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His lips parted in surprise. Their exchanges were always a back-and-forth of snarky banter. The fact she’d been polite worried him far more than Betty’s comments had.
Logan:You thanked me. You’ve clearly been possessed by an alien. I’ll be there soon.
He stood and closed his laptop, but his phone pinged again almost immediately.
Gabby:I’m serious. Don’t come. I don’t want any guests.
Logan:Not even little old me?
Gabby:No.
The rejection shouldn’t have hurt. He and Gabby weren’t exactly friends. But that didn’t stop the sting of knowing she didn’t want to see him. He considered turning up on her doorstep anyway, just to see with his own eyes that she was okay, but he couldn’t handle it if she told him to get lost, so he sat down again and went back to working through his inbox.
It’s better this way, he told himself. But he didn’t believe it.
5
Over the next two days,Gabby lived in denial. She called in sick to work, moped around in her bed surrounded by a furry huddle of love, and ate only chocolate hazelnut spread on toast because that was what she’d discovered she could keep down. She couldn’t continue like this forever, she knew that, but nor could she decide what to do next. She’d have to return to work. She didn’t have any more sick leave. But with how tired she’d been, and her temperamental stomach, working would be difficult.
On Wednesday morning, she brushed Princess until her coat shone a glorious shade of gold and let Thelma and Louise loose in the empty paddock attached to the property so they could burn off some energy since she didn’t feel up to walking them. That done, she curled up on the sofa with a blanket and a chocolate bar and watched re-runs of McLeod’s Daughters, a show about sisters running a cattle ranch in southern Australia.
She was three episodes deep when someone knocked on the door. She considered ignoring them, but if it was one of her family members, that would only make them worry. She paused the show and tidied her hair, hoping that whoever it was wouldn’t notice what a mess she was. When she opened the front door, she was surprised to find Charity standing there. While she got on well with Charity, they’d never spent much time together one on one.
“This is an intervention,” Charity announced. “You’re not answering anyone’s calls and we’re worried. Shane wanted to give you another day, but I decided I don’t like seeing him and Faith stressed so I’m here to figure out what’s wrong with you.” She brushed past Gabby, pausing to say hello to Thelma and Louise, who’d climbed through the fence to see who’d come to visit, and continued through to the living area. She stopped in the doorway, scanning the blanket on the sofa, the crumb-covered plates, and the empty chocolate wrapper. She pivoted to face Gabby. “Seriously. What’s going on?”
With a sigh, Gabby flopped back onto the sofa and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. She’d known she’d have to tell everyone eventually. She’d just hoped to have more time to come to terms with the situation. It was hard to know how to break the news when she wasn’t sure whether she was thrilled or terrified to be carrying Logan’s baby.
Charity sat cross-legged in an armchair and patted Thomas when he jumped onto her lap.
Gabby pursed her lips. “I can tell you, but I need you to promise you’ll keep it to yourself for a day or so. It involves someone else, and I haven’t spoken to them yet.”
“Scandalous.” Charity’s tone was dry, but Gabby could tell she was intrigued. Maybe having her here wasn’t so bad. She needed to practice telling people, and Charity was sensible and pragmatic. She’d be a good test run.
Gabby was grateful when Mouse, who’d been lingering at the door, trotted over and made herself at home on her lap. She’d be a good distraction. Gabby stroked her with one hand while figuring out where to start. She decided that getting straight to the point would be best.
“I think I’m pregnant.”
Charity’s eyes widened, but other than that, she didn’t show any visible reaction. “With your ex?”
“No. I got my period shortly after we broke up.”
Charity cocked her head. “So, who is the dad?”
Gabby bit her lip. “Logan.”
“Well, damn.” Charity gave her a look she couldn’t interpret. Surprise, but also something else. A hint of approval? “So, he’s the person you need to talk to before the news gets out?”
“Yeah.” Gabby buried her face in Mouse’s soft fur until she’d gotten control of her emotions. “And he’s who I mentioned to you and Faith a while ago, the one I was having a hard time getting over.”
“Wow.” Charity blinked. “I didn’t see that coming. Are you…dating him?”
“No.” She sighed. “We’ve never dated, just had some really great sex. I have no idea how he’s going to react.” Probably not well.
Charity’s expression softened. “It will be okay. I’m not going to lie and say he’ll be pleased. He’s probably going to lose his shit for a little while. But if there’s one thing Logan is, it’s loyal. He’d do anything for his family, and I’m sure it will be the same for your baby once he gets over himself.” She hesitated. “Are you keeping it?”
“Yes.” Gabby raised her chin and silently dared her to comment. She didn’t. Gabby turned over what she’d said. She hoped Logan would be someone she could rely on, as Charity had suggested, but she also didn’t want to put too much on his shoulders. He’d never asked for this. In fact, the opposite was true, and she didn’t want to tie him down if it would only make him miserable and resentful. She needed to hope for the best, but prepare for life as an independent single mum, because that was where she’d probably end up.
“Did I ever tell you what Logan did when Kyle and I started dating?” Charity asked.
