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Her brows rose and mouth fell open before she snapped out of it. “What do you mean you’re here for me?”
He pushed past her into the apartment, and she stood there looking after him.
“Close the door, Tae.” He scanned her from head to foot and grinned at her feet. “Lose a sock?”
“No, I was in the middle of getting dressed. I have my first doctor’s appointment in about an hour.” She folded her arms over her chest. “You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”
“Actually, I did,” he countered. The cool attitude rivaled her agitated one until she wanted to choke the man. When she waited for more, he went on. “I’ve decided to support you with the baby, and it looks like I have great timing. I’ll go with you for your doctor’s visit.”
“I think you forgot you’re married. You need to be ‘supporting’ your wife.”
She made air quotes to emphasize her words, but at her statement, the calm self-assurance in Daniel’s expression transformed first to sadness and then to anger. His lips compressed, and his eyebrows crashed low over his eyes. Tae dreaded what that meant. She started to prompt him to explain the reaction but didn’t need to.
“Even though I told Alise I did not father your baby, she still packed and went to her mother’s.”
“No!” Tae slapped a hand over her mouth. Tears sprung to her eyes and fell down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Daniel. This is my fault.”
He drew her into his arms and stroked her hair. “No, it’s not. You did nothing wrong, and if my marriage is so flimsy a misunderstanding can destroy it, then you were right. Alise is not for me.”
She wrenched from his hold. “You’re not throwing it away just like that. You need to fight for her, Daniel. I’m going to call her and explain that you and I didn’t have sex, so it’s impossible to even think you’re the father of my baby. It’s just ridiculous, and our meeting that day was just happenstance. She has to believe me.”
Tae spun to go to her room to get her phone, but Daniel grabbed her arm to stop her. “Forget it.”
“What do you mean forget it? You love her. I think—”
“Aren’t you going to be late for your appointment?”
She glanced at the clock on the dining room wall. The metal bicycle design was so unique she’d had to buy it. Daniel was right. She didn’t have much time. “Well I’ll call afterward.”
“No, you won’t.” He shuffled her toward her bedroom. “I’ll handle it. Hurry up, and I’ll take you.”
“Daniel.”
“I’m not accepting no for an answer, Tae. Finish getting dressed. I’m going with you. End of discussion.” While he had been assertive, his tone remained kind. She sighed and gave in. Zerita wasn’t in town, and even if she were, Tae had only been able to get a day appointment. She couldn’t ask her friend to take off work with her to go to the doctor.
“How did you know I was home?”
He grinned and winked. “I have my ways.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll be ready in a minute.”
Tae hurried into her bedroom and drew on her other sock, then put on shoes. She started out to the living room and had to run back to look for the notebook where she recorded the dates for her period. After making a mental note of the last two, she rejoined Daniel, and they headed out.
Tae started toward her car, but Daniel placed a hand on her lower back. “I’m parked this way.” She decided not to argue and followed him to his vehicle. When they were on the road, she told him the address and studied him as he drove. One large hand gripped the steering wheel while the other rested on his thigh. A ridiculous longing came over her to lay hers atop his, but she resisted it and faced the window. Scenery raced by, but she saw none of it. Her thoughts were filled with memories of Daniel, and for some reason, his voice echoed in her head of the many times he had confessed his love. Daniel was the type of man to never hold back how he felt. She had never had to wonder or be unsure of him. That fact was one of the reasons she had loved him so much.
“Tae?”
She came to herself and looked at him. “Sorry, I was daydreaming.”
“No problem.” He frowned at the car ahead, which cut him off, and adjusted his speed. “I was asking if you told Jax about the baby yet.”
She bit her lip. “Not yet.”
“Why not, Tae?”
“Don’t get onto me. I told you. I’ll tell him when I’m ready.”
“Tell me why you’re not ready.”
