Only Mine (Fool's Gold #4)(72)

Although she had to admit to a twinge of envy when Pia talked about Raoul. Her friend’s eyes lit up, and her mouth curved into a special smile. Her mother looked the same way when she talked about her late husband. Being in love did wonderful things to a woman, Dakota thought wistfully.

She’d always told herself that she would find that special someone eventually. Now she was less sure. Hannah was wonderful, and she was so grateful to have her, but being a single mother would make the whole “falling in love” thing more complicated.

Had she been holding her baby, she would have whispered that she was more than worth it. As it was, Hannah was on the opposite side of the table with Gladys, one of the older ladies in town.

“So, does breast-feeding keep you from getting pregnant?” Pia asked.

“I think so,” Denise said, then tilted her head. “Or is it not breast-feeding? It’s been too long for me and tragically, I’m not having sex with anyone.”

“Tell me about it,” Gladys said, reluctantly passing Hannah to Alice Barns, the police chief. “Sure there are more men than there were, but they’re all too young. How about shipping in a few older guys?” She grinned. “But not too old.”

Everyone laughed.

“I know you don’t get your period for a while after you’re pregnant,” Denise said. “I remember that much. But I think you can get pregnant before it starts. It seems to me that at least one of my boys was the result of that lack of information.” She chuckled. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“About the boy or the sex?” Gladys asked.

“Both.”

Dakota leaned back in her chair and enjoyed being with the women she loved. This town was special. Whatever happened, there was support and understanding. Look at her situation. Everyone was there for her as she adopted Hannah. If she’d chosen to become a single mother the old-fashioned way, they would have been there for that, too.

Not that it was likely, she reminded herself. One in a hundred. It might as well be one in a million. If she ever did get pregnant, she should go buy a lotto ticket. There was absolutely no way—

Dakota sucked in a breath. Everything inside of her went still as she realized she hadn’t had her period in a while. Certainly not since she’d gotten Hannah and even some time before that.

Thoughts swirled as she tried to figure out what was going on. The obvious answer was that she was pregnant—except she couldn’t be. Her doctor had been very clear on that. She could still hear Dr. Galloway delivering the harsh news.

“It’s very unlikely you’ll ever conceive through intercourse. I won’t say it’s impossible, but statistically the reality is it’s not going to happen.”

She placed her hand on her belly and wondered what on earth was going to happen if the doctor was wrong.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“I DON’T UNDERSTAND,” Dakota murmured, despite having said the same thing about six times already. “I can’t be pregnant. I can’t. It’s supposed to be impossible.”

Dr. Galloway, an older woman with a sensible haircut and a kind smile, patted her leg as she removed Dakota’s feet from the stirrups and helped her sit up.

“I would say it’s a miracle,” she told her patient. “Or is this not good news?”

Dakota took a deep breath, trying to clear her spinning head. The home pregnancy test she’d used the previous evening had confirmed what she’d begun to suspect. Driving to the next town to buy it had taken more time than waiting for the results. As she’d played with her daughter, she’d watched the time, then had read the clear message.

Pregnant.

A single word that was difficult to misunderstand, although she was having a whole lot of trouble absorbing it. Pregnant? Impossible. And yet, she was.

“It’s good news,” she said slowly. “Of course I want more children.” Hannah and her sibling would be close in age. But now? “I just didn’t think…”

“You didn’t think it would happen,” Dr. Galloway told her. “That’s life. I’ve seen it many times in my office. Although I should lecture you on the foolishness of not using a condom, young lady. Pregnancy isn’t the only reason for protection.”

“You’re right, of course.” Dakota wanted to grab her head and scream, more from the surreal nature of the conversation than because she was upset. “You’re really sure?”

“I’ll do a blood test to confirm, but I’m sure. Based on my exam, I would say you’re about six weeks along.”

Dakota opened her mouth, then closed it. Six weeks ago? That would mean it had happened the first time she and Finn had made love. They’d been so frantic for each other, so lost in passion. If any event was going to defy the odds, it made sense that was the one.

“I’m in shock.” She shook her head, wondering if she would ever feel normal again. “I didn’t think this could happen. I thought if I were to get pregnant I’d need medical intervention.”

“So did I. When I said it was unlikely for you to conceive naturally, I was being kind. I thought it was impossible. Yes, there was the smallest of chances, but I never thought I would see it happen.” She smiled. “Your young man must have impressive swimmers.”

“I guess.” Dakota looked at her. “I just adopted a baby girl. She’s six months old.”