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“And how have things improved?” he asked.
She did smile at that.
“They haven’t, but you still need to meet my family. They’ll want to know the father of my baby.”
The more she thought about it, the more it seemed Brussels was farther and farther away.
On the other hand, if she stayed in San Francisco to have her baby and for a few months after, maybe it would be for the best. She’d be surrounded by friends and her family wasn’t that far away. And the baby’s daddy would be close by as well.
If she carried it to term.
She constantly reminded herself of that. She still couldn’t believe in the miracle and expected something horrible to happen before the due date. She shivered, hoping against hope she’d one day hold her baby.
She couldn’t think about that. She looked at Trace.
“Come and spend Thanksgiving Day with my family.”
He considered the idea. She watched him remembering how much she’d enjoyed spending time with him. He still had the power to stop her heart with his good looks. She loved the way he’d look at her as if she were the only other person in the world. His dark eyes could melt her bones. She wished she still had the right to run her fingers through his hair, feel its texture, the warmth of his skin against her palm and fingertips. Feel his mouth on hers again. She grew warm just thinking about it.
“A simple yes or no would suffice,” she said once she realized he hadn’t answered.
“A bit awkward, don’t you think?”
“They have to be hospitable if you visit. It’s only for dinner. They live in Stockton. It’s about a three-hour drive. My parents have always held dinner at one o’clock on Thanksgiving. So we could drive over in the morning, eat, and drive back.”
“No. That’s a family day. I’d be in the way. And it would be awkward, if not worse. There will be time enough to meet them before the baby comes,” he said.
Cath didn’t blame him. She knew she’d refuse if he invited her to a holiday event with his family. They weren’t that close.
And the thought made her sad.
For a few glorious weeks she’d been caught up in the delight of getting to know this man, to feeling the symptoms of falling in love. She relished being part of a couple, of making plans together.
It was all gone now.
“Will they make things difficult for you?” he asked.
“I don’t see how. If you only knew how much I wanted a baby over the years, how everyone thought it would never happen, I think they’ll be happy for me.”
“But that does bring up the question of marriage.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Do you want me to marry you for the sake of the baby?” Trace asked.
Cath felt her heart jump. For a split second—wait, what had he said? For the sake of the baby?
No, she didn’t want to marry anyone for such a reason.
She shook her head and rose.
“No, I don’t want to marry you for the baby. It’ll be fine with me as a single mom. I have to go.”
“Stay for a while,” Trace said, moving away from the window. “What else are you going to do today?”
“Take a nap after lunch,” she said, inching toward the door.
She really didn’t want to stay. His comment about marriage had her suddenly longing for the very thing. Only not because of a baby, but for love and devotion and a longing to share her life with someone. Could she find someone to love, to share her life with?
