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She touched her stomach, felt a flutter-soft kick. "Hey," she murmured to the baby as she headed for the living room.
She was at the dining room table when she noticed the fire in the fireplace and the music coming through the speakers. It was something soft, Hawaiian-sounding. "Somewhere over the Rainbow" played on a ukulele.
Angie and Conlan were sitting in front of the fire.
"Oh," Lauren said in surprise. "I thought you were off on a romantic getaway. "
Angie rose, walked toward Lauren. When she got closer, she held out her left hand. A huge diamond glittered. "Were getting married again. "
Lauren squealed and threw herself into Angies arms. "Thats great," she said, holding Angie tightly. She hadnt realized until just then how alone shed felt all day, how much shed missed Angie. She had trouble letting go. "Now my baby will have a daddy, too. "
"Sorry," she said, finally drawing back. She felt foolish; a girl who should be a woman.
Shed said "my" baby.
"Actually, Lauren
, thats what we came home to talk to you about. "
It was Conlan whod spoken.
Lauren closed her eyes for just a moment as a wave of exhaustion moved through her. She didnt know if she could talk about the baby anymore.
But she had no choice.
"Okay. "
Angie took her hand, squeezed it. The touch helped. Together, hand in hand, they went to the couch and sat down.
Conlan remained sitting on the hearth. He was tilted forward, with his forearms rested on his thighs. Long black hair fell across part of his face. In the firelight, his eyes looked impossibly blue.
She felt impaled by those eyes. She shifted uncomfortably on the sofa.
"Youre just a child," Conlan said, his voice surprisingly soft, "so Im sorry about all this. "
Lauren smiled. "I quit being a kid a few months ago. "
"No. You had to face a grown-up thing. Thats not the same thing as being a grown-up. " He sighed. "The thing is . . . Angie and I are scared. "
Lauren hadnt expected that. "I thought you wanted a baby. "
"We do," Angie said in a tight voice. "Too much, maybe. "
"So you should be happy. " Lauren looked from Conlan to Angie. "Im giving you--Oh. " It came to her all at once. "The other girl. The one who changed her mind. "
"Yes," Angie said.
"I wouldnt do that to you guys. I promise. I mean . . . I love you. And I love my baby. Your baby. I want to do the right thing. "
Angie touched Laurens face. "We know that, Lauren. We just want--"
"Need," Conlan interrupted.
"--to know that youve thought about this. That youre sure. It will not be an easy thing to do. "
"Will it be harder than parenting at seventeen?"
Angies smile was as gentle as her touch had been. "Thats an answer from your head. I asked a question of the heart. "
