Page 28 of Forever My Soldier

She smiled. “You’re welcome, sweetie, and best of luck. Everything will work out like it’s supposed to.”

“You, too. I hope you are pregnant, if that’s what you and your husband want.”

“It is.”

As she walked out of the aisle, I couldn’t help but wonder, was that what Deacon and I wanted? I shook my head, though. How could we possibly want that? Especially now.

I decided it was easier for me to continue to be in denial until I got home and took the test. There was no point in worrying or even thinking about all of this before I knew for sure.

When I got home, I looked at the bag as if a snake was in it, getting progressively more sick to my stomach. I barely made it in the door before having to run to the bathroom to throw up again.

Having taken the bag with me, I washed up and decided it was as good of a time as any to see if there was any chance I was in fact pregnant, so I ripped the box open and went about taking the test.

Waiting the requisite amount of time felt like torture, my mind spinning with the possibility that Deacon and I could have made a child that night. What would I do? Would I be a good mother? How would he react? That was the question that plagued me most, but once the timer went off on my phone, I looked down and knew that my life was going to change forever. I was pregnant, and I decided that I already knew how Deacon would react. He would be as happy as I was.

We were going to have a baby.

I was going to be a mom.

Until I wasn’t. A lone tear ran down my face at the memory and the hard truth that I lived with everyday.

“Red or white wine?” I heard Deacon shout from the kitchen.

“Red!” I yelled back, wiping my cheek.

I stared at my naked body in the mirror and closed my eyes, bringing a hand to my stomach. I was pretty sure there was nothing worse than losing a child.

Chapter Ten

Jenna

The doorbell rangand I was so relaxed, so at peace eating with Deacon, like it was an everyday occurrence, that I actually jumped and dropped my fork in my dish.

I dabbed my mouth with my napkin and hopped off my bar stool where we sat at my kitchen counter.

“You expecting someone?” Deacon asked between bites.

“No,” I answered honestly. “I don’t know who this could be.”

The doorbell rang again. “Hold onto your hat, I’m coming!” I shouted, as I threw open the door and then immediately regretted it when I saw who it was.

My stomach flipped and I thought I was going to throw up the delicious dinner Deacon cooked for us. The last person I wanted to deal with tonight was Michael’s wife. “What are you doing here?” I spat.

She pursed her lips. “I thought you got the message at the hotel, but I must’ve been wrong. He’s still getting texts from you.”

I held my hands up, trying to show her I was no longer a threat to her or her marriage. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I haven’t seen or talked to him since that morning.”

“I don’t believe you,” she said through gritted teeth.

“How do you know where I live?” I demanded.

She curled her hair around her finger and rolled her eyes. “Michael doesn’t tolerate stupidity, so how did he ever put up with you?”

“And we’re done here,” I said, and began closing the door on her, but she stuck her hand on the door, holding it firmly in place. “You’re on private property and you need to leave. Now,” I warned.

“Not so fast, skank,” she said barging in like she owned the place.

“Excuse me. What the hell did you just call me?” Now she was just pissing me off. She had no right coming into my house, calling me names. Yes, I slept with her husband, but I had no idea he was married and I was a lot of things, but a skank wasn’t one of them.

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