Page 52 of Twenty Years Later

"Will you let me help?" I asked. "Please?"

The water shut off, and I heard the sound of her footsteps on the creaky floor. I held my breath, wondering what the hell was going on and whether she would actually let me help. The door slowly opened to reveal Jayda, her whole face pink, the wet trail of tears evident down her cheeks, her watery blue-green eyes capturing mine.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" I asked.

She licked her lips and nodded, her stare faltering, like she was afraid to meet my eyes. And in that moment,I knew.

The gagging, the exhaustion, the refusal of wine, thebig thingshe was hiding... it all snapped together in my mind as my heart pounded in my chest. And before I could think about the wisdom of asking, the words blurted out of my mouth. "My God, are you pregnant?"

Chapter Eighteen

Jayda

My heart in my throat and my stomach churning, I nodded, beyond nervous about his reaction. Scared to look into his eyes, I finally dared to glance upwards. I watched as the expression on his face turned from shock and disbelief to confusion and finally to joy—a pure and utter joy that lit up his entire being.

The tears spilled down my cheeks again, this time with emotion... with release from finally telling him,finallynot holding this secret inside of me anymore.

"You're really pregnant?" he asked me, his own eyes filling up.

"Yes," I whispered, not trusting myself to speak with the nausea that was overwhelming me.

All the sudden, Alex's arms were around me, holding me tight to him, and he began to twirl me around in circles, laughing. "Oh, my God, Jayda! Once again, you've made me the happiest man alive."

I gagged near his ear, and he quickly put me down. Clamping my hand over my mouth, I mumbled, "I'm sorry."

Those brown eyes I loved so much creased with concern as he put both hands on my cheeks. "No, no, no.I'msorry. I'm so sorry."

A giggle escaped me at how sorry he could have been if I'd been sick on him. And then, we both started laughing, the tears flowing freely down my face now as Alex's thumbs wiped them away.

"You have no idea how happy I am right now, sweetheart."

His words shocked me. "Really? You are?"

"Happy doesn't even describe it. I don't know of a word that describes it, honestly."

He pulled me to him again, but this time in a gentle hug, his arms so tender around me, the tears came down even more. I felt him tremble against me. Or maybe it was my own trembling I felt.

I nuzzled my head into his solid chest, appreciating the feel of him more than I ever had before. Just having him hold me like this was all the answer I needed right now.

"I can't even believe it," he said against my hair. "This is absolutely incredible."

In my wildest dreams, I couldn't have imagined this reaction. I thought maybe he'd be upset, maybe worried, or just completely freaked out. I didn't dare hope for any kind of happiness. And it absolutely blew me away to have Alex acting like this.

He pulled back to stare into my eyes. "Are you sure? I mean, how? When? You're really sure?"

"I'm sure. I missed a pill. Or maybe two," I squeaked out.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes softening even more.

His face showed so much concern that relief flooded through me, and my nausea vanished. For the moment anyway. But God, the emotions washing over me were just too much right now.

"Jayda?"

I could barely nod. And before I could say anything, Alex lifted me up into his arms and held me close to him. And like I was the most precious thing in the world, he carried me over to the bed and gently laid me down, adjusting the pillows behind my back.

He disappeared into the bathroom, soon returning with a cup of water and a cool, wet washcloth that he put on my forehead.

"Here," he said, holding out the glass. "Would a sip of water help?"

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