“If I don’t give you a deadline, you’ll sit on it until you’rein labor.”
“Goodbye, Sloane.” As I’m about to push the door closed in herface, something catches her eye.
“What’s that?”
She seesa large bag in the hallway, shaped like a square.
“Oh, it’s just…some crossword puzzles and word search books Ipicked up for Gunner.”
“Ah. And when are we going to take these over to the Waltersranch?” her tone is teasing.
“None of your business.” I sneer, mockingly. “Goodbye,Sloane.”
“Tell him, Ellie.”
I startclosing the door. “See ya, Sloane.”
***
Blakeanswers the door at the ranch. “Oh, hey…Ellie. How areyou?”
“I’m good. I hope I’m not intruding. Thought I’d bring Gunnersome stuff to keep him busy while his arm is healing.”
“Oh, that’s awful nice of you, darlin’. Come onin.”
“Thanks. Is he sleeping?”
“Yeah, for a while now. Mama had him out this morning, andRuby was with him for a while, but he fell asleep.”
I walkinto the house and Blake takes the bag of books from me. “You wantsome tea?”
“No, I don’t want to keep you.”
“It’s okay. I’m just waiting on a delivery. Did you want me tofind Mav—” he’s cut off by the front door opening, and Maverick’shead pops in.
“Hey, Blake…oh…sorry.” He says, seeing me at the door. “Hi,Ellie. I…didn’t know you were stopping by.”
“It’s okay. I was just bringing some activity books forGunner.” The way I say it, it makes Gunner sound like he’s inKindergarten, not the grown man that he is.
Blake’sphone starts ring. He grabs it out of his back pocket. “Excuse me.”He says, and I feel like he can’t scurry away fast enough. You cancut the tension in the room with a knife.
“Um…how are y’all doing?” Maverick asks me.
My handsstart to shake. My tongue goes dry. Worst of all, my chin starts toquiver. I swallow, trying to find my voice. And when I do, I wish Ihadn’t, because I just blurt it out. “I’m pregnant.”
His jawmuscles start to work. He nods. “That’s….nice.” he says, like Ididn’t just tell him that I’m pregnant.
“It’s yours.”
Heblinks and looks at me. “Wait…what did you say?”
“I said I’m pregnant. And it’s yours.”
His eyeswiden. “You’re shitting me.”
“I’m not. I just came from the doctor.” I chuckle mirthlessly,even though tears are pouring down my cheeks all of a sudden.“Sloane told me that the home test could be negative, and I washoping like hell that it was, but as my luck would have it, it’snot. I’m as pregnant as the sky is blue.”
“You’re shitting me.” He repeats.
