Page 72 of Another June with You

“I will.”

“And please talk to Duncan.”

Jamie simply nodded in reply.

Shannon didn’t know if she’d gotten through to her at all. She hoped she had, and as she left the apartment and drove back toward her parents’ house, she prayed.

“God, please hear me. I know I haven’t really talked to you for a long time, and I’m so sorry for that. I pray you’ll forgive me and hear me now, because I need you. Jamie and Duncan need you. Their baby needs you.” A sob hit her as she became suddenly overwhelmed by their situation and by her own pain. “If you want me to raise that baby, I will. Even if I’m meant to do it alone. Is that why all of this is happening? Is their baby meant to fill the hole in my heart from the babies I’ll never have? Because I believe what Maggie said yesterday. I believe you have a plan for us and you’ve got the big picture view we just don’t have. I believe you’re working all things together for our good. Please show me your will for me. For all of us.” Tears flowed down her cheeks. “And please … please let Jamie keep the baby.”

Chapter 22

Shannon thinks you have feelings for me.” Micah hated bringing it up as he drove Autumn to the airport to catch her flight home.

Autumn snorted.

“She doesn’t think a girl would sacrifice her dating life to help out a guy without hoping it will turn into more.” Micah glanced over at her to gauge her reaction.

Her eyes widened, and it appeared as if she might burst out laughing any minute. “Oh, seriously? She’s been reading too many romance novels.”

“She’s not much of a reader. Movies are her thing.”

“Well, too many romantic comedies then. Either way, she couldn’t be more wrong.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Don’t get me wrong. You’re an attractive guy, Micah. But I’ve always seen you as more of a brother, and that hasn’t changed since we started all this.”

“Are you sure?”

“You know I am.” Autumn was the most honest person he knew. She never lied, and he knew she wasn’t starting now.

He’d already known the truth before he had broached the subject, but he wanted to be completely certain. The last thing he ever wanted to do was lead her on or hurt her, because when their fake relationship ended, he wanted their friendship to remain intact.

“Are you ready to end this passionate affair of ours?” she teased.

He shook his head. “No.”

“No?”

“Jacquie’s still … well, still being Jacquie.”

“What about Shannon?”

“I told you, she doesn’t want me.”

Autumn gave him a disapproving look. “She didn’t say that, now did she?”

“Not those exact words.”

“Her sacrifice is admirable, really. She wants you to be able to have the family you always wanted. She wants you to be happy, and she’s willing to walk away to give you the freedom to have that with someone else.”

“But I only ever wanted to have a family with her.”

“Then tell her that. There are lots of kids out there that need good homes. Adopt some babies. Have a family that way.”

It sounded so simple when Autumn said it. But would Shannon want that? Would she be open to adopting? They’d only ever talked about biological children. She’d talked about what it would feel like to carry a baby. Would raising a child she hadn’t carried be too difficult for her? There were so many things he still wanted to say to her, conversations like this they needed to have.

“You don’t have to park,” Autumn said as he switched lanes toward the short-term parking lot.

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