ake when the sun filtered through the

h a pile of old receipts in her draw

p. She had to tell him. Soon. Before it spiraled out of her contr

fted to her

ch

ch

ce with both dread and someth

he be

nk she had p

he ask her to

interrupted

ng on a robe, an

harcoal suit. His hair was slightly tousled, like

ast meeting. Do

nked. "

thing serious. Just opti

ti

minded her exact

ct. A pe

turned again but this time

k I'll stay

arefully. "You s

just

ll right. Rest. I'll

ched hi

ed shut, the apartment

stract herself b

en, wiped down the windows, reorganized

aused, her hand

n said the wor

pregn

ed it to th

el any more real. Or

sat at a table in a sleek downtown restaur

s, was droning on about diversificatio

arely he

s back at t

ed with shadows, her frame more fragile than usual. And her

ing's

y'd been through the past week. But the feeling li

s said, pulling him back to the present.

s jaw t

started asking about his "home

" he replie

e said it, do

ah stood by the living ro

ics. Private OBs.

of it f

ing concrete. Something beyond

and began scheduling

kup. Just to

d have the cour

the final confirmation screen, a

the couch, clo

n't sust

ng like this. Lying to

ned earlier

elevator doors opened. She sat up quickly, b

de, slipping out of his suit jacket. "D

he replied, her voice qu

the kitchen. "I

all in her head how she would tell him, what words she'

nd leaned against the mar

ea

oze mi

omething'

tightened ar

ve barely eaten. You were sick ye

d you,

rmly. "Don't lie

ed again, but this time it wasn't the pregnancy it

ed, voice softer now. "If y

said quickly. "Not

ened. "Then

Every cell in her bo

he pa

," she lied again

t look c

narrowing. "Is it me?

an... not

his head.

itated

hed. "You don

ed. "I just don't k

what,

Closed it again. Her

I

d speak, his ph

h, checked the screen. "I

almost too quick

answered the call and walked into th

stool, the words burn

preg

ost had

that a

pressed to her temples, a cold

too much thinking

e startled

, standing in the doorway with c

intrude, but... yo

t smile. "It's j

ve me, but... are you sure

bli

s house long enough to notice patterns. Miss

heart p

gently. "But... if you are with child, y

d at her,

was pregnant with my first, I was scared out of

it?" Leah

ind smile. "It just bec

ars gathering at the

laced a small brow

this?" L

Good for th

ut another word

t the bag for

nstead of judgment,

at changed

en

't speak mu

d salmon, clearly still turning over w

I had your doctor's

up, startl

l. I thought maybe you were

cold. "You... w

without your consent. But they a

allowe

forward. "

es

he

morn

harpened.

od up abruptly, unable

d some

ea

ase. Don't

ning room befor

den Twenty

e railing, the city li

lushed skin. The pressure in her chest wouldn'

ps behi

n't tur

u not to f

sten," Xavie

retched be

o tell me now?"

The wind tugged at her

finally. No preamble. N

's fac

n him seemed

er, for disappoint

said

ds pa

"You'r

ek. "I took two tests. I have an appoin

n punched in the gut. Ra

't going t

voice shaking. "So many

f

d react. This wasn't pa

eyes unreadable.

back. "If you wa

he said

blin

said more gently. "I just... I

d quickly

away. Then back again. He looked

ked, "Do you w

ced through the

e whisper

shake something loose

ice lower now. "Do you

eath h

it hard. You say one thing and feel an

oked

efore," he said. "Not like this.

at him. "

e, there was no coldness in his

try

then, and she d

cheek, his thumb b

hild," he said softly. "That means som

resting her forehe

erself believe maybe this was