The timer on Daisy’s phone dings, and I can’t. I can’t do it. I’m not ready to know.
“You do it.”
My big sister rolls her eyes at me and flips the test over so we can see it at the same time. No hesitation. All dramatic flair.
The results hit like a gut-punch—positive.
I can’t breathe. This…this isn’t part of the plan. Not that I had such a big grasp on what my plans were to begin with, but this didn’t factor in. Why wasn’t I more careful?
Silence hangs between us as I spiral.
This isn’t real, right?
A false positive?
I’m sure that happens all the time.
Right?Right?
“Well…damn.” Daisy takes my hand, squeezes it, grounding me without words. Words never did me any good when life got too much for me. It’s why Gabe always managed to calm me down when others couldn’t.
There’s no way he would be calm right now. Not about this. How am I supposed to tell him? How am I supposed to watch his opinion of me change?
What if none of them want me now? What if I turn into a burden? I swear I’ve never been more than that to anyone. I’ll cease being useful. And they’ll be stuck with me.
“Stop it, Drew. Whatever train of thought coursing through that brilliant brain of yours is not helpful, so stop it. You’re fine. You’re going to have so much help with this that you won’t even know what to do with it.”
I don’t know how she looks so reassured, but her confidence helps even out my breathing in increments. “They’re all going to drop me after I tell them. Why would they want to stay? It’s too soon.”
My jumbled thoughts don’t make much sense as they fly out of my mouth, but Daisy gives my shoulders a good shake.
“Whoever it is, they’ll be over the moon.”
But I’m not so sure.
Daisy makes me look at her. “Let me tell you what’s obvious to me, okay? As someone outside of this. Adam wants you. A kid is going to make him happy. He’s not getting any younger. Greysonloves kidsand barely gets to see his own. And Gabe…he never liked kids, but he always liked you. There’s no way it would be any different with your kid.”
A kernel of hope burns, but it’s short lived under the onslaught of my panic.
How the hell am I supposed to tell them when I don’t know whose it is?
Will it break the tenuous relationship we’ve built?
34
ADAM
The final event, our holiday party, is in full swing as the roads thaw out and townsfolk show up.
Soft Christmas music plays in the background, the banquet room is full, and so is the sitting area, cafe, and lobby.
All of our unexpected guestsoooandahhover what Drew’s brilliant brain created. She truly was made for this.
The decorations are classy, elevated, not too Christmas-centric for our non-celebrating patrons here. But the small sitting room where the kids congregate is decked out in Santa decor, packed with games and treats to keep them occupied.
It’s an excellent balance and everything I expected after seeing what Drew could do, even if I can’t seem to get a minute alone with her.
Daisy has stuck to Drew most of the day, helping, chatting, and I’m a bit surprised.
