Page 86 of The Un-Apparent Heir

He looked at the test, then Lucy, and finally the test again.

“Lucy, is this… are you…”

“There are two pregnant women in this house at present—Natalie and myself. Natalie is due in August by some miracle. And like a curse, we are due in October.”

Winston stared dumbfounded at Lucy. “I don’t think it’s a curse. But how do you feel?”

“I’m terrified and trying to ignore it. I’m sick and exhausted. I don’t want to be pregnant. I’m angry that it happened during the worst sex we’ve ever had and led up to our biggest fight. I’ve never felt so unloved or vulnerable as I did. And yet, here we are. No matter what we choose, I think I will have the baby. Getting an abortion is a risk I don’t think I want to take with the press. And I know I will feel differently when the baby is here.”

“Please don’t,” Winston said. “I want this baby. Even if you don’t want me. It’s ours.”

Lucy nodded. “I can swear I had no offers to have an affair.”

“I’m sorry I ever said that, Lucy. I never would have?—”

“I know. I never doubted you’d stay true. I doubted you loved me, you wanted me, or you even liked being around. I always trust you told me the truth about Rose.”

“Why?”

“Because you are the guilty type and it would be streaming off of you if you did it.”

“I never would. It is you or no one, Lucy. Damn it, I fought like hell to work up the courage to tell you I loved you years ago! We have three—soon to be four—beautiful children. You have been such a wonderful wife and partner. I know this is bleak. I have cried more in the past few weeks than in my life, but I will be better. However it needs to be, let’s choose each other?”

Lucy smiled and nodded. “Choosing each other is a good way to start.”

“We will need to get a house.”

Lucy nodded. “Despite me questioning her mental sanity and her testing of Ed’s patience, Natalie has invited us to stay. George and Patrick are also here. The house has what? Fifteen bedrooms but it gets wild.”

“The children entertain one another for now. It’s all a bit awkward. But… it’s fine. If you’re happy, I will be, too.”

“Good, because I am happy to be back and I have a co-pregnant person to vent to. I’ve wanted this since I had Malcolm.”

“Natalie is pregnant?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Yes, it is bleak now, but it will get better, Winston. I promise you that with time, I will recover. And I will be much better off.”

“I just want to love you properly. I want the opportunity to try again—properly.”

“I know. Let’s start with a trip to the consultant, shall we? I made an appointment with a pain and trauma specialist in London. Sanne insisted that she is good and deals with birth injuries. She had a bad tear with Nate. I promise you I’m not making it up. I am frightened.”

“I get it. And you were right to be. I want you to know I thought I was a monster after that night. I never wanted to hurt you. I took my fear and self-loathing out on you rather than ask if you were okay.”

Lucy nodded. She wouldn’t dispute it.

“Winston?”

“Yes, my love?”

“Can you just… hold me for a moment? I want to feel close to you and know you’re here.”

“Sure.” Winston was tender.

He moved to the other couch, pulling her into his arms and held Lucy close. She clung, taking in the smell of his aftershave and how big his arms felt. Safe again, like she didn’t want to leave.

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