Page 37 of Forever His This Christmas

She’d asked for clarity not more confusion. She hadn’t seen Corey since that morning. He hadn’t been able to make it to town this last Tuesday and he’d called yesterday to let her know that this coming Tuesday he would be in London on business. She had no idea what she was going to do, but there was no way she could keep this news secret for long.

She tried her best over the next week to hide her symptoms from Abby. Her daughter was far too smart and would put it together instantly. She didn’t want to try to explain what happened and her feelings about it all, when she didn’t know in the slightest what they truly were. Her mother’s constant phone calls didn’t help her any either and she called Corey to cancel their next possible Tuesday together. She had a doctor’s appointment that Friday and headed to it as her mind whirled.

“Based on what you’ve said you’re likely around six weeks, it’s too early to pick up a heartbeat through the Doppler but let’s see what we can find out on the ultrasound,” the doctor suggested, and she tried to relax while Cassidy checked on the baby. “There it is,” she told her turning the monitor to allow her to see. “It’s beating strong.”

“All this time I was trying to figure out how I felt—but it’s the same as before, I’d do anything for this baby,” Lisa said as tears hit her seeing the tiny little spot that was her baby—her and Corey’s baby.

“Sometimes you have to see it fully before you can understand it,” Cassidy suggested. “Take it easy, rest when you feel tired, get plenty of fluids, and if anything doesn’t feel right let me know. I’ll schedule you for some blood work in about two weeks and we’ll take it from there.”

“Thank you,” she told her as she put the ultrasound photo in her bag and went to pick up Abby. She should be getting her cast off today and she was thrilled that her daughter was finally recovered. Lisa picked her up at school and they headed to the doctor’s office. Abby held her hand as they cut the cast, and she cautiously flexed her foot when it was off. Her happiness was contagious, and they met Jazz and David for their normal Friday night dinner.

“What’s going on with you?” he asked when the girls headed to the arcade.

“I’ve been thinking, a lot the last couple weeks, trying to find answers and today I got some.”

“About what?”

“About what I need to do for myself, for Abby, our future.”

“Please tell me you’re not moving back to New York—Jazz will be devastated to lose Abby.”

“I don’t know what we’re going to do yet. I need to talk to Abby tonight. There are some big changes coming and I can’t make all of the decisions myself.”

“Big changes? Is this about Corey becoming a permanent fixture I your life?”

“In a way—I’m pregnant.”

“What? That night…” he said, and she nodded.

“I’m at six weeks now, I had the appointment today to confirm and the second she showed me the heartbeat on the ultrasound I knew that I’d do anything for this baby, the same way I’d do anything for Abby. I know when I tell Corey he’s going to insist on telling my parents and I can’t keep the baby from him. I just need to make sure that Abby is kept safe and is comfortable with all of this.”

“Congratulations on the baby, I hope things go well for all of you and if you and Abby do move, I hope you come back to visit. Jazz won’t be the only person missing a friend.”

“I know Abby wouldn’t be either. I don’t know what’s going to happen I just know I have to figure it out.”

“At least you have a couple weeks off work to do it,” he said, and she nodded glad they had worked out a schedule that allowed her to be home with Abby during winter break.

She kept thinking about what their future could hold as they headed home, and she settled Abby on the couch with her to tell her once they arrived. “Can we talk?” she asked her.

“Yeah, what’s going on? You’ve been…I don’t know. There’s this happy glow about you,” Abby said looking at her closely. “Is this about a guy? Are you seeing someone?”

“The night you spent with Jazz, when you caught me coming home in the morning…”

“Mom, I already know you were having sex with someone that night. I’m fine with it, but I would like to meet the guy if you’re willing to sleep with him.”

“I…this is harder than I thought it’d be,” she admitted taking a deep breath and letting it out before meeting her daughter’s gaze again. “That night, I went out, not looking to meet anyone or sleep with anyone, but…I did.”

“Okay, it’s still fine.”

“That night was the one-year anniversary of when I met Corey. I was missing him even though I’ve tried my best not to—to move on, I still wanted him.”

“Mom…this is my fault, isn’t it?”

“No, sweetie, there’s no fault in any of this I promise,” she said with a smile. “I didn’t sleep with someone new—I slept with Corey.”

“What?How?”

“He didn’t want to be in New York and face the memories of the night either, so he came here to Chicago. I went out to get a drink to push the memories away and didn’t pay attention to the bar I went to; I should have but I didn’t…Corey owns the bar I was at, and he came in to get a drink too. What happened was something I should have known would happen if we saw each other again. It was everything it ever had been between us.”

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