Page 114 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

“So, I track him down, and then what? ‘Hey, whatever your name is, you’re gonna be a father’? Why would I do that?”

Jerry scrapes his hand down his face. “I dunno, Liv. I don’t have the answer, but all I know is a child deserves to know where they come from. Regardless of what that relationship looks like.”

I agree to a point, but where is this coming from? Does he understand how this will complicate everything?

“Finding him and dropping this news will open a can of worms I’m not ready for. This guy and I are connected, sure, but I don’t wanna be. I contact him, anything could happen. I know it takes two to make a baby, but he’s a stranger to me. And my life is in Sugarloaf now. I left Canberra for many reasons, my father included, and I won’t be strong-armed into going back.”

What kind of reception would I get when I gave him the news? From the brief time we were together, I have no idea what kind of man he is. If he’s kind, respectful, father material. He’ll likely tell me it’s my fault. I don’t need that. I hate that some men expect a woman to take care of contraception, but it’s a two-way street. If I hadn’t had problems with blood clotting after the accident, I’d still be on the pill.

I open my arms. Jerry shuffles into my embrace.

“He’s not going to be a part of my life. He’s not you. He’s nothing. It’s in the past. My only focus is the three of us.”

Jerry crawls down my body and presses a kiss to the fabric over my belly button. “Yeah. Same here.”

***

“Now this will be alittle cold.” The young female technician squirts clear gel onto my exposed stomach.

Jerry grips my hand, his palm sweaty against mine.

“Is this dad?” she asks, glancing between me and Jerry. Her black and purple pigtails swish as she turns her head back to the small black and white screen.

There’s a split second of trepidation in Jerry’s eyes before they soften, that gooey look weakening me in an instant.

“Yes, this is Dad.” I beam at him.

Jerry brings my hand to his mouth and kisses my knuckles. “And I’m the luckiest S.O.B. alive.”

“I always like to check, you know?” The technician giggles. “I’ve got it wrong before and it’s hella embarrassing for everyone involved.” She moves the small handheld device over my stomach in a slow swipe before returning and changing the angle. “Like when you think it’s a sibling because the guy seems awkward, and you think he’s being weird because he’s thinking about his sister getting pregnant, then it turns out they had a one-nighter and they barely know each other.”

If my stomach had room to drop, that’s what it’d be doing right now. Where is the tactful technician I had last time? This situation is delicate enough. Whilst Jerry and I need to talk more, this moment was supposed to be special—beholding the baby for the first time together.

“Like I said,” Jerry says, his voice stern. “I’m the luckiest S.O.B. alive.”

I blow him a kiss. “Our baby is so lucky.”

Once the ultrasound is done, we head outside. The harsh winter breeze whips around us as we walk to our vehicles. When we reach my car, Jerry wraps his arms around me and presses his lips to mine. His kiss is soft at first but grows more frenzied.

“That was incredible. You’re incredible,” he says.

I press my hands against his chest and force some distance between us.Otherwise, I won’t get anywhere. “So are you. Now, as much as I wanna lock lips, I must go. I need to get back to work.”

He clears his throat and nods. “Yeah.” He takes my face in his hands and stares longingly into my eyes. “I love you, Liv. Truly. You know that, right?”

Warmth flutters in my chest. “I do. And I loveyou.”

I open my purse and take out one of the ultrasound photos. “Here. Why don’t you take this with you? I know I’ll be staring at mine this afternoon.”

His smile is a mile wide while he runs his finger over the black and white image as if it’s the most precious thing in the world.

It brings happy tears to my eyes.

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