Faith laughed and unwrapped the gift. Inside the box was a lovely sterling silver filigreed platter with a simple inscription bearing their names and the date of their wedding. Seeing Brigit’s thoughtful gift made tears well in her eyes for some reason. Much to her embarrassment, they spilled down her cheeks unchecked.
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s...just beautiful,” Faith managed shakily as she hastily dried her cheeks with the back of her hand.
Brigit reached for some tissues on her desk and passed them to her, looking mildly concerned. “Is everything all right, Faith?”
“Oh, yes,” Faith assured. She glanced into Brigit’s face, however, and another shudder of emotion went through her. More tears spilled down her cheeks. She’d never had a nurturing, overly involved mother figure in her life, and something about Brigit’s kind, concerned expression at that moment undid her. She sobbed, holding the tissue to her face as if to hide from her misery when she felt Brigit’s touch on her shoulder. “It’s just...well...I’m pregnant, Brigit,” she wailed, as if that explained everything.
Which, perhaps, it did.
Brigit just made soothing sounds while she had her cry. After a minute she took several more tissues and mopped up her face, feeling contrite.
“I’m really sorry,” she mumbled. “I feel like I cry at the drop of a hat these days. The platter is absolutely beautiful.”
Brigit waved her elegant hand, making it clear her gift was hardly crucial.
“How far along are you?” Brigit asked.
“Fifteen weeks,” Faith hiccupped.
“And Ryan...”
“Is the father, yes. He came to my house last Christmas Eve—after he spent the holiday with you and your family, actually,” Faith explained wetly. “He said he wanted to see if I was all right. He and Jesse were...good friends, you know,” she said brokenly. She inhaled to calm herself, but more tears spilled down her cheeks. “That’s when it happened. The baby I mean. Well...everything.”
She swallowed painfully and gave Brigit an apologetic glance, saw that the older woman’s face was tight with understanding. She stroked Faith’s shoulder as another wave of emotion shuddered through her.
“And so you two decided to marry because of the baby?” Brigit asked.
Faith nodded, ignoring the new tears that spilled down her cheeks this time. They just seemed to keep coming.
“It’s supposed to be in name only,” she said miserably. Brigit patted her when her face clenched up and she sobbed again quietly.
“Shhhh, try to calm down now, honey,” Brigit murmured comfortingly. She stood and made her way to a small refrigerator Faith kept in her office. She opened the bottle of water she found there and handed it to Faith. Faith thankfully took several sips of the cool water, feeling herself calm.
“From what you’ve said so far, I’m gathering that you care about Ryan,” Brigit said, sitting down across from her again.
Faith just nodded.
“And how does he feel about you?”
“He thinks he cares about me, but it’s all wrapped up in his need to sort of...protect me or something ever since Jesse died. We’re attracted to each other. Obviously,” Faith said, glancing down at her stomach and then back up at Brigit. When she saw a look of amusement pass over Brigit’s face, she couldn’t help but grin tiredly. “Oh, Brigit,” she said, shaking her head. “How is anybody supposed to know what they feel in a strange situation like this one?”
“Are you talking about you, or Ryan?”
“Both, I suppose. Ryan is being incredibly sweet about the baby. He’s very excited. Mari told me he’s always wanted to have a child.”
Brigit nodded. “I can see that. The Itanis were a very close-knit family, and Ryan has always been loyal to the bone. I had reason to resent his familial loyalty after the accident and during the lawsuit, but that was years and years ago. I understand his need now to protect Mari—his only family—and provide her with whatever compensation was available to her for the loss of their parents. Not that money can replace a loved one, but...well...” She faded off for a moment, looking thoughtful. “Ryan was practically a kid himself th
en, but he took on the full responsibility of a man, making all the decisions and fulfilling all the obligations that came along with the death of both of his parents.”
Faith sniffed. “I guess I’m not the only one he gets protective over.”
Brigit smiled and patted her hand. “He cares deeply about his sister. For a while she was his only living family. If Ryan is concerned for you, it means he cares.”
Faith’s lower lip trembled. She wanted to believe what Brigit said was true, but...
“But he’s gone so much, Brigit. He’s a pilot...like Jesse.”
Brigit’s blue eyes sharpened on her. “Oh, I see.”