Page 141 of Luck Be Mine
“No, he can’t be.”
“There was a lot about Robert you didn’t know.”
“I knew enough.”
“He was a United States Navy SEAL, Grace. He got killed on November 8thoverseas in the line of duty. Did he tell you?”
She shook her head. “No, he worked for a Telecommunications company.”
Oh, Bax. Why did you do this?She’d suspected his girlfriend hadn’t known the truth, but she’d hoped, of course, he would come clean.
“No, he was a member of SEAL Team Three for a long time. I can point you to the cemetery where he’s buried.”
Grace rocked in her seat. “He lied?”
“He left it out. To protect you.” Or himself.
“He killed people?”
Cait’s jaw tightened. “He was a warrior, protecting his country, protecting you. I’m still not sure why all this matters. You broke up.”
“We had a fight. He wouldn’t be open with me. He was gone so much.” Her voice trailed off as the implications of his job hit home.
“If it was important enough for you to try and find him, maybe you should tell me.”
Grace stared at her, the debate plain on her face. “I’m pregnant.”
Cait gasped, then covered her mouth. Her heart broke into a million pieces – for Grace, for Bax, for the team. Baxter would have loved the reality of a baby. A father.
“You’re gonna ask me how I know it’s his?” Her words were barely above a whisper.
“Thought never occurred to me.” But it should have.
“I haven’t been with anyone but him. I can’t prove that either.” Her face flushed. The color lingered on her cheeks while her blue eyes went glassy with shock.
Cait shifted the doctor part of her skills to the forefront. “Are you all right? The baby?”
“I’ve been sick.”
“Bad morning sickness, illness?
“Bad morning sickness. It’s finally better. But I couldn’t hide it from my parents. They are very upset with me. Honestly, I wasn’t going to say anything, but Robert used to hate how my father talked to me. Would defend me.” Her voice trailed off, a hiccup of emotion finally making it through the anger. “He’s really gone?”
“I’m sorry.”
The tears rolled silently down her cheeks. “I did love him. So much. But I didn’t understand the secrets.”
“He would have been happy at this news.”
“Yes?”
Cait nodded. “How far along are you? How can I help you?”
She swiped away the tears. “Fifteen weeks and you can’t.”
“This man had a great many friends who loved and supported him. They will do the same for his child. I’ll do the same for this child and for you.
“I’m on my own.” She bit her lip. Despair bled into her face.
