“Jonnas is a lot of things,” Aliza said quietly. “But he’s not a coward. He’ll stay true to his word.”
Dani sniffed. “You’re biased. He’s your husband’s best friend.”
“True,” Aliza said. “But I’ve also watched that man protect the people he cares about like his life depends on it.”
Dani looked down at her stomach. “I don’t want to do this alone.” The thought of raising a kid on her own terrified her. She could barely support herself with her student loans, on a new nurse’s salary, how would she afford to take care of a baby too?
“You won’t be alone,” Aliza promised fiercely. “Not if I have anything to say about it.” Dani finally let herself cry as her friend rubbed her back, promising that everything would work out. She wasn’t sure if she believed Aliza or not, but for the first time since those two pink lines appeared, she didn’t feel completely alone.
Dani hated hospitals, which was ironic, considering that she worked in one. But Mercy Hospital felt different. It was bigger and felt colder than St. Jacobs. For some reason, today, when she walked into the hospital for a paternity test, it felt like a courtroom where her entire future was about to be decided by a needle and a lab report.
Jonnas was already there when she arrived. Of course, he was. He had offered for them to ride to Mercy together, but the idea of spending any more time with him than she had to made her stomach turn. Sure, that could be the morning sickness that she seemed to experience morning, noon, and night, but she liked to think that it had everything to do with the man who was effectively calling her a liar.
He stood near the check-in desk in a tailored black suit, looking like he owned the building. She had chosen this hospital so that they could be anonymous and blend in, but everything about Jonnas Black screamed, “Look at me!” She could tell the moment that he spotted her. His arms crossed over his massive chest, his jaw was tight, and his eyes scanned every woman who walked by until they landed on her. And he didn’t take them off Dani, which made her stomach flutter traitorously.
He straightened as she approached. “You’re on time,” he said.
“I’m always on time,” she insisted. “Well, most of the time.” She wasn’t going to count the fact that she was technically late getting her period, which led to her figuring out that she was pregnant. “You’re early,” she said, not quite meeting his gaze.
The receptionist called their names before either of them could say anything else. They followed the nurse down a long, dimly lit corridor, and Dani felt like she was walking to her own execution.
“This way, Ms. Hart, and Mr. Black,” the nurse said, waving them into a small cubicle. Dani perched on the edge of the chair while Jonnas remained standing, seeming too restless to sit.
“We’ll just need a cheek swab from both of you,” the nurse explained. “We’ll send it off, and the results will be ready in about five days.”
Five days. Five days of wondering if Jonnas would make good on his promise to stick around and help her with the baby, orif she’d be raising this baby on her own. Five days of worrying that she couldn’t go it alone, even if he refused to help her. She replayed Aliza’s words in her head, telling her that she wasn’t alone in any of this, as she willed herself to calm down.
Dani swallowed as the nurse swabbed her cheek, then watched as she did Jonnas’s test. It was quick. Simple, really, and completely life-altering. “All done,” the nurse said cheerfully. “You’re both free to go.” And just like that, her fate was sealed in a plastic vial.
When they stepped back into the hallway, Dani felt lightheaded. Jonnas caught her elbow instinctively, steadying her. “Easy,” he murmured.
She pulled away, but not before she noticed how warm his hand was. “I don’t need you playing hero,” she said.
“I’m not,” he replied quietly. “I’m just not letting you fall on your face.” They walked in silence until they reached the exit. The cold air hit her face, helping to clear her head a little.
“This doesn’t change anything,” Jonnas said. “Not until we know for sure.”
“Then, I guess we’ll talk in five days,” she spat.
“If it’s mine—” Jonnas started.
“If it’s yours,” she cut in, “we’ll talk.” She was one hundred percent certain that they’d be having that conversation in five days, but she was done defending herself to Jonnas. She was done with him, basically calling her a liar. And she was done trying to figure out how the hell she was going to co-parent with a man who didn’t seem to trust her. That worked for her, though, because she didn’t trust him either.
He studied her for a long moment. “You don’t trust me.”
“No,” she said honestly. “But I want to believe that you’ll be true to your word. I guess I’m just sick of you not believing me, but this test will help prove that I’m telling the truth, and then we can deal with the rest—as long as you don’t disappear.”
Something flickered in his eyes. “I won’t disappear.” She nodded, not ready to believe him, but a part of her needed to.
As she turned toward her car, one hand drifted to her stomach as though she was already trying to protect her unborn baby. The question was—who or what did she think she needed to protect him or her from? Dani knew one thing—whatever happened next, this baby was already changing everything. The verdict was still up in the air if things were changing for better or worse, but she’d figure that out soon enough.
