Tiny Dancer(Divine Creek Ranch 13)(96)

When she didn’t look up at him, Ben tilted her chin. He could see the turmoil in her eyes as she finally nodded. “I’ve been so busy, I lost track.” A tear trailed down her cheek, and she fought a sob. “My dream.” The broken way she said it told him why she was crying.

“Sugar, don’t. You’re with us, okay. What did we tell you before? We’re here no matter what. Don’t get too worked up yet. You might just have a little bug. And you’re going to have your dream even if it kills me and Quinten in the process.”

“He’s right, baby. Stuff happens, and life moves on. Let’s wait and see what the doctor says.” Quinten sounded very sure of himself as he continued, “You have us to rely on, no matter what.”

Ben was even a little encouraged by Quinten’s self-assurance.

She bowed her head and caressed the tops of their hands lightly. Ben used the washcloth to gently wipe her flushed face, wishing that he could take the worry from her eyes. Given her issues, he could understand why she would be anxious, but she’d learn soon enough that they took their responsibilities very seriously. Whether all she needed was someone to nurse her through an illness or to provide the support she needed if she was pregnant. They’d prove they were men who were there for the long haul.



* * * *



Maya Warner smiled at Camilla as she directed her into an examination room. She’d called Dr. Rivers’s office as soon as Ben and Quinten had left her alone to take her shower. Maya, Emma’s registered nurse on staff, had instructed her to come to the office and they’d fit her in. If it was a bug, they could determine that and possibly give her the birth control shot. She’d just given them a urine sample. If she was pregnant, then she’d at least know one way or the other. She felt like a brick was lodged in her throat.

“Thanks for getting me in early, Maya. I’m not sure I could wait until Thursday.”

Maya smiled at her. “No worries. You’ll know soon enough. Emma will be in to see you in just a minute.”

She’d been ignoring her mostly mild symptoms for a couple of weeks now, which had been relatively easy, as busy as she’d been. The nausea was a killer, though. She’d been afraid of eating anything in case it came back, but Ben wouldn’t let her leave the house without first having a piece of dry toast. He and Quinten had also wanted to drive her, but she’d insisted on doing this herself. She felt guilty for it, but she needed the time alone to think about what to do if she was pregnant.

She sat down on the paper-covered exam table, her gorge steadily rising. The last thing she wanted to do was repeat history. She loved her late mother, but she didn’t want to be her, trapped in a loveless marriage because of an unplanned pregnancy. She didn’t want Ben or Quinten to feel that way either.

There was a tap at the door, and then Emma stepped in, a big smile on her face. Both Maya and Emma were involved in committed polyamorous relationships with more than one man. Maya had three husbands, Kendall, Boone, and Richard, who were brothers. Emma had two husbands, Duke and Gage, who were cousins and best friends.

“How are you feeling, Camilla?” Emma asked as she looked at the top page in Camilla’s file.

“Like I’m on the verge of throwing up. It’s been this way all morning.”

Emma nodded in understanding. “Something set it off?”

Camilla thought back to her first few bleary minutes after waking up. She’d gone in the kitchen feeling like a zombie, then— “Ben was frying bacon. Just looking at it in the skillet…and then the smell.” She groaned. “I’ve always loved the smell of bacon cooking, but it revolted me.”

“Cooking meat will do that.”

“Do what?”

“Set off nausea in the first trimester.” Emma grinned at her, her smile turning sympathetic as the reality and shock settled on Camilla, evidently showing on her face. “It’ll get better in a month or two. Until then just eat small, light meals, avoid greasy foods, and talk Ben and Quinten into doing all the cooking.”

“You heard?”

“That you’d finally gotten together with the two men who’ve adored you for the last couple of years. Yes, I heard. No secrets in a small town. Your pregnancy test is positive.”

“You’re sure?”

“Very sure.”

“But the birth control shots…”

“Not one hundred percent effective, and you were due for your next round, though not overdue. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“We started out using condoms, but one of them broke the first night. After a couple of weeks I felt comfortable going without. I knew I’d be coming in to see you soon, so I never worried.”