Page 115 of Only Ever You

Mum appears in the doorway leading to the living room. “Pippa? Where have you been? Your father and I have been so worried. Lucas said you weren’t at the beach house and that you were safe, but he wouldn’t say anything more.”

I grasp Mum’s forearms. “I’m here, Mum, and I’m fine. There was just something I needed to take care of.”

“And you didn’t think that we would want to know where you were?”

I look back over my shoulder. Deacon stands just outside, staring at his feet.

He looks up and meets my gaze. I nod.

Closing the door behind us, we make our way into the living room. Mum’s moved to stand beside Dad.

“Deacon?” My dad’s face is thunder as he glares at my husband.

Husband.

What a weird word.

I hold out my palm. “Dad. It’s okay. Deacon and I have sorted everything out.”

He frowns. “He broke you, baby girl.”

Nodding, I walk toward him. “I know. But he’s also putting me back together.”

Deacon’s hand runs down my spine until it rests on my lower back, and I don’t have to turn to see how close he is.

“Are you sure?”

I lick my lips, my mouth suddenly dry. “There’s something we need to tell you. Two things, actually. I’m going to need you and Mum to take a seat.”

Dad glances at Mum.

I lead Deacon to the couch, and we sit as Mum and Dad lower themselves into their chairs.

Deacon gives me a reassuring smile and a wink before I start speaking.

“Deacon and I have been working on things for a little while. In fact, he’s bought the house next to ours out at the beach.”

My dad’s eyebrows rise.

“Anyway, we got to the bottom of everything, and I was worried that he might do another runner. So … um …” I hold out my hand with my rings. “We flew to Vegas and got married.”

Silence greets us, and Mum and Dad exchange a longer look.

“Vegas?” Dad asks.

“I didn’t want to give her a chance to get cold feet on me, sir,” Deacon says.

Dad huffs. “Like you did?”

“There’s more to that story, Dad, and we’ll tell you everything. But I just need you to let me share our other news first.”

He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Go on.”

“I’m pregnant. Deacon and I are having a baby.”

“Oh, love,” Mum says softly. “That’s wonderful.”

“That why you married her?” Dad asks.

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