Page 116 of Illicit Heir

"Dear, are ya sure you're okay?" Annie asks, putting her hand over mine.

"Yea. What time will the guests be here?"

She answers, "Probably not until ten o'clock. We normally shut the pub around then, but we'll keep it open. I'm sure they'll want a drink."

"It'd be good for ya to stay beside Annie tonight. That way, ya can see how we like to serve our guests. It's an experience when they come here," Dominick asserts.

"Sure, that'd be great," I agree. I look down at my plate, but suddenly, I'm too scared to eat.

"Don't tell me you're full. It'd be a shame to waste this food. It's delicious. Ya really outdid yourself this time, Annie," Dominick compliments.

"Yea. It's very good," I say, then force myself to continue to eat, trying to push the thought from my mind that it could be Caleb.

That's silly. He doesn't know I'm in Clifden, and he definitely doesn't know I'm at this bed-and-breakfast, I remind myself.

When we finish eating, Annie rises.

I stand too.

She says, "Sit down, dear. I have dessert for us."

"Oh, of course." I sit back down and look at Dominick.

He shrugs. "It'll be amazing. She's always making special things."

Annie disappears and quickly reappears carrying a huge Bailey's cheesecake.

"I love cheesecake. That looks incredible," I blurt out.

"It is," she assures me. She takes a knife, cuts three pieces, and sets them on plates. She hands Dominick and me each one.

I cut through the rich dessert and put a bite in my mouth. The flavors burst on my tongue, and I groan. "This is so good."

Dominick chuckles. "I told you she's great at what she does."

"Ya really are a good cook," I compliment.

She smiles. "Well, thank ya."

We finish eating, and I help Annie clean the table and do the dishes.

When we're done, she says, "Follow me." She takes me to a hall closet and opens it. "Here's all the clothes I was talking about."

"Wow. Where did ya get those?" I ask, gaping at the huge selection.

She answers, "Guests leave them. We always call and tell them, but they often don't want us to mail the item and don't want to come back because it's too far."

"This is nice stuff," I say, pulling out a piece of fabric, and when it falls open, I discover it's a pretty dress.

"Yea, it is. That would fit ya really well," she claims.

I stare at it. I don't remember the last time I put a dress on. I question, "How should I dress when the guests come?"

"However ya want. We usually wear jeans. Sometimes we get more dressed up. It just depends. Why don't ya try that on and wear it tonight if it fits?" she suggests.

I go into the other room and shut the door. I put the dress on and look at my reflection in the mirror. It fits perfectly, but my stomach is rounder than before.

How long will I be able to hide my pregnancy?

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