“Claire, you don’t have to tell me anything, but I know there’s more to this than you’re letting on. I don’t expect to be let in the loop, but know I’m here if you need me.”
Claire looked up into his eyes. “Thank you, Lonnie. I appreciate that.”
They came out into the quiet lobby. The guys had already been whisked away to their radio show, so the paparazzi and fans had followed. Very few people were left to give them any attention as they made their way into a waiting car.
The drive to the clinic was short. They hurried through to a back room in case anyone was to recognize any of them. Claire was checked over again, and the doctor relayed the same information Celine had.
Then they wheeled in an ultrasound machine and checked on the baby. As Claire had suspected, she was around three months along at twelve weeks. She heard her baby’s heartbeat and was assured the baby looked perfectly healthy, despite Charles attempting to kill it.
Claire breathed a sigh of relief. The technician gave Claire a website where she could download digital images of the ultrasound pictures, and also printed one image for her to take with her that day.
Lonnie had waited outside the door in the hallway and spotted the image in Claire’s hand before she could tuck it away. He shifted his eyes away, pretending he hadn’t seen it, but Claire knew better.
“I’m pregnant,” she said when they were back in the car.
“Congratulations,” Lonnie said, setting a hand on her knee. “I’m very happy for you.”
“Please don’t say anything to anyone else.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
Claire smiled at him and shifted her gaze out toward the streets. When they got back to the hotel, Claire said goodbye to Celine and went back toward the elevators with Lonnie when a voice called her name.
She turned to find the wardrobe lady, Miranda, waving excitedly. Claire’s face broke into a smile as she took the last few steps toward Miranda and wrapped her arms around her. Miranda lightly hugged Claire and pulled back.
“Girl, I heard you were here, but I had to see it for myself to believe it,” Miranda said.
“It’s been a while.”
“It has.” Miranda looped her arm through Claire’s and nodded back toward the front doors of the hotel. “We’re going on an adventure.”
“Uh, uh, uh,” Lonnie said. “Only if it’s approved by me and if I come.”
Miranda rolled her eyes dramatically. “Of course you’re coming. Let’s go.”
Claire looked back at Lonnie, who rolled his eyes and followed them back out of the hotel and into the car.
Once the doors closed behind them, Miranda grinned. “I have a few hours off and a little birdie told me you might need some more clothes.”
Tears sprang to Claire’s eyes. “Ben sent you?”
Miranda bumped her shoulder into Claire’s. “Jake.”
Butterflies suddenly fluttered wildly in her stomach. Miranda gave Claire a knowing look and Claire blushed. Out of everyone in her life, Miranda was the only person who knew what happened between Claire and Jake. Miranda had been her best friend on tour. Often, Claire would hang out in the wardrobe room and help her get the guys ready for events. She really enjoyed it and considered pursuing a career in fashion,but after things with Jake happened, she left the tour and her life seemed to unravel from there. From the moment she met Charles.
Claire pushed the thought back. “Miranda, I don’t have any money.”
Miranda held up a credit card. “Courtesy of Jake.”
Claire took a deep breath, attempting to force back the emotional wave that hit her. “I’ve missed you.”
I’ve missed him.
Miranda smiled. “I’ve missed you, too. We need to do some serious catch-up, so I expect you to hang out with me during the show tonight.”
“Deal.”
7
