Page 2 of His Treasured Mate

She tossed the phone down so I was staring at the ceiling of her office, but there was no mistaking the sounds of her puking.

She finally came back to the screen wiping her mouth and looking a horrible shade of green.

“Elise, what is wrong? Do you want me to call Patrick and have him come get you? Liam's right down the hall, he can stay with you until he gets there.”

“Lily Ann Westin Collier, don't you dare.”

“Then talk to me.”

“I'm pregnant, okay!”

My jaw hung slack as I stared back at her, trying to discern if she was messing with me or not.

“Pregnant? You?”

“I didn't stutter.”

“But-but you don't even want kids. You're on the pill. How? When?”

She sighed as big tears filled her eyes.

“I forgot my pills when we were in Paris.”

I considered the timeline, knowing that had to put her somewhere late in her first trimester, maybe even nearing her second. And I burst out laughing.

“It's not funny.”

“It's hysterical. What did Patrick say about it?”

“I haven't told him.”

“What? E, you have to be at least a few months along already. How does he not know?”

“Thirteen weeks,” she said with a sigh. “At least according to Lucy. I've forbidden her to even tell Micah.”

“They’re mates. You can't make her keep this from him.”

“Midwife patient confidentiality. I can too request it.”

I shook my head. “Why haven't you told Patrick?”

“You know we love our life just as it is. You know we don’t want kids. He's going to freak out.”

“Elise, there was a time when Patrick practically begged you to go off the pill and see what happens. He's going to be fine with this. Happy even. I'd bet Collier Pack funds on that.”

“You can't possibly know that.”

“You're being ridiculous. I bet he's been worried sick about you, too.”

Much to my horror, her eyes widened, and she started crying.

“Aw, sweetie. It's going to be okay. You're morning sickness should start to subside some now. Why didn't you just tell me? I kind of have a good idea about pregnancy, I could've helped even if just for moral support.”

She hiccupped and pulled out a tissue to dab at her eyes.

“I don't know. I just feel so alone in this.”

“Do you want this baby, Elise?”

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