Page 2 of A Baby for the Mountain Man

“I—” I cut myself off because there hardly seems to be any point in lying. “I am. I’m mostly excited, but I’m also nervous.”

“It’s totally understandable. Becoming a parent is a huge change. Even when you really want to become one.”

I release a little sigh. “Thank you.”

“For my part, I think you’ll do just fine. You just—”

The doctor enters the exam room before she can finish her thought. I’m torn between wanting to hear whatever pep talk or piece of advice she was going to give and desperately wanting to know whatever the doctor has to say.

“Well, hello, Ms. Hart.” Doctor Bennet glances up from the chart. “It seems like a lot has changed since our last visit.”

My brow furrows. What the heck is that supposed to mean? “I’m sorry, what?”

The nurse steps forward with a syringe and the doctor waves it off. “We won’t be needing that today.”

Now my heart is thundering in my chest, beating at a rate that surely can’t be good for conception. “Why? Is there something wrong with the specimen?”

“Not at all. You chose it well.” She arches an eyebrow. “But you won’t be needing it today.”

Disappointment immediately slices through me. I fall back against the exam table and take a slow deep breath in through my nose, blinking away the unshed tears that are already burning the backs of my eyes.

It’s okay. I always knew this was going to be a possibility. That I maybe wouldn’t be ovulating at the right moment. That’s another part of why I wanted to do this here instead of a sperm bank. My cycle hasn’t always been the most consistent.

Oh, well. This was just the first month of trying. We’ll give the fertility medications and my body another month to try again.

I release a heavy breath. “I guess the medicine didn’t work.”

“Oh, the medicine worked.” Dr. Bennet beams down at me. “You’re pregnant.”

“I’m… Wait… What?” I push myself up on the table. The paper crinkles underneath my hand, adding more noise to the swirling in my brain. I plant both of my palms against the paper, trying to cling to one thought—just one so I can make sense of what’s going on.

Did she just say…

Could I really…

There’s no way…

I shake my head. “What did you say?”

The doctor looks up from the chart. “I said there’s no need to go forward with the insemination because you’re already pregnant.”

That’s what I thought she said.

But… when… how…who?

As if I need to ask any of those questions. Especially when I know exactly when and how it happened and—most especially—who helped me get into this situation.

TWO

SOPHIE

A little more than one week earlier…

I came to Target to pick up a few last-minute decorations for my best friend’s bachelorette party.

But, of course, like most people who set foot through the doors, I’ve found myself standing in a completely different part of the store.

With my cart already full of Valentine’s Day candy and treats—one of the perks of Winter having her wedding on V-Day—I’m parked in the middle of the baby aisle.

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