“She’s fine.”
“Then what is it?”
Wade lets out a breath and rubs his jaw. “I overheard them talking.”
He puts his hands in his pockets and looks down, clearly wrestling with whatever truth he’s here to deliver. I’m immediately uneasy at his unusual behavior.
“I don’t like sharing other people’s business. It isn’t how I do things, but…”
“What did you hear?” I ask.
Wade looks at me, and whatever he finds in my face convinces him to come out with it.
“She’s pregnant.”
Pregnant.
The wind moves the chimes our mom left behind, the barn door creaks, and a horse whinnies. The world doesn’t pause at his statement, but I freeze at the word.
Mason turns away, one hand bracing at the back of his neck. “Jesus.”
He doesn’t say it out of anger or regret. I know my brother. It’s what a man says when he’s trying to steady himself after receiving big news. “Is it ours?”
“Of course it’s yours.” Wade shakes his head. “I wouldn’t have driven over here if it was someone else’s.”
“Is she alright?” I ask.
It’s the only question that matters right now.
“She’s scared.”
I picture her standing alone, shoulders back and chin up, hiding any fear. She’d keep it together, even when she shouldn’t have to.
My hands curl loosely at my sides. She shouldn’t be dealing with this alone.
“Does Joelle know you’re here?” Mason asks.
“No, and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think you’d know what to do,” Wade says, putting enough weight behind the words to communicate his expectation.
“Does she want to keep it?” I ask.
Wade shrugs. “I don’t think she’s gotten that far. And she doesn’t have all the information, does she?”
“What information?” Mason asks.
I nod, getting what Wade means. “She doesn’t know we’ll be there for her. She doesn’t know we’ll give her and the baby a home.”
I look out toward the pasture, letting my eyes settle on the horizon while my thoughts catch up.
A baby.
Maybe it’s mine.
Maybe it’s Mason’s.
Either way, it’s family.
My mind starts racing, making plans. There’s room in the house. What needs fixing? What’ll Janey need?
