“I feel fine about it. It’s a new start with Holden, and his place is great. Plus, no one’s been attacked there.”
Indie’s features softened. “And how’s Holden been?”
“He’s been…a lot. But in a good way. I prefer the Holden who doesn’t want to leave my side over the one who runs in the other direction.”
“I knew you two would find a way to make it work.”
“You did not.”
“I did. Even after everything happened with Colt and my view on love became a lot more pessimistic, I still thought you two would come together.”
Clara swallowed at the mention of Colt. She’d been meaning to ask her cousin about him for a couple of weeks now. “Have you called or texted Colt about the divorce papers?”
“I did. He didn’t answer, and then a day later he called me back, but that timeIdidn’t answer.” She wrinkled her nose. “I should have. I watched the phone ring. I just couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. Even listening to him on voice mail hit me so hard I couldn’t breathe.”
“I’m sorry.” If she could take this pain away for her cousin, she would.
Indie picked at the lilies. “I’ve actually been thinking about doing something.”
“Oh my gosh…is this the crazy thing you were texting about over a month ago? With everything going on, I completely forgot to ask about it.”
“I didn’t want to bring it up while you had so much to deal with.”
“Well, I’ve got nothing going on now. Tell me.”
Indie peeked at her. “Well, I’m getting old.”
Clara scoffed. “You’re thirty-four.”
“Exactly. One more year and a pregnancy would be considered geriatric. My biological clock is ticking. Colt and I tried for so many years but nothing worked, not natural conception or the rounds of IVF. But I want to be a mother. I crave itevery day. When I see a baby, my heart physically hurts.”
“Oh, Indie…” She knew her cousin wanted to be a mom, but the pain in her voice had never been this bad.
“So…” Indie continued. “I think I’m going to give IVF just one more go.”
“But you and Colt aren’t together anymore.”
“With a sperm donor.”
Clara stopped. “You’re going to have a baby with a sperm donor?”
“I’ve made an initial appointment just to get information about the process.”
She wanted to be happy for her friend. Indie would make an amazing mother, and she’d wanted this for so long. But the idea of her doing it without Colt just felt wrong.
“You think it’s crazy,” Indie said.
“No. Absolutely not. I just…I always thought you and Colt would enter the parenting world together.”
Grief cut through Indie’s eyes.
Crap. Wrong thing to say.
“But,” she rushed to add, “you’ll be an amazing mother, and I’ll support you on any path you take. You want me to help pick a baby daddy from a printed bio? I’m there. You want help with IVF injections? I’m great with needles.”
Tears shone in Indie’s eyes, but she blinked them back. “Thank you. You’re the first person I’ve told.”
“I’m on your side, always, crazy ideas and all.”
