Page 22 of Solid Ground

“Has to be his. I haven’t had sex with anyone else in months. Unless it’s an immaculate conception, the father is Declan O’Leary.”

“My mom loves him,” she says in a dreamy voice.

“That’s not helpful,” I snap.

She lets out a sigh and squeezes my shoulder. “Why don’t we talk this out. Are you going to keep it?”

“I only just did the test—I haven’t got that far.” Knitting my fingers together, I raise my knuckles to my lips. What the hellamI going to do? “I need to tell him.”

“Why?” she scoffs. “It’s not like he’s going to want it.”

“Maybe, but he’s still the father, and if he or she wants to know about their dad later on, I’d much rather he knows.”

“So, you’re keeping it.” She chuckles and places a kiss on my temple. “Whatever you do, you know you have me. I’m always a hundred per cent behind you. I just don’t want you to rush into any rash decisions.”

I sigh. “He gave me his number. I guess I’ll call him.”

She nods. “Do you need me to sit with you? Moral support?”

“No. I’ll be fine. Thank you.” I give her hand a squeeze.

“You’re never alone, Zoe. You’ve always got me.”

“You’re leaving.”

“And your contract is up at the end of the year. You could always come to Chicago. And even if I’m not always physically with you, I’m just at the end of the phone or we can Zoom.”

There’s so much to think about. I can’t say it to Caitlin, but a big part of me just wants to crawl home to New Zealand and back to Mum and Dad. I’ll have to organise a meeting with Jason and Chrissie—the people who bought my company to discuss this pregnancy, but there’s nothingstopping me working for as long as I can and then being available for support.

Caitlin being my best friend is the only other thing that’s kept me here.

And now she’s spreading her wings.

It’s time to spread my wings too.

Her phone pings, and she rolls her eyes.

“Let me guess. It’s your husband.” I don’t mean it as down as it comes out. Brandon has been nothing but good to me.

“We’ve got reservations. I need to go home and get changed, and I’m already running late.”

I stare at her. “This could have waited.”

“No, it really couldn’t. Besides, you’re important. You always will be. I don’t want you to forget that.”

Tears well in my eyes. “I won’t forget. You’re important to me too.”

“Love you.” She plants a kiss on my temple.

I sniff. “Love you right back.”

“See you later?”

The concern in her eyes makes me want to reassure her, but I can’t when I’m so uncertain. How will Declan take my news?

Does it really matter?

I’m thirty years old. If I’m going to have a baby, it might as well be now. Who knows what the future will bring when it comes to having a family? I’m not short of money—the whole reason I’m in the US is because I sold my business to an American one.

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