Page 43 of His Impossible Heir

Emma was right and Amanda couldn’t wrap her mind around the possibility.

“I’ll be right back,” Emma said, then disappeared out the door.

Amanda was still sitting on the sofa fifteen minutes later when Emma rushed back through the door, carrying a bag from the drug store down the street. “Here,” she said, taking out a box with a pregnancy test in it. “Go pee on this and tell me what it says.”

Amanda stared at the box in Emma’s hand, not sure that she wanted to know the answer. What if shewaspregnant? A burst of happiness filled her chest, but she tamped it down. What if she wasn’t?

Emma touched Amanda’s shoulder. “Youneedto know. If you’re not pregnant, then I’m taking you to a doctor. Because obviously, something isn’t right.”

Emma made a good point, but it didn’t make Amanda feel any better. With a huff, Amanda took the box, her fingers shaking.

Before Amanda could stand up and head into the bathroom, Emma gripped her arm. “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered. “No matter what the answer, we’ll figure this outtogether, okay?”

Amanda nodded, her lips numb. She went into the bathroom with the box. Once she’d done her thing, she set the plastic stick on the countertop to wait for the test to process. For a long time, she couldn’t look.

Emma knocked on the door and Amanda opened it, tears in her eyes. Staring into her friend’s concerned, blue gaze, Amanda shook her head. “I can’t look!” she whispered.

Emma understood and took Amanda’s hands, giving them a reassuring squeeze. “Let me see,” she urged.

Amanda stepped out of the way and Emma bent over the stick. When she turned around, her expression was carefully blank. “So…do you want it to be positive or negative?”

Amanda thought about it for a moment, not sure what to say. However, an image of her holding Daniesh’s baby in her arms popped into her head and she put a hand to her chest. “I’d love to have Daniesh’s baby!” she whispered, then pressed her lips together, terrified of being disappointed. The past three months had been beyond miserable. Was she about to be dumped back into that well of despair and loneliness?

Emma’s expression brightened into a delighted grin. “Then, you’re pregnant!” she whispered, then held her breath as she waited for Amanda’s reaction.

Amanda’s breath caught in her throat. Emma’s blue eyes were lit up, but was she teasing? “Are you kidding?”

Emma shook her head, her grin widening. “Nope. The test is positive,” she said, picking up the stick and showing Amanda.

Amanda blinked, looked at the stick and…sure enough, there was a bright blue plus sign in the tiny window.

“I’m…pregnant?” she whispered.

“Yep!” Emma laughed, hugging Amanda tightly. “We’re both going to have babies!”

Amanda laughed and the sound felt raw on her throat. It had been a long time since she’d laughed! Too long!

“When are you due?” Amanda gasped, holding onto Emma’s arms.

“The doctor says I’m due in September.”

Amanda did the math and realized that she might have her baby right around that time as well. “Me too!”

Emma did a little dance, but the bathroom was a bit too small for dancing. They moved out to the living room, then Amanda froze. “I…uh…how do I…” she stopped and looked at Emma, worriedly. “Daniesh thinks he’s incapable of making a baby.”

Emma chuckled, shaking her head. “I think you’ve proven him wrong.”

That was true, but then another problem occurred to Amanda. “How do I tell him?” she asked in a tiny voice wringing her hands as she paced the living room.

Emma grinned. “I think you should fly out there and tell him in person.”

In person? Just fly to his country without any warning? No! Impossible! “I can’t! I should just text him.”

Emma grabbed Amanda’s hand, stopping her from grabbing her phone. “Would you want to hear news this big through a text message?”

Amanda sighed, rubbing her forehead. “No. You’re right, I wouldn’t.” She glanced at her computer. “Let me find a flight. Ishoulddo this in person.”

Emma shook her head. “Why don’t you fly to Fahre with me, then my pilot can take you to Hadair?” she offered.

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