Page 127 of Mistaken Impression

Hunter was so happy, and so proud, and Livia was just bursting with joy. She looked beautiful, in the palest pink lace dress, and my brother has never looked better in a tux. Champagne flowed all day, although I couldn’t partake myself, and the entire house was decorated with early spring flowers. Drew was the best man and his speech was hilarious, but even as I was laughing at his jokes, I couldn’t help the feelings of regret from creeping up on me…

I startle at the knocking on my door, and go to answer it, surprised to find Drew standing there, looking down at me.

“I thought I’d invite myself for coffee.”

I step aside. “You can invite yourself for a cup of tea. I’m still not up to drinking coffee.”

“Even though the morning sickness has stopped?”

“Yeah. The smell of coffee still makes my stomach churn, and I’m not pushing my luck.”

“Okay. Tea it is.”

I let him in, closing the door, and we make our way through to the kitchen, where he sits at the island unit and I put the kettle onto the stove to boil.

“I take it you got Hunter and Livia to the airport okay?”

“Yes. I’m kinda jealous… two weeks at a secluded villa in the Seychelles sounds pretty damn perfect, doesn’t it?” I nod my head and he tilts his. “Are you okay, Sis?”

“I—I just can’t help wondering…”

“Wondering what?”

“If I’ve blown my chances.”

He shakes his head. “Chances of what?”

“Don’t be dense, Drew. Even if I wanted to be with anyone other than Mac, I’m going to have a baby in a few months’ time. Do you honestly think it’s going to be easy to find a man who’ll want to take on someone else’s child?”

“I don’t know. Oddly enough, I talked that through with Lexi after the New Year. You’d made me wonder when you raised the idea at Christmas, and I wanted to know if she’d been with anyone.”

“And?”

“She said she hadn’t. She’d spent the holidays with some friends. I apologized for interfering, because that’s how it felt, but we got talking in a more general way, and she said it doesn’t feel right to date someone else while she’s pregnant with my child, but that after the baby’s born, she doesn’t see it being a problem.”

“And how will you feel about that if it happens?”

“As long as the baby knows who its father is, I’m okay with it. Lexi’s a free agent, Ella.” He sighs. “Although I don’t know why you’re worrying.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m pretty sure you’ve got a man already.”

“Oh? Who?”

“Mac, of course.” I shake my head as the kettle boils and I turn off the heat. “I wish you’d change your mind about telling him.”

“Why?” He falls silent and I turn to face him, noticing the blush on his cheeks. “What’s wrong, Drew?”

“I—I’ve been meaning to tell you for ages, but I didn’t know how, especially when you were so upset… and pregnant.”

“I’m still pregnant, in case you haven’t noticed.” I pat my slightly swollen stomach.

“I know, but I can’t keep pretending.”

“What about?”

He sighs, pushing his fingers back through his hair. “I met him.”

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