Page 6 of Forever, Finally

“That’s true. I’m employed and I have benefits. I even have a paid maternity leave from the hospital.” She drew in a breath. “Nursing is the kind of career that’s here to stay. I don’t need to worry about being downsized or replaced by a computer.”

“Exactly. You put a large down payment on the house, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Despite the knot in her stomach she grinned. “With my lottery winnings.”

“You have money budgeted for the remodeling you want to do?”

She nodded. “And savings and a small emergency fund.”

He released her. “See? You have nothing to worry about.”

She wasn’t ready to be let go and grabbed his shirt front. “Wait a minute. This isn’t just about money. What about me being a single parent? Can I do that? I don’t know how to work a lawn mower. I grew up in apartments.”

Jake stared at her. “I’m not getting the lawn mower=nsingle parent linkage.”

“They’re not related. I went back to house worry.”

“Could we pick a topic and stay on it for a while?”

“I don’t think so.” She clutched the front of her stomach as her insides rolled around. “I’m going to be sick.”

He frowned. “I thought you were long done with morning sickness.”

“This has nothing to do with the baby. I’m ruining my life and I paid to do it.”

Still holding onto her belly, she sank onto the grass in front of her apartment building.

“I used to be sensible,” she murmured. “I used to have plans and be organized. Lately I’m impulsive and look at what it’s gotten me. My life is a disaster.”

Jake crouched in front of her. “Lily, snap out of it. Your life is great. You’re healthy, pregnant and you just bought a terrific house. Nothing bad is going to happen.”

She desperately wanted to believe him. “Promise?”

“Yeah, and if I’m wrong, I’ll be right here to pick up the pieces.”

The way he had after Michael had dumped her, she thought, and sniffed. And when he’d found out about the baby. Most people would have run screaming in the other direction but Jake had taken her announcement in stride.

“I don’t deserve you,” she whispered.

“You got that right. Now quit faking it and start helping. You’re still buying the pizza for dinner, and don’t you forget it.”

The thought of food had her scrambling to her feet. “You think there are any doughnuts left from breakfast?”

“What about staying healthy for the baby?” he asked. “Shouldn’t you be eating bran muffins instead?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I do great most of the time. I’ll get a veggie pizza tonight, so get off me.”

Jake stood and stared at her. “It’s the hormones, right? That’s why you can go from bone-crushing sadness to hungry in eight seconds?”

“Probably. You want another doughnut?”

“Only if it’s a maple bar.”

She headed for the apartment building. “Let me go check.”

“No way. You’ll eat them all yourself then tell me there weren’t any left.”

She tried not to smile as he caught up with her. “Would I really do that?” she asked innocently.

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