“Agreed.”
“Plus, I’m forty now, as you know, so that makes it all a bit trickier.”
Eddie clicks his tongue softly against his teeth, but stays silent, which is not helping my nerves.
Fuck it, Kiki. Just tell him your plan. What’s the worst that could happen?
“Can I be really honest with you? But you have to promise not to get mad.”
His eyes widen. “Why would I get mad?”
I shrug, twisting my hands together, the nerves coiling like snakes in my belly. “It’s silly, really, because why would you get mad? It’s not like I’m asking you, or anything…”
He grabs my arms and pivots me to him. “Not asking me what?”
Shit, here goes nothing.
I huff out a breath. “I made myself a promise when Drake was arrested and my life turned upside down. I told myself that once the trial is over and my life belongs to me again, that I’ll look into having a baby. Try on single motherhood for size.”
He stills, his expression giving nothing away.
Totally not helping my cause.
Time to reverse, and fast.
“It’s probably a stupid idea. Hell, I can’t afford my cabin repairs. How would I afford a baby, right? Anyway?—”
“Hey, breathe.” He intertwines our fingers, giving my hands a gentle squeeze. “Honestly? I think you’d be amazing, and I can’t say that about a lot of people.”
Now why do his words bring tears to my eyes? Maybe it’s the realization that I’m still worthy of having dreams. “Thank you.”
He presses a soft kiss to my temple. “You know?—”
“Hello? Are you two coming in or not? Because I’m not above eating your share of the chocolate cake.” Ori stands in the doorway, hands on her hips, tiny and fierce as always.
Eddie slips an arm around my shoulder, guiding me toward the warmth of the carriage house. “To be continued.”
He doesn’t elaborate, although I ponder his words the remainder of the night. He thinks I’d be an excellent mother, but he never offered to play any role in my future plans.
Still, he wasn’t angry. If anything, he understood my stance and knowing Eddie, he’d want my happiness above all things.
Could I really still have a chance at love, a family, some kind of wonderful life after everything that’s happened?
Hope rises so fast it almost hurts. But hope is a dangerous thing. I know that better than most.
Life has a way of sneaking up on you when you think everything is okay.
I told Ash things had been quiet where Drake wasconcerned. No new articles. No fresh gossip. No sudden update about the trial or the man I once called my husband. But quiet doesn’t mean over, and all it takes is another ‘scoop’ on the case of the century to destroy the small pocket of peace I’ve carved for myself.
What will win in the end? Hope and a new life, or fear burning everything I love to the ground?
Chapter 12
Because I Love Her
Eddie
When I show up at Deirdre’s house the following week, she yanks the door open before I even have a chance to knock.
