent a great deal of time with Henry. They talked constantly about the future. He didn’t like to see her in the restaurant, and when he visited during her work hours, he watched her like a hawk. The thought thrilled her that he cared so much. On the other hand, he drove her crazy. If there were men who seemed to be into her, he intervened. Marcel got pretty pissed if he started to affect their business. The interference had Marcel threatening to ban Henry access to the restaurant. Just because he was a silent partner didn’t mean he couldn’t be barred from the club.
