Page 97 of Exposed Ink

“No,” I breathe out, my hand going to my belly. “I don’t want any options. I want this baby. It’s just … I don’t feel sick at all, and I was told it would be hard to conceive.”

“I read your chart, so I understand your concern. But right now, everything looks good. I’m going to recommend you get started on a prenatal vitamin and avoid as much stress as possible. I’m going to have the nurse run a panel of blood, and we’ll see you back in two weeks.”

“I thought it was every four weeks.”

“It is, but because of your history, I want to see you every two weeks, just so we can monitor you closely.” She pulls the probe out, sets it down, and removes her gloves. Then, she walks back over to me. “Congratulations, Kinsley. Despite the odds and what you were told, you’re carrying a little miracle. Some would say it was meant to be.”

THIRTY-TWO

Kinsley

I’m pregnant.I can’t believe it.

I mean, I can since Shane and I never used protection, but I always thought it would be harder to conceive—which, up until recently, I didn’t plan to ever do. I’m scared since I’m only seven weeks and anything could go wrong, but I’m also excited, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect this baby.

I head back to where I know I’ll find Shane, so I can tell him the crazy good news, but when I get there, I walk in on what looks like a serious conversation.

“She doesn’t have anywhere to go,” Taylor says. “And the doctor said she needs to be looked after while she recovers.”

“I heard the doctor,” Shane says with a sigh.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, stepping into the room without knocking since the door was open.

“Yeah,” he says, standing and coming over to me. “Can I talk to you for a minute outside?”

I glance from him to Jamie, whose features are expressionless, and then to Taylor, who looks concerned.

“Yeah,” I say, my stomach tightening in worry.

“Dad,” Taylor says, “you don’t have to go outside to talk. Kinsley will understand.”

“Understand what?” I ask in confusion.

“My mom lives in the city, but she doesn’t have anyone, and the doctors don’t want her to be alone while she recovers from brain surgery, so she mentioned staying with us, and I told Dad that we have the guest room that never gets used. We can’t leave her to go back to the city on her own. She’s family.”

“Taylor,” Shane says, his tone serious. “I need to speak to Kinsley outside.”

He takes my hand and guides us over to an empty waiting room and has a seat. “I’m sorry about all this. Taylor is worried about her mom since she doesn’t have any other living family.”

Family.

My thoughts go back to what Pamela said at the family barbecue …

“Everyone knew they would still hook up when she came into town.”

“With Shane never dating, we all thought maybe one day …”

“When’s the last time you slept with her?” I blurt out.

Shane flinches, and I already have my answer.

“Taylor was about two years old, and Jamie came back into town to visit for a few days in between jobs. I was young and dumb,” he says. “She said she missed me, and I believed her. But then she left, and I told myself it would never happen again, and it never did.”

I nod in understanding, feeling slightly better since that means it’s been fifteen years since they were together.

“If you aren’t comfortable with her staying with us …”

“It’s fine,” I say, refusing to be the bad guy. “Like you said, you’re her only family, and anyway,” I choke out, “you don’t need my permission. I don’t even live there.”

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