Page 27 of By the Letter

Bea rolled her eyes. “Okay, Einstein. That’s plausible. I know you’ve met Francesca. Do you really think she could be kept out of this house? Bitch doesn’t have to be let in. She has a key and has been taking advantage of that fact over the last year—and Shira’s kindness. Shira would never even consider lockingFrank’s daughter out of this house. If I had known the extent of her pillaging, I would have called the cops on her myself.”

My mouth was open to ask questions, to press her for more information, but I was interrupted by a dulcet, “Bea. Don’t.”

Shira came into the living room, a tiny black-and-white cat cradled in her arms. Her hair was tied back, and she’d thrown a sweater over her tank. Not that it mattered. I couldn’t unsee her as Goldie if I tried.

Bea hopped up, concern and worry etched on her face. “Sorry, Shir. This guy pisses me off. I’m going to chill. Promise.”

Shira’s tired, eerie eyes were soft on her friend. “I love you, Beatrice, but can you give us a little privacy? We have some things to talk about.”

She hesitated but eventually agreed. “I’ll be upstairs. Call me if you need me to toss him out.”

“No violence,” Shira murmured. “He can sue the pants off us, and I can’t go pantless everywhere now that I’m going to be a mother.”

Bea walked away laughing while I stared at this new version of Shira, who made jokes, cuddled a tiny cat, and apparently fucked like a little demon. It still didn’t make sense to me.

Once we were alone, I shot to my feet and held my arm out toward the couch. “Please, sit. I can stand or sit on the floor if that makes you more comfortable.”

Shira sat down with her back against the arm and her legs tucked under her. Her cat, who was as dainty as its owner, curled up in her lap, watching me with wary green eyes. I’d never been a cat person, but this one was pretty, even if mistrustful. I wondered what Shira had been telling her about me.

“There’s enough room for us both,” she said softly. “You don’t need to sit on the floor, and I’ll get a crick in my neck if you stand.”

I sat back down on the opposite side of the couch, keeping a cushion between us to give her space.

“For the record, I wouldn’t sue you, even if your friend tossed me out on my ear.”

She sniffed, almost a laugh. “Good to know.”

I spread my hands out on my legs. “We should get our facts straight before going any further. You’re Goldie?”

She nodded then nibbled her bottom lip. “And somehow…you’re really Wim?”

I winced at how fucking surreal it was to hear that name from her lips. “WhenInRome. Neither of us was too clever with our names, were we?”

She shrugged. “We weren’t, yet we didn’t figure it out.”

The cat in her lap purred loudly as Shira carved her fingers through its fur. She wasn’t giving me her eyes or even much of her attention. A week ago, I would have called this behavior cold and indifferent, but I was seeing her in a new light. Did my presence make her uncomfortable? Was meeting my gaze difficult for her? Did she not want me looking at her the way I was?

I shifted so I wasn’t facing her head-on. Since there was nowhere else for me to go and not having this conversation was out of the question, it was all I could do to make her feel better about the situation.

“I read your email. I want you to know I wasn’t ignoring it. I didn’t see it until this evening, and I came straight here for answers. Are you pregnant, Shira?”

She nodded. “I am.”

“Is it mine?”

Another nod.

“You’re sure?” I had to ask.

A sharp inhale. “There’s been no one else.” Finally, her eyes lifted. “It’s Wim’s. If you’re really Wim, then yes, it’s yours.”

Blowing out a heavy breath, I sunk back into the cushion, bewildered by how this was happening…how it was even possible. I wasn’t a kid who played it fast and loose with contraceptives. I’d had plenty of sex in my life. I was always safe, had never had a pregnancy scare, and now this…fuck. How the hell did I get here?

Shira went on, shaky and so quiet I had to lean in to hear her. “It’s my choice to continue this pregnancy. I don’t expect anything from you. If you want to bow out, I understand. I have support, so I don’t need—”

“Me? You don’t need me?” I dragged a hand over my face before dropping it into my lap and squaring off with her. “I might need a minute to adjust, but there’s no way in hell I’m going to have a kid walking around in this world and not be a part of their life. No way.”

Based on the way Shira jerked back and her cat meowed, I might’ve been too harsh, but the idea of not knowing my child struck a deep nerve. She wasn’t threatening me. Logically, I knew that. But it felt like she was, so my hackles were up.

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