AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I settled on the couch with a new book, smiling softly to myself as my focus shifted from the story to the memory of Pete and me in his truck, when I’d been on his lap and his hand had been down my jeans, stroking me until my eyes rolled back in my head.
Oh, my parents would have killed me for less, I realized, than making out with a man who owned a bar and wore cowboy-cut Wrangler jeans instead of dry-cleaned trousers and a Rolex.
But I’d never felt freer.
And I’d never felt more loved.
My phone rang I answered it without checking the caller ID. I thought it was going to be Pete, but a woman’s voice cut through the line.
“Is this Sierra Gold?”
“Yes,” I said, my chest tightening.
“This is Doctor Enstrom’s office. We have the paternity results back. Would you like to discuss them now, or at your appointment on Friday?”
“Friday is fine,” I said, letting out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding as I confirmed the date and time of the upcoming appointment. I smiled to myself as I hung up the phone.
On Friday, Pete’s reluctance to accept what I knew was the truth would wane.
And we could move on.
I was looking forward to that—him knowing for sure the tiny speck of life within me was part of him as much as it was part of me.
I rested my hand over my belly as I read my book. I noticed the soft curve that was starting to take shape there and I smiled.
Chapter Twenty-One
Pete
Doctor Marks sat idly behind his desk, swiveling in his chair as he fixed me with a patriarchal look. I pursed my lips and crossed my arms over my chest, exhaling through my nostrils.
“You know how babies are made, right?” he teased, arching a brow.
“Don’t fuck with me,” I replied, mimicking that playful arch of his brow with my own. Marks had delivered practically every baby that had ever been born in Hot Springs, including myself. He was old as dirt—older than God, which were his words, not mine. Ten years or so ago, he’d switched to something called Maternal Fetal Medicine, which made him the only High-Risk OBGYN in the area. Moira had had a team of doctors when she was pregnant, but for some reason, Marks decided to take over Sierra’s care.
Sierra was worried now that something was wrong.
Saying fuck in a doctor’s office wasn’t the norm, obviously, but sitting in Doctor Marks’ office had me tight with unease.
“Are these not the results you were expecting to see?”
“I wasn’t sure what I was expecting,” I admitted, tapping the toe of my shoe against his desk. Sierra was in one of the exam rooms doing whatever the hell these appointments had been scheduled for. All I knew was that she was being poked and prodded somewhere, and I was in here.
“Congratulations,” he smiled. “You’re going to be father.”
“Thanks,” I replied, narrowing my eyes at him. “But why did you bring me in here alone to tell me that?”
“I already spoke to your partner about it, Sierra—”
“Yes, that’d be her,” I chirped, rolling my eyes.Partner. I wasn’t sure that sounded any better than girlfriend.
“Anyway,” Doctor Marks continued, sounding slightly annoyed. “Those blood tests revealed something somewhat concerning. Sierra is RH negative, and the baby is RH positive.”
I had no idea what he was talking about, but something in his tone made me stiffen.
“During pregnancy, it causes a higher rate of miscarriage for the mother, and the baby could experience some complications as well before and after birth. She’ll have to come in weekly for RH Immune Globulins shots until she’s in her second trimester—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa—” I cut in, leaning forward. “Is she in danger?”
