Page 53 of Kyle
"You're never getting behind the wheel again." He told her hoarsely.
"Now look."
"I'm assigning a driver to you."
She frowned at him, the movement causing her to wince as the pain lanced through her temple. "What is it?"
"Headache, that's all." Taking a deep breath, she rushed on, knowing that what she was about to say was going to make it even more impossible for him to let go of the fear. "I'm fine like I said. A slight concussion and some bruised ribs. I was just turning right when the vehicle came out of nowhere. It wasn't a drunk or irresponsible driver. Just some woman coming from a doctor's appointment and discovered that she has stage four breast cancer. She wasn't paying attention."
"And could have killed you." His hand tightened on hers. "That's no excuse."
"No, it's not, but I can empathize and cut her some slack." She stared into his eyes. "And the fetus is all right. No harm done."
"I don't care..." His voice petered off as the rest of her sentence cut through the righteous indignation and fear that had gripped him ever since he heard the news. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"The fetus is all right. Turns out I'm four weeks pregnant."
His hand crushed hers, bone against bone and had her gasping. He loosened his grip immediately. "You're pregnant."
"We're pregnant," She corrected.
"Oh God. Oh Jesus." Tears blurred his vision, and he had to fight to keep himself from unraveling.
"Does that mean you're pleased?" She asked gently.
"You're carrying my seed inside you." His eyes drifted to her stomach, and he felt his own clench. "What did the doctor say? Are you okay? Should you be sleeping? I think you should stay longer. I have to talk to him to ask him what steps we should take."
"Slow down, please. You're making me dizzy." She shook her head, even though it pleased her to see him so anxious. And his color was coming back. He had taken his mind off the accident and was concentrating on the life they had created.
"We're fine. I will be checked over later today and sent home." Tongue in cheek, she continued. "And cleared to go back to work in a day or two."
"Not going to happen. Besides, in another three days it will be time for the Christmas break."
"What if I promise to stay in the office for those three days?"
"No." He was firm on that. "You were the one who insisted on us getting that big tree and having it decorated. And you invited your brother and Andre over for Christmas Eve as well as your parents."
"I want to try and mend fences."
"We should call and cancel."
Her hand gripped his. "We're not doing that. Mrs. Allen is doing most of the cooking and Matthew and Andre are bringing desserts. All I will be doing is take a shower, get dressed and play hostess."
He gave her a narrow-eyed stare, and she knew what was coming. "We have that Christmas dinner at the manor."
"Which we have to attend." Her expression was pleading. "It's the first dinner we're attending there and we cannot disappoint them."
He was silent for a minute, while she waited with bated breath. "All right. As long as the doctor clears it." He lifted their joined hands to his cheek and closed his eyes. "Will we be announcing the pregnancy?"
She shook her head. "I want to keep it between us for now. I don't want to jinx it."
"All right." He felt emotions swamping him and he had to take a breath.
He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, his voice unsteady but tender. "Thank you for telling me. I promise I'll do everything I can to look after you, both of you." For a moment, they sat in quiet, the weight of what they'd shared settling between them, mingled with a fragile hope and the relief that, despite everything, they still had a future to look forward to together.
*****
Jason stayed with her while Kyle went to consult with the doctor.
