Page 53 of Baby I'm Yours

“Are you sure?” I ask. “He loves you so much. I think he’d want to know. To be able to be there for you.”

“I’m sure. In my heart, I know this is for the best,” she says with a steady smile. “We’ve already said all the things we need to say. We’re just in a sad, hopeless, holding pattern at this point, a waiting game that isn’t fun for anyone anymore.”

I sigh and nod.

Because I get it. Boy, do I get it.

“It was like that with my mom,” I confess, feeling terrible. But it’s the truth, and I feel I owe Margaret as much of that as I can give her. “I think we were both a little glad when we knew it was almost over.”

“I can imagine,” she says. “It’s so hard, on both sides. Knowing the waiting is almost over, one way or another, is actually a great comfort to me.”

“But you don’t think it would be for him,” I say, seeing where she’s coming from.

“Precisely,” she says. “But I know he’ll understand why I made this choice in time. And now that I know he has someone like you in his life, I see no reason to draw this out any longer.” She covers my hand with her thinner one. “I’m so grateful for you. And so glad Hunter’s finally met a woman who can see how much love he has to give beneath that protective shell.”

She glances behind us, ensuring we’re still safe from behind overheard before she adds, “That’s all it is. Just a shell. Inside, he’s as tender as they come. He was just hurt so badly as a boy. I didn’t understand how badly until we were out of that house. I thought I was shielding him from the worst of his father’s anger, taking it on myself so he’d be spared, but…” She shakes her head. “I was a fool who realized my mistakes too late, and I’ve never quite been able to forgive myself for it.”

The weight of her words—of her trust in me in sharing all this—settles heavy in my chest. “He’s forgiven you,” I say, no doubt in my mind. “And he wouldn’t want you to spend another moment feeling guilty. You’re his favorite person, Margaret. Truly, he would do anything for you. And you don’t earn that kind of devotion by being a bad mom.”

“Thank you, Elaina. Hearing that means so much to me.” She blinks faster, her eyes beginning to shine. “But I think he has a new favorite person, and I, for one, couldn’t be happier.”

“Happier about what?” Hunter says, appearing at the end of the aisle with our drinks.

“Just girl talk,” Margaret says smoothly, accepting her water bottle. “Elaina was telling me that you two might be thinking about starting a family soon.”

My jaw drops in shock so complete, it takes several moments for me to sputter, “N-no! I didn’t.” I glance at Hunter, worried he’ll think I’ve jumped the gun, but he seems unfazed.

“Stop, Mom,” he says, shooting me a reassuring look as he hands over my glass of white wine. “We aren’t even officially engaged yet.”

“Well, that’s something that can be remedied quickly,” she says with a sniff. “I have my old ring if you’d like it. It used to be your great-grandmother’s and is actually a very nice piece. It was from back before our family fell on hard times.”

“No, it’s okay. I already have that part taken care of,” Hunter says, reaching into the pocket of his pants, making my jaw drop a second time as he pulls out a small ring box. It’s half the size of a normal one—the only explanation for how he was able to hide it in his fitted pants—but the ring inside isn’t small by any means.

It’s giant, a massive rock of a diamond that summons a “Wow, that’s huge” from the women behind us.

“Elaina Murphy,” he says, holding my gaze as Margaret gasps and begins to tear up on his other side. “I hope you’ll forgive me for not getting down on one knee, but I’m a big man and this is a small aisle. But I love you, Elaina. I love your good heart and your clever mind and your smart mouth. I love the way you challenge me and excite me and make me look forward to the start of a new day more than I ever did before you came into my life. I am a better man because of you, and I want to keep getting better. Together. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

Fighting real tears, I nod yes to the fake engagement, barely able to breathe as Hunter slides the ring on my finger, let alone speak.

By the time I’m finally able to say, “thank you,” to Margaret for her congratulations and kiss Hunter on the cheek, the lights are flashing above the audience, signaling the start of the second act.

As the lights go down, Hunter squeezes my hand, silently assuring me I played my part just fine.

But I don’t feel just fine.

I feel…overwhelmed.

The rest of the show passes in a blur, my mind spinning with Margaret’s secret and my heart doing a bittersweet swan dive in my chest every time I glance down at the ring on my finger.

And forget about making eye contact with Hunter right now. I have no idea how I’m going to hide this secret from him. What if the surgery doesn’t work? What if it does? Either way, I’m keeping something huge from this man who means so much to me, something that could seriously impact the rest of his life.

The weight of it sits heavy in my chest through dinner afterward and the car ride home, during which I do my best to pretend to be excited about his surprise fake proposal.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks as we brush our teeth over the his and hers sinks in the master bath. “You’ve been quiet.”

I nod and spit toothpaste, focusing on rinsing my toothbrush as I reply, “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired. Theater is kind of exhausting, isn’t it? All those emotions… I mean it was great, don’t get me wrong, just…tiring.”

“Then let’s head to bed early,” he says, gathering me against him and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I don’t mind. I have an early meeting tomorrow anyway.”

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