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Mark went to the bar to get beers for the table and a water for her, and she watched him go. I need to tell him. But how?
He returned to the table, slid the water in front of her and beers in front of the other men and Gretchen. Laura took a sip of water and then Edward’s phone lit up. He answered in the noisy bar, moving away from the table so he could hear.
“Are you okay?” Gretchen asked, concerned. “Did you hit your head…when you fell on the boat?”
“Just a little bit. But, don’t worry. I don’t think the fainting had anything to do with that.”
“Maybe you should see somebody,” Mark said. “Like a doctor. First the stomach bug and then the fainting…” Mark took a long sip of beer.
“I’m fine.” I know exactly what’s wrong with me. When would he start to suspect? Yet he seemed stubbornly blind to her symptoms.
Edward came back to the table, face white. “Guys, Elle’s labor started. Her friend is already driving her to the hospital.”
Mark slowly put down the beer. “We’ll drive you to the hospital,” he said.
“I can do it,” Edward said.
“No, man. You’ll be liable to hit a tree. Let us drive you.”
“You sure?” Edward looked anxious as he glanced at Garrett.
“Hell, we’ll all go,” Garrett said.
* * *
MARK SAT WITH Laura in the waiting room of the small island hospital, holding her hand.
“If you’d told me a month ago I’d be waiting at the hospital for my ex-wife to deliver my brother’s baby, I would’ve told you that you were nuts,” Mark said, shaking his head.
Laura laughed a little and leaned into him. She loved the feel of his strong shoulder beneath her cheek. She wanted that feeling to last forever but wondered if it would.
“Stranger things have happened,” she said. “But I’m glad for the baby’s sake that you two have made up. It’s important for kids to have extended family.”
“I’m not sure we’re exactly friends again. It’s a lot to process.”
Laura rubbed his arm. “I know. But I’m proud of you. Proud that you let him help us and that you’re here. Supporting him.”
“I still don’t know what I’m doing here really.”
“Being an adult. Being a bigger person,” Laura said. She squeezed his arm. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
Mark brightened. “For nearly getting you thrown overboard on the ship? Hardly!”
“It was an accident,” Laura said.
“How’s your head?” he asked, leaning over and gently probing the back of her hair. He touched the goose egg and she flinched a little.
“Ouch.”
“Sorry.” He withdrew his hand and then gazed at her a moment. “You sure that bump isn’t more serious? You fainted on the dock and—”
“It’s not the bump,” she said quickly. At least not that bump. She fought herself once more. Why couldn’t she just tell him?
“Okay.” Mark let it go. He held her hand, studying her fingers, and then he gently brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. The gentle touch sent a shiver down her spine. How she loved him. How she loved how he touched her, bringing every nerve ending in her body alive. “Have you thought about my offer? To go sailing?”
“Mark.” Not now, she thought. They couldn’t talk about this now.
“We won the money, and I can support us on the boat. And I know you said you didn’t want to go, and I can’t really blame you since you almost got thrown overboard, but would you at least think about it?” Mark looked so hopeful then. How could she dash his hopes?
“But…” Yet, it was all so hopeless.
“I know you want to go back to San Francisco. I know that’s your plan.”
“I don’t know what my plans are,” she confessed. “I have no job. I…” I’m about to be a single mom.
“Then it’s the perfect time to sail around the world with me. Come on. Say you’ll consider it.” He studied her a moment. “Are you worried about me? About what I said?”
Laura frowned. “About not coming back?”
Mark nodded. “You don’t have to be. I realize now that with you in my life, everything has changed. I’ve got so much to live for now. You’ve made me see that, Laura. I’m not going to make this a one-way trip. I promise. But if you come with me, it’ll be a trip of a lifetime.”
It would. Laura had no doubt.
“Mark, I just…” I can’t because I’m pregnant. Why couldn’t she say those words? Yet, every time she tried, they stuck in her throat. All she had to do was admit the real problem and then he’d understand. Laura glanced at him once more. She had to find the courage to tell him. She just had to…
