Page 44 of An Inconvenient Truth

Carter knew he needed to be very careful what he said and did next. “And does that feel like good news or bad news to you?”

“I'm not sure.” She sounded tearful and his heart squeezed. “Are you mad at me? Do you hate me? I didn't tell you when I knew, and I should have.”

“When?” Carter wasn't sure what he was asking, if he wanted to know when she'd found out or when it had happened. They’d only been unprotected one time... the first. That was before the plane crash. She’d been pregnant then? If so, the fact that she hadn't lost the baby was nothing short of a miracle.

Carter gathered her closer, holding her firmly to his chest. “I'm not mad, I don't hate you, and I'll support whatever decision you want to make.”

She stepped back, tears sparkling in her eyes as her gaze darted back and forth between his. “Are you telling me to... not have it?”

She'd profoundly misunderstood him. “Not at all. I'm not going to tell you what to do either way. It's not my decision to make. I can tell you what I'd like.”

She nodded, biting down on her lower lip so hard she tore skin away and a drop of blood gathered. He took her chin in his hand and thumbed away the blood before she sucked her lower lip into her mouth. “I want to marry you. I want to start a family with you. I've been in love with you since the first night I met you. I've just been too much of a coward to tell you.”

Her eyes widened and she inhaled.

Still, he needed her to be clear how he felt about things. “But if you're not ready for that, that is your choice to make and I won't pressure you in any direction. I will fully support whatever you want to do.”

She nodded and stepped back into his arms. He hesitated for only half a second before wrapping her up in a hug.

“I want to have a family with you. I was just afraid because, I mean, I'm a stripper and you're rich and you're older and you could do so much better.” Her voice was thick with tears.

“Better than you? I can't imagine finding someone better than you. I haven't in my entire time on this earth.” Carter completely meant the words as he pressed kisses to her forehead, her temple, and her hairline.

“But I'm a stripper.” Carter wasn't sure how to tell her that other people might devalue her based on her job, but he never had. Not once.

Instead, he took a step back and took her face and both of his hands. “Oh honey, you're not a stripper. You're an ex-stripper.”

“Oh, fuck off.” She pushed his arms away before throwing her arms around his neck and holding him close. “You always know just what to say to me. You romantic you.”

Carter was glad that his humor brought her back to where she had been before and brought her mood up. “I've never cared about your job. I care about you because I love you for who you are.” He lowered his voice as if he was imparting some deep dark secret. “In all honesty, I admire your ability to use your charm to get ahead in life and your looks. You were able to get personal information out of people that you could have used for evil.” He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, aware she was crying as silent tears slipped down her cheeks. “But you chose not to. You were willing to give away everything you owned to protect your friend. You were willing to put yourself in danger for her. You went out on a limb and trusted me because of a gut feeling. You're an amazing human being and I love you. I will always love you, as long as I’m breathing.”

“Are you saying you wouldn't love me beyond the grave? Because I'm not sure I can love somebody who isn't serious about forever. We have got to haunt the hell out of some people after we die.”

It was his turn to laugh as he pressed another quick kiss to her lips.

“You're perfect for me. I just hope I'm perfect for you.” He kissed her again, thrilled about all the changes in their lives. His hand dropped to her belly and ran over the slight, gentle bump there.

“I think you are, if that matters. Now, I'd really like some ice cream.” She smiled against his lips, and he let her go.

“Let me go get you some ice cream.” He watched her sink down to the couch, adoring her every movement, before hurrying off to the kitchen to get her some of the mint chocolate chip she loved so much. Though now he knew that maybe her ice cream craving had more to do with pregnancy than the need for sweets, a thought which made him smile even wider.

She was pregnant with his baby and he couldn't imagine being happier.

He hummed a little tune as he got the ice cream together and grabbed a spoon before taking it out to her, where she sat in the living room on the couch. She had turned the TV on, and he couldn't help but glance at the news as a familiar name came on.

The news anchor spoke with a very serious expression on his face. “A local club with a pending lawsuit. Evidence has come out that management was forcing the girls to perform sexual favors for them and firing them if they refused.” This segment cut away from the anchor and to one of the girls that he recognized from the same club that Kaitlyn had worked at.

“And that's why they fired me,” Kaitlyn spoke out over the news show, and he glanced at her, curious what she meant. “I bet they fired everyone that they knew wouldn't go along with things. There was a handful of girls that did that to make extra money on the side, but they didn't think anybody knew, so it makes sense they'd fire everyone that wasn't willing to do that, like me.”

She took the ice cream he offered with a smile of thanks.

“So, I guess it was lucky that they fired me because otherwise I'd be dealing with some much bigger issues.” She glanced at him as he sat down beside her.

Carter nodded, thinking that her reasoning made sense.

She pointed at the screen as the new segment continued to roll. “There's Fawn. I guess she got the hint and decided to go back to work. I hope it all works out for her.”

“You do?” Carter couldn't imagine being so forgiving to somebody who had stolen his livelihood, his savings, his means to better his life, especially if he'd worked as hard as Kaitlyn had for all of it.

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