This morning, she’d done the math, then called the pharmacy the second Matt went for his walk. Bless him for his foresight in setting up a delivery account, though she doubted either of them could have envisioned it would prevent unwanted photographs of Eva buying a pregnancy test.
Two minutes passed in a blur, and her life changed forever when the little plus sign appeared as expected.
A sob bubbled from her throat, but it was half shaky excitement and half disbelief. Madam Wong’s prediction that she’d conceive had encompassed more than songs.
A baby. She was going to have a baby. Matt’s baby.
It would be a girl, with Matt’s beautiful blue eyes and her voice. Her heart fluttered. Of course. This baby could be the answer to her future. She couldn’t sing, but she could learn to be a mom.
And Matt would be a dad, father to their baby. She’d be giving him the one thing Amber never could—the family he wanted. He’d forget about his wife in a heartbeat, like she never existed, and come with Evangeline to Monte Carlo.
Before, she and Matt didn’t make sense long term. Now they did. The baby would clinch it. He’d never reject his own flesh and blood. She and Matt would be happy, deliriously in love, with the proof of Matt’s devotion strapped into a baby-carrier on his back.
They’d both have a family. Together.
Okay, she was getting ahead of herself. She had to tell him first. But there was no doubt this would be the catalyst to keep them together. No doubt he’d be thrilled. He’d drifted into her life for a reason—to heal, surely, but also to move on with the next phase of life.
Evangeline was his next phase.
When his key rattled in the lock, she jumped up from the couch to greet the father of her child. A powerful twist of emotion welled up, like she’d never felt before. She tried to emblazon it in her memory so she could get it into a song as soon as possible.
“Hey,” he said. “I’m glad you’re still here. I got you something.”
“Funny. I have something for you, too.” Did she sound giddy?
His grin arrowed straight to her heart. “You do? What is it?”
She shook her head. “You first.”
Pulling a wrapped box from a bag, he dropped it into her cupped hands. “To remember me by.”
Wait until she told him he’d already given her the greatest memento possible.
The wrapping paper hit the floor. Jewelry. She flipped the hinged velvet lid and gasped.
“Wow. That was not what I was expecting. I love it.”
It was a white enameled Carnevale mask, painted with delicate brush strokes in a rainbow of colors. Teardrop diamonds spilled from the eyes. She pinned it to her shirt, over her heart.
He grazed the mask with a fingertip and glanced up. “I’m glad. I wanted you to have something unusual but easily carried. Since you move around a lot.”
That nearly knocked her to the floor. “Thanks. It means a lot that you understand me.”
“I’m trying to.” He cocked his head. “What did you get me?”
“My gift is unusual but easily carried, too. I hope you’ll like it as much.”
She hadn’t wrapped hers. Fishing it from her pocket, she handed over the pregnancy test.
“What is it?” He took it with a puzzled expression.
Then his whole body stiffened. His expression, his eyes, everything went absolutely still.
“You’re pregnant?” he asked hoarsely, gaze flitting back and forth between her and the plus sign. “The naps. Drinking orange juice like it’s going out of style. You’re pregnant.”
“And you’re going to be a father.” She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Congratulations.”
Matt sank onto the couch as if he hadn’t heard her, still staring at the piece of plastic in his hands. “So I assume this means you’re keeping it.”
Horrified, she glared at him. “As if there was a possibility I might not? Of course I’m keeping it.”
“Okay.” He blew out a breath and rubbed his forehead absently, not looking at her. “Okay. I just wanted to make sure I understood. That’s the right decision. But I’ll support you no matter what.”
“I never had a doubt.”
Matt wasn’t like her father. He was solid, capable. Not weak. Matt was a forever kind of guy and somehow, she’d been lucky enough to find him. A baby changed everything. It gave him more than enough reason to move on. With her.
“It was that time on the roof. Wasn’t it? When we forgot the condoms.” He looked a little green around the edges. “You said it was the wrong time of the month.”
“I thought it was. I miscalculated. But it was already too late, and honestly, I’m glad. We’re having a baby and I’m looking forward to being a mom. How do you feel about being a dad?”