Page 45 of The Chef's Kiss
“Thank you. That’s good news.”
She smiled. “You’ll be pleased to know both mother and baby will be fine.”
My thoughts stuttered. “Baby?” Jorgina was pregnant?
“Oh.” Her face fell. “I’m sorry if she hadn’t told you yet. Low blood pressure episodes can be a cause for concern in pregnant women, but we’ve run some tests, and she will need to be watched to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
A baby. I couldn’t process that thought. It was something I hadn’t even considered when she collapsed. Jorgina was younger than me, probably about twenty-two or so. I couldn’t help wondering who the father was or if her family knew.
Nurse Mackenzie touched my arm. “You can go back and see her now.”
I barely noticed my surroundings as I followed the nurse through a pair of doors where beds lined the walls with curtains drawn around those that were occupied. She pointed me toward a curtain in the back, and I hesitated on the opposite side.
“I can see your hideously expensive shoes, Hudson.” Jorgina’s voice was hoarse.
With a deep breath, I pulled the curtain aside just enough for me to step through and put it back in place, enclosing both of us in the small area. Jorgina sat up in bed, a blanket pooled at her waist. Her curls were a mess, but it was her eyes I couldn’t avoid. Deep green darts, striking right where it hurt.
She was wary of me.
“Go on.” She waved a hand. “Take a seat, and spit it out. I’m guessing you now know about the baby.”
I sank into a hard metal chair. “You didn’t tell me when I hired you.” It wasn’t quite an accusation.
“You can’t discriminate against applicants because of pregnancy.”
“I wouldn’t have … Jorgina, are you serious right now?”
“Serious as a surprise pregnancy.” One eyebrow quirked, and I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped.
“You’re unbelievable. I wanted to make sure you’re okay. I can’t do that if I don’t know what you’re dealing with.”
“I barely know you, Hudson. What was I going to say? I returned home because some douchebag knocked me up, demanded an abortion, and won’t leave me alone?”
Anger rose in me, but not for Jorgina. Whoever this man was didn’t deserve to be called a man at all. “Jorgina—”
“It’s fine.” She waved my anger away like it was wholly unjustified. “Mostly. The simple fact is, I’m home surrounded by people who love me and who will love this baby. I know they will.” She didn’t sound so sure of that fact.
“Does your family know?”
Her shoulders dropped. “Only one of my cousins.” She straightened. “You can’t tell Lena. Conner will kill me. He’s the more protective of my brothers, in a not cool kind of way. Conrad will try to understand what happened, and Carter will probably laugh.” A small smile tilted her lips. “I actually think Carter will enjoy being an uncle.”
I leaned forward, my eyes connecting with hers. “I won’t tell a soul.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, not tearing her gaze away.
I was wrong before. This woman wasn’t fragile or broken. Not by a long shot.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” I admitted.
Her lips twitched. “Were you scared, Mr. Silverman?”
“No.”
“I think you were. But then, I would be too if I thought I might lose the only person in town who’ll lower themselves to work for me.”
“Yeah, well, you’re still here to annoy me into an early grave.”
“That’s the plan.”
