I force myself to meet her eyes, though my heart is still racing.
“That man is head over heels in love with you,” she says, her voice even and sure. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you like you hung the moon. And Isla adores you. You know that, right? You’re not some complication in their lives.”
“I…know that. But Jules, what if I’m not even capable of having a healthy pregnancy? Regardless of Aidan’s reaction…”
The hallway suddenly feels too confining. I need air, space to think. Pushing myself up from the floor, I make my way to the living room.
Soft morning light filters through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. Everything looks the same, and yet, nothing will ever be the same again.
I move to the window and push the pane open, letting the crisp Highland air rush in. The scent of heather and damp earth fills my lungs, grounding me, giving me something to hold on to when everything feels like it’s shifting beneath me.
In the distance, I can see the misty outline of the mountains, solid and unchanging. It’s comforting, somehow, to know that while my own universe has been turned upside down, the rest of the world carries on as always.
I press my hand to my stomach again. For a moment, I close my eyes, letting the cool air brush against my face. Even in the silence, my mind refuses to settle. I think about the doctor’swords and how I’d walked out of that office feeling broken, like my body had betrayed me in the most fundamental way.
And now, against all odds, it’s happening.
“Lucy?” Juliette’s voice is soft behind me. “How are you feeling?”
I turn from the window and the familiar brush of fur winds around my ankles. Marmalade weaves between my legs, purring insistently, and for a moment, it’s a small comfort in the whirlwind. “Scared. Thrilled.”
“Totally normal.” She smirks. “Were you planning on seeing Aidan today?”
I had stayed at my place last night because I wanted to give Aidan and Isla some space to get prepared for…Emily. The situation is already heavy enough without me being there and adding any more pressure.
“I’m not sure,” I finally answer. “I need to wait to see what happens with Emily today.”
Juliette winces at her name, a flash of discomfort crossing her face before she quickly masks it with a smile. She takes a deep breath, and her eyes suddenly light up with excitement.
“Well, regardless of what happens with…her,” she says, deliberately avoiding Emily’s name. “We have other things to think about now.” She grabs my hands, squeezing them tight. “I’m going to be an auntie! Oh, just think—a little one with Aidan’s eyes and your beautiful smile.”
The image of a tiny baby with Aidan’s fierce eyes makes my heart swell. “You’re already planning their features?”
“Duh. Of course I am. But seriously, I’m here for whatever you need. Tips, tricks, pep talks, midnight panic calls. I know all the shortcuts.”
I manage a shaky laugh, the tension inside of me easing some. “I just… I need to process this before I tell him. Figure out how I’m going to say it.”
She nods, understanding in her eyes. “Of course. Don’t wait too long, though, okay? This is good news, Lucy. The best news.”
I let the weight of her words settle for a moment, and then the practical side of my brain kicks in. “I need to see a doctor,” I say, forcing my voice steady. “I should probably get checked sooner rather than later. I don’t even know how far along I am.”
“Absolutely. We’ll get you set up with the best doctor around. Someone who specializes in high-risk pregnancies, just to be safe.”
The words “high-risk” make my stomach clench. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the fresh wave of anxiety. “Thank you. I mean it.”
While Juliette’s confidence is grounding, the next step is the one that feels more daunting than any appointment or morning sickness or sleepless night could ever be.
I have to tell Aidan.
forty
AIDAN
I’m sitting down with Isla this morning, the weight of what’s coming pressing down on me. She’s too little to carry any of this, too innocent to even know what’s coming. Yet here I am, about to place it in her lap.
“All right, little storm,” I say, keeping my tone light, like this is nothing to be nervous about. “We need to talk about something.”
She tips her chin up, those big, trusting eyes locking on mine.
