His Texas Christmas Bride. Nancy Thompson Robards

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       Chapter Two

      Thirty minutes later, Becca was in Kate’s car on her way home. It was cold outside on this mid-November evening and she felt the chill down to her bones. It amplified how weak and vulnerable she felt.

      Despite how she’d wanted to reconnect with Nick, how she’d tried to find him right after she’d found out that she was pregnant, she hadn’t been prepared for the reunion to happen this way.

      Even though he deserved to know the truth, she’d wanted the disclosure to be on her terms. The vulnerable side of her wished she was still safe in her cocoon, the only one who knew about the baby. No one to please. No one to convince that this child was wanted and dear and loved—even if he or she was a surprise. She had just come to terms with the situation herself. Now things had suddenly gotten complicated again.

      Becca stared out the passenger-side window into the inky sky. The trees were beginning to shed their leaves and stood stark and bare in the chill night.

      How symbolic, she thought. Exposed. Stripped down to the naked branches with nothing to hide what lay beneath. Somewhere from deep inside, a voice reminded her that some of these trees had lined Celebration’s Main Street for centuries. They’d endured winters and storms and climate changes to see another season.

      This was simply a new season of her life.

      Nick was coming over tomorrow to talk. While she understood that he needed time to digest the news—just as she had—he hadn’t seemed very happy about it. And she wasn’t sure she was ready to deal with that right now. But if not now, when?

      When they stopped at a red light, Becca felt Kate’s gaze on her. Kate was such a good friend. This was all fresh news to her—huge news that her best friend was pregnant and going it alone. Well, not exactly alone. Not anymore. So, it was actually a double bit of juiciness, and not once since they’d left the hospital had Kate pushed her to give up the goods.

      Becca knew she didn’t owe anyone an explanation, but Kate did deserve to know what was going on.

      “So, I’m pregnant,” Becca offered. “And Nick is the father.”

      Kate’s eyes were wide, but all she did was nod.

      “I probably should’ve told you sooner so that you didn’t find out like this, but I wasn’t ready to tell anyone. Still, I hope you know how much I appreciate all you’ve done today. You’re such a good friend, Kate.”

      “I’m glad I was here for you today,” she said. “For the record, you don’t have to tell anyone anything until you’re ready.”

      The two sat in silence and Becca let the solidarity wash over her.

      “But he is a good-looking guy,” Kate added. “I can see the temptation.”

      A hiccup of a laugh escaped Becca, and for a moment the tension lifted. “I know, right?”

      Kate’s curiosity was almost palpable.

      “Liam’s never mentioned Dr. Ciotti.”

      The statement was a question. Kate was testing the water to see how Becca would warm to telling her more. The light turned green, and Kate accelerated at a gentle pace.

      “He hasn’t even been at the hospital a week,” Becca said. “Since they’re in different departments, I’m not surprised he hasn’t mentioned him. They may not have met yet.”

      That was a long shot. The hospital wasn’t large. Most of the staff knew each other at least by sight.

      “How did you two meet?” Kate ventured. “You don’t have to answer that if you’re not ready to talk about it.”

      The cat was already out of the bag. She couldn’t blame Kate for being curious. If the situation were reversed, she’d want to know. Then again, Kate was married to a fabulous man. It was a relationship made in heaven, though it hadn’t started out that way. Her husband, Liam, had been a widower when Kate had first met him. He came with adorable twin teenage girls and the expected amount of baggage that a man who had lost his first love much too young would bring to a new relationship. But Liam and Kate were soul mates. Despite fate’s cruel curveball, they’d been given a chance at happiness, and they’d taken it.

      Becca tried to keep her mind from wandering to the possibility that she and Nick might be soul mates.

      She really shouldn’t go there. For her own peace of mind.

      The best way to make sure she didn’t was to tell Kate the story of the night she met Nick.

      “No, it’s okay. I don’t mind. Remember the night that Victor got in the drag racing accident?”

      “Yes.”

      “That night at the hospital Rosanna was so mad at me.”

      Kate slanted her a glance. “Why was she mad at you? You weren’t driving.”

      “I wasn’t, but I was the one who taught Victor how to drive a standard transmission.”

      They came to a stop sign, and Kate shot her a glance that conveyed she clearly didn’t understand Rosanna’s anger.

      Really, who did understand her sister? It seemed as if she was angry most of the time.