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That would mean only six hours. Maybe?“I’ll think about it.”
“Send me the details. Ben can go with you.”
“Fine by me.”
“No protest? Now, I’m suspicious. Should I be?”
“No. I can handle a birthday party. I miss you a lot, though.” I choked up.
“Nadia, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
“Nothing. I’m sorry.” I hiccupped and wiped my tears on the sleeve of my shirt.
“You don’t need to apologize for missing me, but you’re crying about it. Did something happen? Did you speak to your parents?”
“A little. Mom changed my visit to after Paris. I’m…I just worry about them, you know?”
“Okay, but you can talk to me. How about I pick you up in Nantucket, and if I have to leave again after that, I’ll take you with me until you leave for Paris. How does that sound?”
Usually, I would love Paul spending extra time with me. He’d been attentive and hadn’t pulled back during the trip. But what will he think about me missing some of my birth control pills? He’d freak out. It’s nothing anyway.
“Nadia?”
“I…I would love that,” I stammered and sniffled.
“Baby, don’t cry. I miss you, too. Damn it; I’ll fly us all back—”
“No. I’ll be fine. I just need some rest. Besides, Isabelle needs help with sewing her swimsuits, and I still need to prepare for Paris. I’ll be busy, too.”
“Okay. I’ll check on you tomorrow. I miss you, baby. Get some sleep.”
We ended the call, and I buried my head in my pillows and tried to sleep, but nothing could settle my mind.What will Paul do?
There was no more putting it off. I needed to know what would happen if I was pregnant by Paul. One thing I learned about Gunnar was that he was thorough. He would have added some stipulation in the contract for pregnancy. I got up and went to my laptop and searched for the first contract I signed with Paul regarding our arrangement. Once recovering the passwords. I logged in.
“On the subject of pregnancy….” The contract stated.
“Once pregnancy is determined and biologically proven to be Paul Crane’s. He would assume full custodial rights….”
There was a multimillion-dollar compensation in the sum of ten million dollars, and an agreement to be a part of the child’s life by the mother, but the child would belong to him. He would oversee visitation.My child would be his, not mine.
My heart shattered in my chest.
My child.
I can’t let this consume me. The test was negative.Understandably, at the back of my mind I saw the parallels with Nora. How could I not? But Paul wasn’t Justus. Paul loved kids as I saw in Rome. He was kind. Thoughtful. And for now, I had to trust thatifI’m pregnant, everything will work out for the best. AndwhenI find out I’m not pregnant, life will continue on.I will be okay.
Isabelle hand-stitched a button on the bottom of a swimsuit and jokingly whined,“I’m going to be too tired to party.”
We were at her place in the West Village putting the finishing touches on a few swimsuits. We’d worked on our collaboration until mere hours before the party.
“We’re out of time. You need to try yours on now, Nadia.” She pointed to the clock on her wall. We had a mani-pedi appointment at the Peninsula spa soon.
I left the room to try on my swimsuit. It was from her Mardi Gras collection and had a rhinestone, pinup-style push-up top with a lace and rhinestone bottom. I quickly fixed my hair and makeup and walked back into her bedroom.
Posing with my hands on my hips, I asked her. “What do you think? I love it.”
Isabelle jumped in place and clapped. “Oh, my God. That’s fire!” She raised her camera, and I dove behind her wall divider.
