Page 98 of Surprise Baby for Mr. Fischer
“That’s when you became pregnant?” Megan asked quietly.
“Yes.” I smiled and touched my stomach. I’d never regret that weekend.
“Why wasn’t Lincoln with you after you found out you were pregnant?” James continued the line of questioning.
“He didn’t know. I stupidly refused to give him my number, thinking that this would all just stay a beautiful memory. When I realized I was pregnant, I tried the only number I had for him and realized the number had been disconnected.”
“Had Lincoln intended to turn off that phone so you couldn’t reach him?” James asked. It was my idea to have them ask this question. I wanted there to be no doubt that it was my fault Lincoln didn’t know about the baby.
“No, definitely not. When Lincoln jumped into the ocean, his phone broke. He replaced his phone, but not long after he left here he needed to change his number after getting a bunch of harassing phone calls.”
“So it wasn’t until he hired your family’s shop, Bits and Bobs Restoration, and came back to Rhode Island that he learned of your pregnancy?”
“Yes. Lincoln was shocked, of course, but once he got over it, he was incredible. I know he’ll be a wonderful father.”
Megan’s smile at my last statement dipped. “I hate to bring this up, but many of the news outlets are painting you as a gold digger, and there will be those out there that won’t believe you had no idea who Lincoln was when you met.”
I swallowed and nodded.
“So what message do you have for those people—and Lincoln, if he’s watching?”
I faced the camera head-on. “Really, my message is for Lincoln. What other people think doesn’t matter. It’s taken me a long time to realize that I can’t control the tales that other people spin, and while it hurts, I can’t let it control me. I made a huge mistake in letting my fear decide I needed to walk away from him.”
“Many sources also claim that he was the one to walk away.” James looked expectantly at me.
“He would never have left if I had given him another choice. It’s my fault he’s not here. I need him to know I’m sorry.”
James leaned in. “Harper, what do you hope will happen next after this interview?”
“I’d hoped Lincoln would be here for me to apologize in person.”
“And if he decides not to get back together with you?” Megan asked softly.
“It’ll hurt, but I know he’d still choose to be a part of our child’s life. He’d never give her up because of my mistake.”
The three of us stayed quiet a moment longer. I think all three of us half-expected Lincoln to yell out from the audience and announce he was there.
“I’m sorry, Harper, that he wasn’t able to make it.” Megan patted my hand like she did earlier. This time, her eyes were full of sorrow.
I shrugged, fighting back the tears. I made my choices, good and bad. It was Lincoln’s choice to decide if he could forgive me. I had to come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t ready or able to.
“I don’t blame him,” I whispered, looking down at the floor.
A door banged open at the back of the studio behind the live audience. I drew my hand up to shield my eyes, trying to see who’d caused the commotion.
“Wait!” Lincoln’s strong voice vibrated throughout the room.
The audience gasped. Even Megan had a hand placed over her heart and rocked forward in excitement.
“Lincoln,” I murmured, barely able to believe he was there.
As he jogged closer and hopped onto the slightly elevated floor of the interview area, his gaze was laser-focused on me. “Harper.” He said my name with reverence. “I’m sorry I’m late. We got caught in morning traffic, and I had asked your sisters to let me surprise you.”
I worked to push myself off the couch I sat on, but my balance at twenty-nine weeks pregnant wasn’t what it used to be. Lincoln took my hands and pulled me up. We stood toe to toe, so close I could kiss him.
“Surprise,” he whispered.
“You’re here.” My hands moved to his waist, my fingers digging into his hips, needing to touch him to know I wasn’t dreaming.
