Page 38 of Bear's Heart

“I do, but I can’t keep him.I can’t take care of a dog.I can’t even take care of myself.”

“I’ll take him.”

“You will?”

“Yes.”

“You mean that?”

“Yes.”

She exhaled.“What about the baby, Bear?Do you want that, too?”

He didn’t answer.He couldn’t think of an answer.She was joking, right?

“I’ve shocked you,” she said, voice rising, cracking again.“But it’s true.I’m pregnant, Bear, and now Noah is gone, and he’ll never know he was going to be a dad.”

“You hadn’t told him?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I wasn’t sure I was going to keep the baby.”

“Oh, Savannah.”

“I know.I know.”

“Don’t you think it’s time you stepped up and did the right thing?”

“Don’t judge me!”

“I’m thinking of Noah.I’m thinking of what he would have wanted.This isn’t a handbag, it’s not something—”

“I can’t raise a baby on my own,” she interrupted fiercely.

Bear had heard all of this before.He’d known when they were dating that hearth and home didn’t have the same appeal as performing and glitzy costumes, but he hadn’t imagined she’d be so quick to get rid of their baby.“There are plenty of good people who’d love to be parents.”

“You’re talking about adoption.”

“It’s the right option if you don’t want to be a parent yourself.”

She said nothing.

“How far along are you?”he asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Maybe you should.Maybe it’d help you figure out a way forward, a way where you can honor Noah’s memory without giving up your dreams.”

“I can’t be pregnant.I’m booked all summer.I’m traveling all summer.”

“There’s no reason you can’t do both.It’s not like you’re riding a bronc.”

Savannah fell silent again.

Bear suppressed his frustration.How could he have thought she was the one for him?How had he not known who she really was?“When is your due date?”

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