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“I do. You’d have run. You weren’t ready to hear it.”
She stood and started pacing. “I’m not going to marry you because you feel obligated thanks to a baby neither of us planned.”
“I don’t feel obligated. Not to marry you. Yes, I am obligated to help you take care of our child, but I don’t have to marry you to do that. I’m in love with you, Laurel. I have been for years.”
She so obviously didn’t believe him. Who knew that giving her time would turn out to be the wrong move? He was not going to win this argument now. She was too upset to be rational, anyway.
“Look, we don’t have to decide anything right now. But I want you to know you’re not in this alone.”
She sat back down, reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you. I’m still having a hard time believing it. We haven’t even been together that long. For one thing, I can’t figure out how I got pregnant when we used protection every time. I don’t remember a condom breaking. Do you?”
“No. I guess one leaked. Or maybe one of them was defective.”
“Defective? How often does a defective condom happen?” Laurel asked.
“Probably not very often. But it really doesn’t matter, does it? It happened so we’ll figure it out.”
She leaned in to him and let him put his arm around her. “You’ve been so nice about this. You don’t even seem like you’re upset.”
Because he wasn’t. “I just told you I loved you. So why would you being pregnant make me unhappy?”
“Most men would be.”
“Not if they’re in love with the mother of their child.” Judging by her expression, it was going to take a while before she believed him. “I’ll admit I’m surprised. Like you said, we used birth control. How far along are you?”
“Around six weeks. Probably. I’ll know more once I see my doctor. She has an office over by the hospital.”
“When will you go see her?”
“Since it’s Friday I guess I’ll see if I can go in next week. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know what she says.”
“I can go with you.”
“It’s just a confirmation appointment. If I’m right about the dates it’s still too early to hear the baby’s heartbeat. You don’t have to be there.”
Zack pushed her chin up and kissed her. “I want to. Do you mind?”
“No.” She studied his face. “You’ve never had a child.”
“True.” Not that he knew of, at any rate.
“You’re happy I’m pregnant, aren’t you?”
“I’m not happy that you’re so upset,” he hedged.
“I don’t want to get married simply because I’m pregnant.”
“If we get married, the baby won’t be the only reason. At least on my part.” He kissed her, then hugged her close. “I love you, Laurel.”
She pushed away and locked gazes with him. “Do you think I’ll believe it if you just say it often enough?”
He smiled. “Can’t hurt. Besides, it happens to be true.”
Her expression was solemn. “I want to believe you. But I’ve just told you I’m pregnant with your baby. You’re a decent, honorable man. You’re bent on doing the right thing. Which to you means marriage.”
“That isn’t the reason I asked you to marry me.”
“Of course it is.”
