When we get back to the estate, I lead Mable up the stairs, down the corridor, and into our rooms.
“Wells—”
I shut the door and pull her to me. The need that’s been building since I lost her in that crowd, since I realized what I would sacrifice to keep her.
“I need you,” I say against her mouth. “Now.”
She doesn’t ask questions. Just melts into me, fingers in my hair, and I carry her to the bed. Mable, always having just what I need.
Chapter Seventeen
MABLE
My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter, Truly’s name lighting up the screen. I lift my hands that are covered in dough and flour. “Crap,” I mutter to myself, quickly fold the last of the sourdough and wipe my hands on the apron Mrs. Halloway gave me, pale pink with tiny red strawberries on it, before I grab my phone off the counter.
“Hey,” I say, answering the call. I miss the hell out of her, but she’ll come here soon.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Making sourdough.”
“That sounds so good. When I come, you better stuff me full of it.”
“I think I can handle that.”
“Good, because I need you to handle something else.”
“Good or bad?” I ask, leaning up against the counter.
“I’m pregnant!” she shouts into the phone, unable to contain herself. I’m shocked she made it this long. This is what Truly always wanted: a family that was her own and not connected to her controlling family. I’ve always wanted that too; we bonded over that. All those years with my mother traveling all over the world only made me want to have roots.
“I’m going to be an aunt,” I gush into the phone. “I’m so happy for you, Tru.”
“I’m happy for you too.”
“Thanks.” I feel myself getting shy. I don’t know why I get bashful when I talk about Wells in this way.
“Any updates?”
“I think yours takes the cake,” I tell her.
“I’ll take the cake and sourdough.” I laugh. “But seriously, what’s going on?”
“No big changes since we last talked.” My brain is still stuck back on her being pregnant. I mean, I knew it was only a matter of time, but how freaking stupid am I?
I haven’t thought about the possibility of being pregnant. Now that I think about it, when was my last period? It was before I’d taken off on this grand adventure that doesn’t appear to have an expiration date on it, though there hasn’t been any talk of getting engaged or married.
“Not even on the land issue?” I’ve kept her pretty up to date on everything going on. My plan had been to tell her everything when she’d gotten back home from her long honeymoon, but I hadn’t thought about how public Wells’ relationship with me would be.
“No,” I sigh. “I’m still digging in the archives, but it’s sucking up a lot of Wells’ time.” He’s been having to work a lot, which I get. It will be a complete mess for Solaria if I don’t find something that will establish their claim. The country would lose that section of land for a ton of residents. I don’t want that to happen either. I’ve already grown attached to the community. I have never felt so welcome before. I don’t understand why, but I’m being well received. I wasn’t expecting that at all.
“If anyone can find it, it’s you.” Tru has been dying to come out and see me, but I told her to wait. I’m spending all my freetime researching. When she comes, I want to be able to have the time to spend with her.
“I hope so. I’m starting to feel like Willy Wonka in the chocolate factory every time I open one of the archive boxes, hoping that a golden ticket will be there.”
“How is it going with the mom?”
“Better?” It sounds more like a question with how I say it. I mean, she has been. There are times when she feels cold in her delivery, but when the words settle in, I don’t think she has bad intentions.
