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When Nalani came back to the table, she was noticeably subdued.
The prodding over her change in mood by the ladies at the table was diverted with a lie about something going wrong atNectar. They bought it, but I didn’t—couldn’t—seeing the way her hands shook as she pushed aside her half-finished wine glass to gulp down water.
And she wouldn’t make eye contact with me.
Shit.
She knew, and she was pissed.
After dinner, I helped Nurse Davis get Calli settled in her room before I moved on to face the emotional consequences of my decisions. I stood by getting the Blacks involved, so I wouldn’t back down on that.
But… I guess I could find it in myself to apologize for not at least seeking her input.
William washerfather after all.
I was surprised to not find Nalani inherroom. She was in mine instead. She’d already showered and changed into a set of the super-soft pajamas she favored. I’d teased her about them too many times to count now, but I’d come to love them on her. She chose them when she was at peace and comfortable.
So… a good sign.
“Hey,” I said, pulling her attention from where she was absorbed on her phone. “Everything okay?”
She bit down on her lip, suppressing a strange sort of smile. “Uh… that depends on… I don’t know what it depends on. But I think everything is okay?”
I tipped my head to the side, frowning as I approached the bed where she was seated. “You… think?”
“Yeah. Uh… so, you know earlier, when my phone kept ringing?”
I nodded, taking a seat. “Yes. Who was it?”
“The doctor. Remember I went to do that bloodwork?”
That’s not what I expected.
Still, I gave her another nod. “Yes. I went and left my specimens yesterday.”
“Right.” She laughed. “Um… you could’ve saved that trip.”
“Oh…” My mouth went dry as the implications hit me. “Did your bloodwork raise some flags?”
“Onereallymajor one,” she answered, shaking her head. “Um… I… am already pregnant,” she explained. “Verypregnant, if that’s a thing. I have to go in tomorrow for an exam and all of that, but they were calling like that because they wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing anything that might be dangerous for the baby because I didn’t know. Like… drinking wine.”
I cupped a hand over my chin and mouth, trying desperately to truly process what she was saying. “Nala… what do you mean byverypregnant? It’s only been what… three weeks, a month, something like that since you got the implant removed.”
“Which means I had to already be pregnant when I got it removed. I asked about that though and apparently it could’ve been implantation bleeding or just… bleeding. It’s not uncommon. But based on my hormone levels…” She sighed. “I’ve likely been pregnant since pretty close to our wedding night.”
My eyes went wide. “That long? How the hell would you not know?!”
She shrugged. “Stress? Busyness? Emotional drudgery?Supermild symptoms?” She laughed. “I honestly have no idea, and I am… I’m as confused as you are. They have to make sure it’s not like… ectopic or anything, and make sure everything is okay, considering… I was assaulted a few weeks ago, but… yeah. Congratulations.”
Congratulations.
Congratulations?
That was the word that got me unstuck from what was happening in my head. I tamped down the excitement building in my chest to fully turn to her now, pulling her hands into mine. “How doyoufeel about this?” I asked, meeting her gaze.
She didn’t look away, but I could tell she was suppressing a little smile when she shrugged. “I’m not sure,” she said. “It’s still… baffling. And kind of scary. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. But… I’m… cautiously… excited?”
“So…happy?”
