‘Why did it work that time?’
‘Because… I felt safe.’
‘But why did you feelsafe?’
‘Because I loved you and… and that was when I found out that you lovedme.’
The miracle of it was still fresh. Kate could hear the wonder in her voice.
‘Mmm.’ Connor was stroking his thumb across the back of her hand. ‘It got you past that barrier, didn’t it? Feeling loved. Feeling safe?’
She echoed his sound of agreement. ‘Mmm.’
‘Well, my barrier was the thought of having a child with the potential for something to go horribly wrong and for it to destroy a family. Looking at it now, I think it was all to do with the loneliness of feeling abandoned. Being vulnerable.’
Kate had to touch Connor. To connect with him in a way that words couldn’t hope to convey. She reached up to touch his face. To trace the outline of his eyes and his cheekbones and his jaw. She wanted him to know that she understood. That she loved him. That he would never, ever be abandoned again.
Connor smiled down at her. He caught her hand with his own. ‘I don’t feel like that any more.’
‘You mean…’ Kate wasn’t sure exactly what he meant because what she wanted it to mean was too much to hope for.
‘The biggest risk I ever took was loving you, Katie,’ he said softly. ‘And it was a risk I had no choice but to take because Idolove you. And you love me. And I feel safe, too. Kids don’t seem like that big a risk any longer.’
He was smiling at her now. A slightly wobbly smile but it was full of joy. ‘We can do anything, Katie, my love. Nothing’s going to destroy our love and to have a baby…ourbaby, maybelotsof babies… it’s only going to make that love bigger, don’t you think? Stronger, anyway.’
‘But what if something goes wrong? Like Pippa?’
‘We’ll have each other. We’d be strong for each other. And we’d know not to forget to show that love to each other. And to our children.’
‘Oh, Connor…’ Kate threw her arms around the man she loved and he held her just as tightly. ‘I love you so much. You’re going to be thebestfather.’
‘And you’re going to be a totally awesome mum. You’ve even had practice with teenagers.’
‘Oh, no…’ Kate pulled reluctantly out of Connor’s embrace. ‘Bella.’
Connor sighed. ‘I think she might need you right now even more than I do. What are you going to tell her?’
‘I really don’t know,’ Kate confessed. ‘It’s a mess. The father of this baby is Oliver Dawson.’
‘Whoa…’ Connor was practically gaping at her. ‘Does he know?’
‘Apparently not.’
Connor shook his head. He watched Kate get to her feet to head back into the house.
‘Want me to come in too?’
‘Not yet. Bella and I have some talking to do. I think it’s time she heard my whole story. And then we’ll talk about what comes next.’
* * *
Connor watched her walk back into the house.
Pride filled his chest until it was so tight it was hard to breathe. No wonder he loved this woman so much. She was so strong. She’d been through so much. Being loved by her made him the luckiest man alive. And now she was carrying his baby.
Hisbaby.
A grin came from nowhere and stayed on his face for a very long time. Finally, it faded into a somewhat rueful smile as he thought about Bella’s predicament. About what Oliver Dawson was going to have to deal with.
