On the way back to my car, Mom said, “You know, even if something bad happens, which I pray it doesn’t, I still think you should tell Cane. Those moments are hard, Kandy. You’re going to need someone to help you pull through it. My someone was your father. If I hadn’t had him, I don’t know what I would have done.”
I felt her eyes on me, but didn’t bother meeting her eyes. I was too busy looking at my ultrasound pictures.
“Once we hear from Bhandari, I’ll tell him,” I told her, running my finger over the black and white image.
“Okay, sweetie.”
When we got to the lot where my car was parked, Mom said she had to meet with a client to go over a case, and I didn’t want to hold her up, so I hugged her tight and watched her go. During my drive, though, I got an email from Dr. Bhandari.
Hello Miss Jennings,
I’m contacting you in regard to your appointment with me earlier. I just want to let you know that I was correct about the embryo being firmly attached. You look to be around five weeks along. As you are considered high risk, I suggest waiting to announce your pregnancy until at least the 8 week mark, when we can hear the baby’s heartbeat. Around 13 weeks, the likelihood of a successful pregnancy increases exponentially. If you begin to cramp too much or even start spotting, please do not hesitate to seek help or call me. I can’t say what will happen in the future, but I will say that there is always a fighting chance, if not now, then in the future. Make sure you take your prenatal vitamins. If there are any problems or cause for concern, please call. I hope to see you again in two weeks.
Best regards,
Vic Bhandari
My heart seemed to drop to my stomach. He’d mentioned there was a fighting chance, but it didn’t sound as promising as I hoped.
I drove the rest of the way home, trying to figure out what exactly to tell Cane. It wasn’t like I could go up to him and act like I was in the clear. I still had eight more weeks before I could know for sure, and even so, that was a long time from now. Anything could happen.
When I got home, no one was there, and I was slightly relieved. I trudged up to my room and curled up beneath the comforter, glad that my nausea had subsided for the moment. I fell asleep, not waking again until around two in the morning. Cane was in bed with me, his arms thrown over his forehead, covering one of his eyes. He was snoring, which was rare. He must have been really tired.
The interesting thing about Cane’s sleep habits now was that he slept more since I’d moved in. He didn’t toss and turn like before. He literally slept like a baby.
And speaking of babies, I didn’t even think about how much things would change by having one. Mom had told me so much, like how she had permanent bags under her eyes because I was a terrible sleeper as a baby and a kid. And also how she had to wear pantyliners every day for two years because when she sneezed, coughed, or laughed too hard, she’d leak a little.
Don’t get me wrong—Mom still had a great body, but a lot had changed for her when she gave birth to me. Was I ready for that yet? For my entire world to shift? My body to change?
I rested on my back, staring up at the ceiling fan. I placed a flat hand on my belly and inhaled deeply before letting it go. If it was meant to be, I knew it would happen. If it wasn’t, then I had to face that truth when it arrived…but Mom was right about what she said before. I couldn’t do it alone. If things did go bad, I wanted him to be there for me.
This was our seed. We’d planted it together, and we’d deal with it the same way.
Together.
Chapter 9
CANE
I’d been dreading this morning all week long. I sat at my desk, sipping on the coffee a new intern had delivered, when Cora walked in. “Sir, she’s here,” she announced, worry swirling in her eyes.
I groaned, placing my cup down and pushing out of my chair. “Let’s get this over with. Send her in.”
With a nod, Cora took off. Several seconds later, there she was.
Eden St. Claire.
Don’t get me wrong, Eden was a very good looking woman. She had smooth, topaz skin and had aged nicely. Her dark hair was straightened, reaching just past her shoulders, and large diamonds were in her ears. I’m certain with a father as rich as Gerald Miller, they were real diamonds. She was easy on the eyes—eye candy, as many men would say—but her inner flaws made her less than appealing.