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Gabby struggled to follow the change of topic. “No.”
“Logan was sure that I would hurt Kyle, so he stuck his nose into our relationship in a way that caused problems for us.”
“I’m sorry.”
Charity shook her head. “That’s not the point. The point is that Logan thought Kyle was in trouble and he did whatever it took to protect him, even if it was underhanded. Once you have Logan’s loyalty, he’ll be fiercely protective.”
Gabby’s heart squeezed. “But what if I never get it?”
Or what if she did, but for all the wrong reasons? She couldn’t stand to be an unwanted obligation.
“You’re having his baby.” She looked Gabby dead in the eye. “That will outweigh everything else. Trust me.”
“I hope you’re right.” She knew she had to tell Logan soon. He deserved to know. But she dreaded it. What if he blamed her, or asked her to terminate the pregnancy?
“I am,” Charity said. “You need to rip off the Band-Aid and tell him. It’ll be better that way.”
She was right. But…
“I should do a blood test first. Just to be sure.”
Charity raised an eyebrow. “How many at-home tests have you taken?”
“Four.” She looked away. “But I want to be certain.”
Charity sighed. “Just as long as you’re not using it as an excuse to delay. After all, with four positive tests and the fact you look like a dog’s breakfast, how much doubt is there really?”
She probably was delaying, but it would be terrible if she announced the pregnancy to the world and then learned she had some stress-induced hormonal condition that mimicked the symptoms.
“I’ll do the test today,” she said. “As soon as I get the results, I’ll tell him, and then we can figure out how to let our families know.”
* * *
After sharinga lunch of more toast and a few crackers with Charity, Gabby drove to Serenity Cove, a town about an hour north along the coast. She’d made an appointment at the medical laboratory there, rather than the closer town of Te Awa Tui, to reduce the risk of running into anyone she knew. Besides, she’d been meaning to visit Serenity Cove. She’d heard good things about the sleepy coastal town from Marley, who had lived there briefly after college.
Gabby entered the waiting area and took a number from the desk. She picked up a health and wellness magazine and skimmed until she found an article about good nutrition during pregnancy. Apparently, she’d been doing everything wrong. She was supposed to be eating more vegetables and lean protein.
Tell that to my stomach.
At least the wholegrain bread she’d been using ticked one box.
When her number was called, she followed a short, plump nurse down the corridor to a small private room and sat on the patient bed while the nurse prepared the needle.
“Have you been trying for a baby?” the nurse asked as she lined the tip of the needle up with a vein in Gabby’s elbow.
Gabby grimaced as the needle jabbed into her but didn’t flinch. Years of being a veterinarian had made her immune to needles and other tools of the trade. “No, but I’ve always wanted one.”
The nurse smiled as she removed the needle and capped it. “Let’s hope for good news then.”
Good news. Was that what it would be when the test came back with the result she knew it would? Maybe.
For the first time, she allowed herself to feel excited without guilt. Sure, this might not be the way she’d have preferred to do things, but she was having a baby. She placed her hand over her flat stomach and for a moment, joy overcame her, so intense that tears filled her eyes. A little boy or girl was being created inside her, and that was incredible.
“Let’s hope,” Gabby murmured, but she knew that no luck was needed. She was pregnant. This test was just a formality.
She smiled, wondering what her child would be like. Would they love animals like she did? Would they have her golden-brown eyes or Logan’s turbulent blue-green ones? Her dark hair, or his blond? She was certain they’d have plenty of spirit. Both she and Logan were well-endowed in that department. Most likely, they’d have made a feisty little one who’d have plenty of their own opinions and not hesitate to share them.
She couldn’t wait.
