by Nicole Lane
“Fucking hell,” Eve answered.
“Yes?”
She flung open the door to him, bouncing slightly.
“Are we having a baby?” he asked, delighted.
“No! We are not! We are having a phone directory, and we are calling someone who specializes in these things, and then we are pretending like this never happened.” She stalked past him, only mildly amused at his reaction.
Marcus, her boss and best friend, had been after her to take the test for weeks. Many weeks, now that she thought about it. She listened to him run into the bathroom, skittering to the sink where she’d laid the two tests, and drew up her shoulders at his sharp, happy cry. “In my office now!” he told her.
The two of them walked through the workroom together, ignoring the looks of the three seamstresses who were putting together the muslins for Marcus’s fall show. He pulled her along by the hand, the sleeve of his silk shirt fluttering against her wrist. Marcus looked like a rogue elf half the time. He was slight and feline, with platinum hair that kicked away from his head in a rebellion of long spikes, and his gray eyes were always alive with thought. It didn’t help that he wore a uniform assortment of black or gray that fit him like he’d just stepped out of another world. Even a plain T-shirt and jeans took on a new personality with Marcus wearing it. Briefly, Eve let herself pretend that he was from another world and he was about to lead her out of this one into his native land.
She’d been doing a lot of pretending lately. She had refused to do the test at home and had refused to do it at Marcus’s house, pretending that doing it at work would make it negative. People didn’t bring children to work, so obviously you couldn’t find out you were pregnant there.
Marcus had been insisting that she was pregnant. There was a possibility. There was more than a possibility. She hadn’t been careful.
No, she corrected herself, she had been purposefully careless. She’d gotten broody and had let her pill lapse. Reckless.
She had thought that having a baby might help her. It might force her to become more responsible in her personal life. It might settle her down. It might make her mother fawn over her like she did her sisters, or at least throw a little attention her way for the love of the grandchild.
As soon as she’d come to her senses and realized what she’d done, she’d gotten back on the pill and made an appointment to talk to a psychologist. Still, by then, she had been with Dominic a handful of times, and she hadn’t had a cycle since. That was months ago now, and denial was no longer an option.
Nothing was showing yet. Not really. She could tell a difference in the space between her navel and her pubis, but at worst, it looked like she was dealing with some serious bloat, and she could dress it easily. For now.
“God damn it,” she muttered, letting him drag her along by the wrist.
She already knew what he was going to say. It was too late to do anything about it. Not too late, really; it was never too late. But it was too late to do anything about it without jeopardizing her eternal soul. Some vestiges of her childhood religion clung to her thinking like barnacles, no matter how many vices she tried to use to scrub them off. And she had to admit that she’d had enough time to get used to the possibility and wasn’t as horrified as she thought she should be.
“You have to stop drinking,” he was saying as he frog marched her into his luxe office, “and smoking. You can’t do those anymore.”
“You know this is not yours, don’t you?”
“Of course it isn’t mine.” Marcus snorted, then perked up. “Whose is it? Do you know?”
Eve raised an eyebrow at him, and he shook his head.
“Can’t do anything the easy way, can you? You can’t just get yourself done up by a stranger, or a rock star, or someone who is at least not dating your sister.”
“Augh!” she groaned at him. “Stop. Just stop.”
“You said you wanted children,” he reminded. “And you said you knew you weren’t getting any younger. And you—”
“I didn’t do this on purpose, Marcus. At least not entirely. I didn’t really think it was possible. I’ve been on the pill for so long, and I thought you had to be off it for ages before it stopped working. I mean, I wasn’t even off it a full month. I knew, but I didn’t know.”
“You weren’t taking other precautions either. You were playing Russian roulette with more than just your womb; you have to consider your health. What in creation might he have given you? Or your sister? What if you both turn up with the same STD? You could give her your test results for an engagement present. Then she’d be off him.”
She frowned and crossed her legs, thinking that was something she should have done several weeks prior, cursing inwardly again. “Gross, Marcus. I didn’t know he was going to propose to her, or I wouldn’t have. I really thought they were headed toward an end. He’d just be out of our lives, and no one would ever be the wiser. It seemed perfect. But he turned down the opportunity in LA to stay here, and by then…God damn it.”
Marcus walked around behind her and started rubbing her shoulders. “Well, we’ll be in this together. I can’t wait!”
“I’m not going to marry you.” She sighed.
“Why not?”
“Well, for one thing, Eve Rode sounds like a porn name. For another, I’m not in love with you.”
“Oh! I’m wounded,” he yelped playfully.
“And my mother would be far too happy about it. Me marrying a fabulous designer and having his baby at the same time? No, thank you. I’d hate to start realizing their dreams for me at this late date.”
“You’re twenty-seven. It’s hardly a late date.”
“I’ve got two bedrooms,” she said, “and plenty of space. I’ve got a good job—you can’t fire me now, by the way—and a good support system. I’ll just be mysterious about who the father is. No one needs to know.”
“You’ve already really thought this through, haven’t you? In between pretending it wasn’t possible. This is going to drive your mother bat shit.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Marcus slouched forward with his chin on her head. “It’s going to put a damper on your dating life.”
