Page 31 of Christmas in Watch Hill
EIGHT
IAN
Ididn’t understandher at first. “What do you mean?”
Jessica put her fork down, too. “I’m pregnant. And the baby is yours.”
My mouth went dry and my throat constricted. This was the kind of news you didn’t expect to hear, the kind that came with a punch or two to the gut. “Excuse me?”
“I’m guessing that I’m about two months along. Maybe a little less.” She took a deep breath. “But yes, I’m pregnant. I got the confirmation when I was sick. I took a test and it’s . . . it’s undeniable.”
“Are you kidding?”
She shook her head. “I’m pregnant.” She said it as if she wanted to convince herself as much as she did me. “We are pregnant.”
I stared at her for a long time; it felt like the minutes slowed to hours. Pregnant. Jessica was pregnant. And she’d said the baby was mine. I always wanted a family, and it was part of my lifelong plan, butnot like this.Not like this at all. “Are you . . . are you absolutely sure?”
“I took four tests over the last two days. They were all positive.”
“How do you know it’s mine?”
I winced at the question, and the accusatory tone that slipped out of my mouth. I wasn’t saying the baby wasn’t mine, but to be honest, I didn’t know Jessica well at all. One weekend together did not make a relationship, and while Molly thought the world of Jessica, plenty of people showed their friends thebestside of them, not therealside.
“We had one night together,” I added. “That’s all. And it was weeks ago.”
“It’s yours.” She hardened her jaw and narrowed her eyes. “Look, I haven’t slept with anyone since you. I don’t sleep around.”
“I never said you did.”
“Even if I wanted to, frankly, I haven’t had the time. And this—I wouldn’t lie about something like this.”
“I just want us to be sure.” I held up my left hand. “I’m not calling you a liar.”
“Well, it certainly sounds like you are questioning my judgement here, and I’ve done the math. I went over the calendar several times. And it’s . . . this happened when I was with you.” Jessica looked down at the tablecloth. When she focused on me again, her eyes contained a sadness that wasn’t there when we sat down for dinner. “I’m sorry I picked this time to tell you, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I couldn’t sit through this meal, hiding the truth from you.”
“I-I don’t know what to say about all of this. I honestly don’t.”
“I’m sorry. For you, and for me. I’m really sorry.”
