“I’ve been thinking,” Miles said. “Maybe you should stick to the house until the baby comes.”
“Not go out anymore?” She frowned.
“Well, you’re pretty obviously pregnant now,” he pointed out. “We’ve been covering it for a while with baggy sweaters, but I don’t think that’s going to work anymore. And we did agree that part of the reason for you moving in here was to make sure the press didn’t get wind of this arrangement. We’ve been incredibly lucky so far, in that regard.”
“They’re going to know soon enough,” Chelsea pointed out. “Once the baby is born, there won’t be any hiding it. You won’t evenwantto hide it anymore at that point. I’ve been thinking it might be a good idea to just release the story. Let them do whatever they want to do with it. We don’t have anything to hide.”
“I don’t want you in the public eye,” Miles said. “I told you that right from the start. I don’t want them digging into your life and writing gossip about you.”
Her heart ached. There was such care in his voice when he said that. It was just impossible not to think that Miles was worried about her and the baby in equal measure. He was trying to protect her, and that made her love him even more.
No. I have to stop thinking that word!It had plagued her lately, cropping up in her thoughts unbidden when she least expected it.Fine to admit I have a crush. Fine that I’m attracted to him. Even the fact that I can’t stop thinking about that kiss is okay. But love? No. I’m not in love with Miles.
I can’t be in love with Miles.
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she hardly noticed the sound of the ringing phone, or Miles picking it up. “Hello?”
And then his whole body seemed to grow heavy. His face drained of color. “What?” he whispered.
That got Chelsea’s attention. She looked up at him, eyes wide. It was obvious something terrible had happened, and she found herself starting to rise from her chair, as if there was something she could do about the situation by being on her feet.
“I…” Miles swallowed hard. “I understand. I’ll be… there as soon as I can. Thank you for calling.” Chelsea’s heart pounded. He hung up the phone and lowered it slowly to the table, his gaze distant.
“Miles?” she whispered. “What is it? What’s going on?”
“My dad,” he murmured. “He… he had another stroke… He’s gone.”
Chelsea’s head spun. She gripped the edge of the table.
No.
She had known Silas wasn’t well, of course. But being around him, it had almost been possible to forget that fact. In all the time she had known him, he had never really seemed sick, not even when he had been in the hospital. He had always been so vibrant. So full of life. His enthusiasm for everything around him, everything he touched, was that of a much younger man.
And now he’s gone? Just like that? It isn’t possible.
Miles was trembling in his seat. Chelsea jumped to her feet and hurried over to his side, resting her hand on his shoulder. “Miles… I’m so sorry. I can’t believe it.”
He jerked away from her touch. She froze.
He was grieving, she reminded herself. Grief was difficult and painful, and it was impossible to predict what a person might need during a time like that. She drew a slow, steadying breath. “What can I do for you?” she asked. “How can I help?”
He shook his head. “You can’t do anything,” he said, his voice hollow. “What could you possibly do? How could you possibly help with this?”
“Miles…”
Miles was on his feet. “I have to go to the hospital.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“Why would you come with me?” he asked, his voice rather sharp. “What was he to you? He wasn’t your father.”
“I cared about him, Miles. I care aboutyou,” her voice came out hushed and small. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
“Of course I do,” he countered, his voice raw with pain. “Of course I do. Iamalone.”
“But you’re not. You have me. We’re still in this together.”
He glanced at her. “We’re not in anything, Chelsea,” he said, his voice breaking. “This arrangement happened so that my father could have a grandchild. And now he’s never going to get to meet his grandchild. It… it’s all been for nothing.”
