Page 70 of Hero's Heart

“It’s been a couple months since Moldova. Have you and Callum talked since then?” Annie asked gently. “Did he contact you at all?”

“No. So, that probably means he’s not interested, right?” Her voice cracked.

“Not necessarily. Maybe he didn’t want to intrude while you were recovering. Or he worried that hearing from him would make you think about the kidnapping.”

Sloane wanted so badly to believe that. That maybe Callum did care but was just giving her space. Still, the nagging doubts persisted as her emotions swirled in a dizzying cyclone—fear, hope, uncertainty.

She placed a hand on her stomach, trying to draw strength. No matter what happened with Callum, she had to stay strong for her baby. Somehow, she would figure this out…one day at a time.

She took a shaky breath, trying to calm the tempest inside her. “I want to believe Callum has feelings for me. But right now, everything is just so overwhelming. I don’t have much dating experience, and I’m not sure how to tell if he’s actually interested in me outside of the baby. That’s why I haven’t told him yet.”

She twisted her hands in her lap, her gaze dropping. “I also don’t want him to feel trapped. And honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have nowhere to go and no money.” She glanced up at Annie uncertainly. “I hate to even ask, but…can I pay for this doctor’s visit in installments? Once I get a little more settled?”

Annie reached out and squeezed her hand. “Please don’t worry about that. We’ll figure it out. Right now, I think you should take a little time for yourself. Get settled, maybe find a job. You don’t need to tell Callum about the pregnancy immediately. See how things go over the next few weeks, then you can decide when and how to tell him. Maybe an opportunity will present itself naturally.”

Sloane nodded slowly, feeling a tiny bit of relief amid the anxiety still churning in her gut.

“Okay. That makes sense.” She hesitated, biting her lip. “Is…is it safe for me to work while I’m pregnant?”

“Absolutely.” Annie smiled. “You’re young and healthy. As long as we keep an eye on things, working and staying active should only help.”

“What about…um…kissing? Or…sex? Is that okay too?” She felt stupid asking the questions, but she wanted to make sure.

“Also perfectly safe.” Annie winked. “The only thing you can’t do is skip either meals or sleep, which is probably what caused you to faint. You need to take good care of your body so it can grow this little one.”

She stood up from her stool and opened a cabinet. “I’ll give you some prenatal vitamins to start taking as well.”

As Annie handed her the bottle, Sloane felt a flutter of excitement mingled with the nerves. This was really happening. A few minutes later, in a bit of a daze, she let Annie lead her down the hall for an ultrasound.

Despite the uncertainties that lay ahead, Sloane knew that Annie was right. She needed to focus on staying healthy and making a fresh start. For her sake and her child’s. The rest of it with Callum would just have to work itself out.

Chapter 24

Sloane clutched the ultrasound picture in her hands as Annie led her toward the Eagle’s Nest. She traced the glossy surface of the image with her thumb, marveling at the tiny shape that looked more like a peanut than a baby.

It didn’t matter. Not to Sloane.

She’d heard the heartbeat, strong and steady, and it had undone her.Again. Tears had spilled down her cheeks, and Annie, ever steady, had reassured her that everything appeared to be perfect.

“Everything looks great,” Annie had said, her voice warm and confident. “Counts are all right where they should be.”

Now, as they reached the entrance of the Eagle’s Nest, Sloane hesitated, staring up at the sign hanging over the door depicting an eagle midflight. She could hear the faint hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses from inside.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked Annie, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“Yes,” Annie replied, looping an arm through hers and giving a reassuring squeeze. “This is my treat. You’ve had a big day, and this is the perfect place to celebrate.”

Sloane shoved the ultrasound photo into her bag and followed Annie inside. The scent of beer and grilled food wafted over her, catching her off guard for a minute and making her feel a little ill. It was the oddest things that turned her stomach these days. But fortunately, it passed quickly without her actually getting sick.

Hudson waved to them from behind the bar, the tall man with a ruggedly handsome face and dark hair nodding in their direction. “Hey, Doc Annie. Good to see you again, Sloane.”

“Hi, Hudson.” Annie smiled. “We’re going to get some lunch.”

“Sounds great. Sit anywhere. I’ll bring you some menus.”

The door opened, and a petite brunette entered the pub. Annie’s face lit up. “Here’s someone you should meet. Eva Lindstrom. Her husband is Theo.” Sloane smiled.

“Eva,” Annie called, waving her over. “Are you eating? Come join us.”

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