I rush to her and pull her to my chest, holding her tight. I can barely believe this is actually happening to us. I feel like the luckiest man alive.
She laughs as she hugs me back, and I know she’s overjoyed too. But I can also feel her trembling in my arms, and I know she’s still scared of something.
I pull away, set her down on her feet, and cup her face in my hands. There are unshed tears in her eyes.
“Aren’t you happy?” I ask, needing to know this is what she wants.
She nods her head furiously.
“Of course I am. It’s just still sinking in…but I couldn’t be happier. I’ve always wanted a baby. It’s just…it’s just that this changes things. Soon, I won’t be able to hide that I’m pregnant. And that puts a timer on telling my dad.”
I hadn’t thought of that. Now I can see why Tara is so nervous. She’s beginning to realize how real this is, how this could change her life forever. It already has. She takes a deep breath and I see the fear in her eyes.
“I guess that means we’re telling him tomorrow for sure,” she whispers, meeting my eyes. “I don’t feel ready, but I have to be. I can’t hold off anymore. I’m just going to have to be honest with him, and with myself.”
“I think you’re being brave,” I tell her. “And you’re doing the right thing. It was never going to be possible to lie to him. We both knew that. We just didn’t want to face it.”
“I know…I still don’t. It’s just all a little much, I thought I would have more time I guess. Gosh and the stress, it can’t be good for our baby.”
Our baby. Those words send a thrill through me. But she needs me right now more than ever. She needs my support, my excitement can be held off for now. We need to face one thing at a time. I kiss the top of her head tenderly, hoping she can feel the love in my gesture.
“I know it’s scary. But it’s going to be alright. Imagine how happy he’ll be when he learns he’s going to be a grandpa. How can he not be overjoyed? It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. I promise.”
But it’s a promise I’m not sure I can keep. Because I don’t know how her dad is going to react. He could blow up completely when he finds out. He might never forgive either of us. I can only hope that he sees sense. For the sake of his daughter…
And for the sake of his grandchild.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Tara
I hold my breath as the cruise ship comes into the dock. I know my dad is going to be waiting for me when I get off, but what he’s not expecting is to see Nate with me too. We’re walking off this boat hand in hand. It’s the only way I think I can be strong enough to do this.
So much has changed in these last two weeks. Hell, I’ve changed. I wonder if my dad will even recognize this person that I’ve become. I felt like a young girl when I got on the ship, someone who had no idea what direction her life was heading in. Now, I feel like a woman. A woman who is ready to settle down and start a family.
A woman who knows exactly what she wants from her life.
And the one thing that I want is Nate.
He’s standing with me at the front of the ship, his hand in mine. He can sense how tense I am about doing this. How can I not be? I’m about to turn everyone’s worlds upside down. I know my dad will take one look at our interlocked hands and never look at me the same way again. It’s not what I want. I always imagined that when I brought a man home for my dad to meet that he’d be happy for me.
But not in this case.
He’ll see me holding hands with one of his closest friends and he’ll feel betrayed. He’ll know that we’ve been keeping this secret from him. And then he will assume that we don’t care about him, that we’ve done all of this to hurt him in some way. I would love for him to understand what I share with Nate, to give himself the chance to understand us. To understand that our love is strong enough to endure anything. That he’s my lifeline now. My lover, the father of my child, my entire future. I can’t just walk away from that. Not even to save my dad’s feelings.
“Are you ready for this?” Nate asks gently in my ear.
I shake my head. “Not in the slightest.”
“Give yourself some credit, baby. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. You can do this. You can stand up for yourself. And you know I’m going to be backing you every step of the way.”