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“Would I have been excluded?”
His brow furrowed. “Of course.”
She supposed that was some relief. At least he didn’t hate her. “I have three positive pregnancy tests and a report from the doctor in my purse.” She took the bag off her shoulder and began riffling through the contents.
“Not necessary.” He stayed her with a hand. “I believe you.”
“I didn’t do this on purpose.”
“I don’t think that,” he said calmly. He was too calm for her liking. She didn’t know what kind of reaction she expected, but it wasn’t this.
“I’m keeping the baby. You’ll be involved in your child’s life if you want, of course. I’d never shut you out. But I understand you’re busy and I know that your new position as CEO is demanding. I’m prepared to do what it takes to continue my own position here, including working from home on occasion after the baby is born.”
Royce blinked. “Okay.”
“Your level of involvement is totally up to you. I won’t saddle you with a family if you’re not ready.” And according to the last visit he’d paid her on her front stoop, he wasn’t anywhere near ready.
He dipped his head to acknowledge her. Silence fell, the only sound Melinda’s voice through the door when she answered the phone.
The tide of emotions—anger, sadness, loss—could be blamed at least partially on Taylor’s physical state. Hormones caused tumultuous emotions, right? She refused to cry in front of Royce. Even though he’d broken her a little. Hell, maybe a lot. The fallout wasn’t complete yet. But she wouldn’t whimper in front of him like a lost puppy. She had to be strong. She’d have a family of her own soon—just the two of them if the shell-shocked expression on his face was any indication of how well he was taking the news.
“We have time to sort out the details,” she said, hoping to prompt a response.
“Okay,” was all he said.
“Okay,” she repeated. “Well. I guess I’ll be going.”
He followed her to the door, his eyes on her purse as she pulled it over her shoulder.
“Hopefully leaving will be easier than coming in,” she sort of joked.
“I’ll let Melinda know you can come in anytime you like,” he said. “Maybe I’ll even include Bran and Gia on that list.”
Neither of them smiled as he pulled open the door.
“Thanks for coming by,” he said formally when she stepped out. Hopefully he’d said that for Melinda’s benefit. Him being this distant, this cold, this unresponsive was awful.
She was the woman who’d once drawn a response from him that was borderline out of character. She’d kissed him in a closet two months ago and uncovered a man neither of them had known existed. Not only had they not returned to the way they were before the kiss, but they’d arrived in a place they’d never been. With her as cordial and distant as he was.
Awful. Just awful.
Back in her office, she sat on her chair and stared blankly at the computer screen. Then she logged on and opened her email and started working.
Maybe what they needed was time apart. Time to digest that they’d soon be parents. And judging by Royce’s reaction—time to accept that they’d be parenting apart as well.
