imly lit by the early morning sun filtering through sheer curtains, casting shadows on the faded tile floor. In her

't want

nausea, the fatigue, the sleepless night

er on her p

inutes

ed as she turne

li

them. Blinked.

ll

iti

Her knees weakened, and she sank onto the closed toilet lid, the t

as pr

gna

e'd taken the test on impulse, expecting - praying - that her exhaustion

small calendar taped

weeks

motional rollercoaster. She'd chalked it up to workin

est ti

soft silk of the sheets, his warm breath against her ear, the he

ried a piece of

ba

of the room pressed in on her, thick and suffocating. She couldn't ignore

bathroom door

ll voice floated in.

strength into her voice. "Yeah,

Ka

tle footsteps pad

art cr

hine. Her reaso

no

he do i

imagine loving another child as much as she loved Lucas - bu

at at the table, swinging his feet and watching cartoons. His h

Mom

he poured cereal into his bowl. She stood in silenc

before - raise

erself off the floor and kept going. For Lucas. She'd promis

ye

she

didn't even know her last name. A man with enough power an

Damon Blackw

ds felt

xpectedly gentle. But that was a fantasy. A night tucked between shadows and champ

rlds did

lives were now

hest

phone with shaking fingers and dialed the one pe

he third ring. "Hey,

. "No," she whispered

pause. "I'

apartment, still wearing her navy blue scr

e said, dropping he

walked to the kitchen count

es widened.

nodded

it

that n

e test down like it

voice cracked. "I'm already s

a hug. Emily buried her face in her fr

y watching cartoons in the background, oblivious t

mily admitted.

s you human. But you're also one of the strongest people

Do I keep it? Do I tell him? Do I t

hie said gently. "Do you

ked down

nger, Lucas meeting his baby brother or sister for the first t

image

he'd looked at he

asn't ab

s abo

he whispered. "Yes.

imming with tears. "Th

she hadn't realized s

re not alone in this. I'm here every

overwhelmed

ings to worry about - her job, money, daycare, maternity plans

she had one

d keep t

uld lo

e hell to give it the s

uncertain th

as a

hers di