“I need a damper. I need a reason to stop seeing him—something solid that isn’t being worried about Isabelle. We see how well that works to curb my interest in him.” She sighed, softly this time. This was definitely going to throw a kink in the works with the neighbor. She could kiss any possibility of a relationship with Tad goodbye. “God damn it.”
“Shush. He’s going to think that’s his name, and it isn’t. His name is Xavier.”
“What?”
“Xavier. Or Xander. I haven’t decided yet, but it must begin with an X.”
“Marcus…”
“Because his name will be X. Rode, and that is hilarious! I’ve done up the logo and everything. We’re going to start a maternity line, and then a baby line, and we’re going to call it XRode, like crossroads.”
“You did what?”
“When you first told me you thought it was possible. I’ve been daydreaming since. You, huge as a mountain, glowing in a gorgeous column-style gown. Teeny swimsuits. I’m going to make you the most sensational mummy in the world. So X. Rode—it’s a crossroads of life and the line you need when you come to it.”
Eve laughed. “That’s actually quite brilliant, but what if it’s a girl?”
He hummed. “It isn’t, but if it is, then you can name her Xandra. See? Like Zandra, only with an X so my brand doesn’t suffer. Lovely! See? It still works.”
“Absolutely not. Anyway, the baby isn’t going to be a Rode, darling. The baby is going to be a D’Amico.”
“No, you’re putting me on the birth certificate, and I’m getting parental rights. I’m going to be your baby daddy.”
Feeling his jaw working on top of her head, the ridiculous words coming out, Eve chuckled. She had been avoiding it, but avoiding it and ignoring it because she was afraid to a
dmit she wanted the baby. She was afraid if she knew for sure, and if she told anyone, she would be pushed to get rid of it. She was afraid she couldn’t admit that she was happy about it. Happy wasn’t exactly acceptable when it came to her. Except with Marcus.
Finally, she uncrossed her arms and craned her neck so that he moved. “I do want it. I am happy.” She let herself smile and found herself wearing a face-splitting grin.
“I am too,” Marcus agreed, his own face alight. “And I’m serious about being in this together. You’re family to me, Eve. And if you won’t let me be the father, I’ll be the most fabulous uncle ever.”
They hugged to seal the deal, then Marcus pulled her around to look at sketches he had prepared when she’d first told him she might be pregnant, the next hour going by in a flurry of discussion of fabrics, cuts, and colors, and then she went off to the clinic for confirmation, where she was given a list of doctors, a round scolding about her lifestyle vices, a book to read, and a bottle of vitamins—each pill the size of her thumb.
Two days later, and she had confirmation from a real, practicing OB/GYN. She walked out in wonder. Just over twenty weeks. She was almost halfway finished before she’d even admitted she was started. She had gained five pounds and needed to gain five more to make the doctor happy. She had more vitamins to take, another book to read, a duffle bag full of coupons and powdered milks, and a sonogram picture that indicated her baby girl was about as shy as she was when it came to showing off her goods—not shy at all.
“You’ll start showing soon.” The doctor had smiled, patting her belly. “And you’ll eventually start to feel her moving around.”
Uncharacteristically, when the doctor had asked her about her support, Eve had blurted, “The father’s fantastic. He’s thrilled. Over the moon. He’s already picking out names—they’re horrible names, but he’s just that happy. It’s good. My family’s going to be thrilled.”
And she had burst into tears when the doctor kindly asked, “You’re terrified, aren’t you?”
So, now she was walking down the street, heading back to her flat. Five months ago, Dominic had been entertaining the notion of moving to Los Angeles. He’d had an offer from an American motocross club and was seriously considering it. She hadn’t known that he’d been trying to decide between cutting ties with Isabelle completely or tying the knot in total. If she had, things would have been different now.
He had seemed intent on moving. It was the perfect set up for her, she’d thought. Then she’d come to her senses, apparently too late. She hadn’t planned on telling him if he’d moved away, and she didn’t plan on telling him now, but she wondered if he would figure it out.
Everyone just assumed she was slutting it up with every man she met. Reality was that she hadn’t been that girl for a couple of years and was generally only sleeping with men she dated more than twice, or Dominic. And she’d only been with Dominic recently.
She decided not to tell her family. They’d all figure it out sooner or later, and then they’d be so furious she hadn’t told them that they’d have that to chew on, rather than the missing father. And she’d present Marcus to them and just let them wonder. It wasn’t totally farfetched.
She picked up speed, pulling out her cell phone.
When Marcus answered, she said, “Sorry, sweetie. We’re having a girl.”
His scream was ear piercing, and the two of them laughed through another flood of Eve’s tears.
“I’m going to need to invest in waterproof mascara, or you’re going to need to do something in a dribble-proof fabric.”
She waved at Tad, who was locking up his car as she turned in to the gate, and beckoned him to follow her into her own flat as she wrapped up the conversation with Marcus. “Are you busy?” she asked Tad, opening the door. “Got plans?”
“Not that I know of. Do we have dinner plans?” His eyes twinkled playfully as he followed her inside.
