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“Okay, let’s do an ultrasound. Your body was still pumped up on hormones. Did you ever have a period?”

I pause for a moment and think. “A couple of weeks ago, I spotted, but never really bled. I figured it was just from all the stress I’ve been under.”

“How long ago did you have sex?”

A blush crawls up my face, and she smiles. “The night I got the confirmation I wasn’t pregnant with Sayler’s baby.”

“So about five weeks ago.”

After a battery of tests, I walk out on wobbly legs, unsure of what I’m going to do next. Dr. Kendall gave me a referral for a doctor in Prominence Point, along with a prescription for prenatal vitamins and ultrasound pictures of my baby.

I need to find Ryker and tell him. I won’t need him, but he should know. It’s my fault this happened. I didn’t have him put on a condom, and I forgot to get the morning-after pill.

When I return to my hotel room, I replay everything Dr. Kendall said and think about what I need to do. I have to watch my stress levels, and staying here isn’t going to help with that. It’s time to make some changes. I have the ability to do things differently than I would have before. Maybe I should take some time for myself and my child.

I call Clive and tell him he should head home, and that I’m leaving town tomorrow. My time with the private school is over. I had planned to stick around for a couple more days and then drive to Prominence Point to show up on move-in day, but now I’m taking some me time. I make reservations at a small but nice hotel in Phoenix to enjoy a little time in the big city.

My mini vacation was just what I needed, and now I’m settling into my new place. I was able to do some shopping while in Phoenix. I bought several dishes, pots, pans, glasses, and silverware from a discount store. Then I went to IKEA and ordered a few pieces, including a desk for my room, which will be shipped to me. I had planned to use the spare room as an office, but now I’ll have to turn it into a nursery.

The doorbell rings, and I answer it to find a young woman standing there. She has long blond hair in soft waves over her shoulders. Her wide smile and kind eyes immediately make me smile back at her.

“Hello, I’m Isla. My mom, Charlene, wanted me to bring this down to you.” She lifts up a basket with a couple of loaves of bread sticking out. “Dad and I just baked these.” Her parents are my landlords and own the vineyard. She looks so much like her mother, I should have guessed it. Charlene had told me I’d see her around when she’s not at school, and they have two boys as well. The vineyard is owned by the whole Murphy family, so there is even a nephew and his mom who live on a portion of the land. But it’s so vast, Charlene said I wouldn’t run into many of the others.

“Come in, I’m Lynae,” I say, my stomach growling as the scent of garlic wafts from one of the fresh loaves. I step to the side to let her in, and she looks around the house before turning back to me. I close the door and start to walk past her.

“I hope you like the furnishings. I arranged them myself.”

“Oh yes, I love it.” I place the basket on the bar in the kitchen. My hand is drawn to the garlic bread.

“I can cut that for you. Just tell me where the knives are.”

“Oh no, I can do it.”

“Are you sure? Your hand is shaking.”

I glance down and realize she’s right. Shit, I haven’t eaten much today.

“They are in that drawer.” I point to where I unloaded the box of new knives I bought. Then I direct her to the cabinet with the cutting board. It still bothers me that I had to practically replace everything I owned. The police in Tucson have no leads on who broke into my apartment and storage unit.

“These look new,” Isla comments as she cuts a thick slice of the garlic loaf.

I accept the piece with a trembling hand, and my stomach growls. I need to take better care of myself.

She watches me as I take a big bite and laughs when I groan as the flavor hits my tongue.

“This is so good.” I cover my mouth as I finish chewing, then take another bite.

“My father and I like to bake together. It’s one of our things. He cooks all the time or manages the restaurant. But when I’m home from college, he makes time for just us. Same with my mom.”

“Your parents seem really nice. I loved meeting your mom.” Now that I’ve had a few bites of food, I can think more clearly. I open the fridge and pull out some cheese and meat. “Would you like a sandwich?”

“Sure. So, mom said you moved up from Tucson, but your accent doesn’t sound like you’re from there.”

“No, I’m originally from North Carolina. I’ve lived in Arizona since I was ten.”

“What do you think of Prominence Point so far?”

I look down at what I’m doing so she can’t see my smile. I really like a guy here is what I want to say, but I don’t. “I like it so far. I haven’t had a chance to really explore.”

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