Page 47 of Never To Forever

“Just… be gentle with her, okay?”

I don’t say anything as she pushes the door all the way open and we walk inside. When I cross the threshold into the room, I freeze at the sight of Marie lying in the hospital bed. She’s hooked up to an IV and heart monitor. She looks pale, her brown hair spread out on her pillow. Weak. Like the life was literally being drained out of her.

Marie turns her head when Haven and I walk into the room, and when her dark eyes land on me, they go wide and she struggles to sit up.

“Wha-what are you doing here?” she gasps, looking around frantically, as if searching for an escape.

I cross to her bed and gaze down at her, my brow furrowed.

“Marie, why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?”

She freezes and visibly tenses, her shoulders going rigid, and her fingers curling into her blankets. Clearing her throat, she looks up at me, attempting to appear nonchalant as she shrugs.

“Why do you assume it’s yours?”

That pisses me right the fuck off. I narrow my eyes at her.

“Don’t bullshit me, Marie,” I growl. “We both know I’m the only one you’ve been with lately, just like you’re the only one I’ve been with. I wouldn’t lie to you about that and I know you wouldn’t either.”

She looks irritated, dropping her gaze as her cheeks turn a light pink, not the same vibrant color as usual, though. She fidgets with her blanket.

“Fine,” she murmurs. “There hasn’t been anyone else but you.”

My temper dissipates at her softly spoken confession, and I place a finger under her chin to tilt her face back up to mine.

“Marie, why are you in the hospital? Is something wrong with the baby?”

My heart twists at the thought, but I maintain a calm demeanor as I wait for her to respond. She releases a long sigh, slipping her chin from me.

“I’ve been having debilitating morning sickness,” she confesses. “I’m exhausted and dehydrated. The baby is fine.”

A mixture of relief and concern floods through me. I lay my hand on her forehead. Haven frowns at me.

“What are you doing?” she asks, while Marie stares up at me in confusion.

“I’m, uh… checking her temperature,” I say, quickly dropping my hand. “That’s what Mom always did when we were sick. Sorry.”

Marie jerks her eyes from mine again. “The doctor has been keeping track of all that. Don’t worry.”

I nod, but I hate feeling useless, and I don’t know how to help her right now.

“How long have you known?” I ask, my eyes dipping to her flat belly, hidden under the blankets.

“A couple weeks,” she confesses.

Whirling on Haven, I say, “And you knew this? You’ve known all this time?”

She shrugs, looking unapologetic. “Pretty much, yes. I promised to keep it a secret, and if you weren’t such a brute, I wouldn’t have spilled the beans. If you’re expecting me to be sorry for holding onto the secret for as long as I did, I’m not, so take that scowl off your face right now. You look like Mom when she’d get angry.”

“You're so annoying sometimes,” I grumble before turning my attention back to Marie.

“Go easy on her,” Marie says. “She was only doing what I asked her to do. Besides, it wasn’t like you were around.”

I flinch at her cool tone and bitter words. She’s right. I disappeared on her again, running from her when I should’ve just talked to her like a fucking adult.

“Look, Marie…I’m sorry.” I run a hand through my hair, taking a deep breath. “I can understand that you’ve been pissed at me and have been keeping this to yourself, but I know now.. No more secrets, okay? At least when it comes to the baby.”

Marie hesitates before nodding. “Okay. No more secrets.”

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