That thought stuck in her throat a moment, making her realize how much she had already come to enjoy him. Only a little while of knowing him, and she was feeling a panic she’d never felt before, worried that he might walk out her door and never come back. All the mirth of the phone call melted away, leaving her cold and afraid.
Tad seemed to sense her sudden change in mood as he dropped down onto her sofa.
She locked the door behind them and fumbled through the motions of putting away keys, bag, and anything else she could lay hands on.
“Everything okay?”
“I have some news.”
“I like news.”
“It’s going to change everything.”
“Okay,” Tad said slowly. “Did Dominic break up with your sister?”
“No! No. Nothing like that.” Eve took a seat on the opposite end of the sofa from him. “Well, it involves him, but nothing like that.”
“What then?”
She looked up at the ceiling, spending a moment on thinking she needed to dust the vent above her head. Anything to prolong the announcement. “I’m pregnant,” she said, finding his eyes. “By Dominic. I’m sure it’s Dominic. I’ve been pregnant this whole time—the whole time I’ve known you. I just found out for sure today.”
He looked like he was struggling for what to say, so she shrugged at him.
“I’m happy. I’m actually happy. I’m not going to tell him it’s his. It’s mine and that’s that. No one has to know. But I’m really happy—I really want this baby.”
“Then…congratulations.”
She bit her lip. “And I really want to keep seeing you. But I understand if it’s too much, or too weird.”
Tad rubbed his chin, then his forehead, and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s a lot. And yeah, it’s pretty weird.”
“Okay.” Eve’s voice was just a wisp.
She watched him stand and walk to the door, stopping with his hand on the knob. “Dinner plans?”
“Sorry?”
“Do we have dinner plans? Because I could just go get some take-out and bring it back here.”
“What?”
“Well, we should celebrate. It’s good news, yeah? You’re having a baby. You’re happy about the baby. We should celebrate. And I should go get some take-out because it will give me a few minutes to process the information and figure out how to make my face do what I want it to do, so I’m not just gaping at you. Good?”
Eve nodded, disbelieving. “Good.”
“Good,” Tad repeated. “Right. Take-out to celebrate. And some sparkling cider or something like that. No more champagne for you.”
Eve covered her mouth, not sure whether to laugh or cry, but certain she didn’t trust herself to speak. Tad gave her a familiar wink and walked out the door. Now, she only had to hope he would walk back through it. Preferably with some Italian.
Chapter 5
“OLIVE, TAKE THAT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH this instant!” Alora shouted across the yard to her daughter before turning back to Isabelle. “I swear, she thinks everything is edible.”
“At least she’s not picky,” Isabelle offered.
Alora laughed. “Right. You think it’s funny. Just wait until you have children.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Just don’t get pregnant before you’re married,” Alora warned.
“Don’t worry. It will be a couple of years before we have children. I want to wait until I’ve got my certification and Dominic’s retired from racing.”
Alora frowned, as if she didn’t think much of this plan, but didn’t say anything. “At least tell me that you’ve set a date.”
She smiled. “Yes, October twentieth.”
“This year?”
“Mm-hmm. Dominic doesn’t see any reason to wait.”
“That’s barely six months away.”
“Plenty of time to plan a proper wedding.”
Alora gaped at her. “Only if we start now!” she cried, standing up and hurrying into the house.
She returned a fe
w minutes later, carrying a stack of magazines and a massive scrapbook. “These are all the people I used for my wedding. You’ll need to book them well in advance, so we should start right away,” she said, flipping open the embroidered cover of the scrapbook. “Oh, and your dress! I have the latest issues of the bridal magazines for you to look through.”
“Goodness, Alora,” Isabelle said, looking down at the array with wide eyes. “I didn’t expect you’d be so…prepared.”
“Don’t be silly,” Alora preened. “This is nothing. Oh, and Mother and I have begun plans for your engagement party. Since you’re getting married in October, we’ll have to move things up a bit, but that’s fine. We’ll do your bridal shower in September, and your bridal luncheon the weekend before the wedding.” She had a pen and was noting things in a tiny, pink, spiral journal. “I’ll book a cake tasting for us. We should really consider dresses, though.”
Isabelle smiled warily. “I was thinking I’d ask Evie to do something for me. You know, design a gown that was just for me.”
Her sister let out a breath and sat back. “Well…that’s certainly one way to go.”
“You know she does gorgeous work, Lora.”
“If she didn’t try to sabotage you. She loathes Dominic. Oh! Did you notice the way she was flirting with Doyle at Mother and Dad’s party? The whole thing with the ordering of coffee? I swear to God, I’m so lucky he’s not a man with a roving eye. I cannot even trust my own sister.”
Isabelle listened as Alora started off on one of her tears. Her reality and everyone else’s differed wildly when it came to Doyle. Letting her mind wander, Isabelle started a mental list of what to tell Eve that she wanted. She knew she wanted something slim, nothing too confectionery, and she wanted the white to have a little blush to it. And it needed to be modern enough to match up with Dominic’s lifestyle. She wanted to look like a cross between the school teacher she was training to be and the wild man’s wife she was becoming. A tall order, but Eve and Marcus could come up with something, she was sure. And to have a Rode Street original? That would be hard for anyone to top.