Page 71 of Twenty Years Later

I drew in a shaky breath. "I don't even know where to start actually."

"Well, why don't you start by telling me how he took the baby news?" she asked, the worry evident in her voice.

"Oh, he was amazing." My eyes filled up at the memories of his sweetness. "He was so incredibly supportive. And he was actually happy, like really, really happy about it."

I heard a gasp through the phone. "Oh, that's good news, hon. You must be thrilled."

"I am," I said over the lump in my throat.

"Then why don't you sound very happy?"

I could imagine the look on her face, the crease between her brows. "Well, the weekend was great, except for the no sex part," I admitted without even thinking. "And then—"

"Wait. Excuse me. Did you just say you didn't have sex?"

"No. We didn't," I said, my voice full of regret.

"Why on earth not?"

I sighed. "Because I forgot to ask the doctor."

Her sigh matched my own. "Oh, that sucks. It's probably fine, though."

"I know. I know. I just wanted to be sure because this time I'm considered to be of advanced maternal age," I said, exaggerating the last three words.

"I hear you. Or what they used to call ageriatricpregnancy," she said, beyond annoyed and frustrated. "I know all about that. Try being over forty and being pregnant. They freak out about everything and want you to take every goddamn test available."

"It's crazy," I said, shaking my head, remembering everything she went through.

"I know they mean well. But if I was able to have sex, you'll probably be fine too."

"Probably. I mean, if..."

"If what?" she asked, her voice edgy.

"If things go well and he comes back," I said so quietly I wasn't sure she could hear me.

She jumped on those words immediately. "Why wouldn't he come back? What are you not telling me?"

I realized I needed to back up a bit so she could understand everything. "Well, he was so sweet and said he'd be here for me and not let me be alone through this pregnancy..."

"He is aman."

"He is. He really is," I completely agreed.

"But?"

Oh, I didn't want to relive this part, but I had to tell her, had to get her opinion. "But then, literally, like out of an awful movie, as we pulled into the airport this morning, he got a text from his ex."

"Are you kidding me?" She was so loud I had to snatch the phone away from my ear. "What the hell didshe want?"

"Would you believe she's in Miami and wants to talk to him?"

"That's total BS." She was silent a moment, and I was so caught up in my misery, I couldn't even speak. "What did he say about it, though?" she finally asked.

I thought back to that awful moment. What had he said exactly? I mostly remembered how intense his eyes had been as he spoke to me. "Well, he kept reassuring me he'd be back."

She let out a whoosh of air. "Jayda, I know you're probably freaking out right now. But please listen to the man and don't jump to any conclusions."

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