A Little Too Late (Madigan Mountain #1)(20)

“And here he is,” Sharpe says.

I look up to see my father approaching. He looks the part of the prosperous mountain man, wearing a crisp blue shirt and a dark blazer. He’s hand in hand with Melody, and they’re both smiling.

Melody is good for him, I realize. I should be happy for him. If only he hadn’t dragged us through hell after our mother died, I might feel less ambivalent about it.

Ava waits a moment until my father has a chance to shake hands. Then she steps in to herd the cats. “Shall we go in to dinner?” Ava asks. “Hardy will make sure your bags are brought directly to your rooms.”

“Lead on,” the eldest Sharpe says. “We’re ready.”

I follow Ava toward the Evergreen Room, trying not to notice how that dress hugs her body. Now that I’m over my shock at finding her in Colorado, the distance between us feels all wrong. It could have been me who helped her zip up that dress. It could have been me who’ll sit beside her at dinner.

But I’m the one who left. At the time, I was sure it was the right choice for both of us. We were too young, and I was too broken on the inside to be the man she needed.

But once upon a time, for a few glorious weeks, I’d pictured a future hand in hand.

I’d never felt like that about anyone before. Or since.

Not even close.





CHAPTER 10




MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE, VERMONT





December 2011

Finals are next week, which means Ava is just two months from her February graduation. Next month, after the holidays, she’ll have one more J-term, and then she’s done.

Outwardly, things are going well. But Ava can’t concentrate. She has a secret so big that she’s kept it from everyone. Including herself.

But now her period is so late that she can’t ignore it any longer. She’s gotten by for weeks by reminding herself that women are sometimes irregular.

Yesterday morning when she went to the dining hall, though, the first whiff of eggs on the steam table sent her running for the bathroom to vomit. And Selby—her roommate who’s planning to become a nurse midwife—asked her point blank, “Could you be pregnant?”

Hearing it out loud broke through Ava’s denial. She purchased a test on Amazon, and it showed up today. She read the instructions, but she’s too scared to go through with it. So she’s spent the afternoon curled up on her bed, alternately napping and freaking out.

Reed is at a dry-land training session with the ski team. He said he’d come by when they were through. But she’s terrified to see his reaction if the test is positive. Reed never gets angry. He never yells. That’s part of why she loves him so much. She grew up with a ranting, unpredictable mother. So much yelling. But Reed is a calm soul.

That doesn’t mean he’ll be okay with this, though. His disappointment will kill her.

When the knock comes, her stomach clenches. She might be sick again, but this time it’s because of nerves. “Come in,” she squeaks.

The door opens slowly, and Reed’s perfect face appears. “Hi, sweetheart.” A furrow appears between his eyebrows. “Are you all right?” He drops his backpack and sits on the bed.

“Reed,” she says, and she’s already blinking back tears. “I’m so sorry.”

His face goes visibly pale. “What’s the matter? What happened? Are you sick?”

“N-no. I just…” She shudders out a breath, and his jaw tightens with worry. She doesn’t deserve him. And now she’s going to ruin everything.

“Just say it,” he demands. “You’re killing me.”

“I might be pregnant. I’m pretty sure, even though I haven’t taken the test.” She holds up the test kit, still in its box.

His gaze tracks to the pregnancy test, and his eyes widen in shock. Ava braces for the worst.

But then his whole face relaxes. He makes a soft noise of disbelief and lifts her off the quilt, settling her into his lap. “You think that’s a disaster? It’s not.”

“Reed!” she gasps. “It’s a pretty big problem.”

“Is it?’’ He tucks his chin onto her shoulder. “Do you love me?”

Her heart gallops. “You know I do.”

“Ava, I love you so hard. And, yeah, it’s not so easy to start med school with a baby. I wanted an easier time for you. But if you’re in, I’m in. There’s no reason to panic.”

Her heart trips over itself. “Really?” She wipes her eyes and leans against his chest. With his arms around her, anything feels possible. Even this.

“I promise we could make it work. You could defer med school a year and come with me out west.” He’s trying for a spot on Team USA. “Maybe you should take that test now, before we plan the rest of our lives on a hunch. I’ll hold your hand.”

“You can’t hold my hand while I pee on a stick.”

He laughs into her hair. “Just go do it. I want to know if some little person with your smile is going to call me daddy.”

Ava has to take a big gulp of oxygen after she hears that. It’s almost impossible to be as happy as she is right now.

But Reed gives her a gentle nudge, so she gets off the bed. She finally pulls the test out of its cardboard sleeve and conceals it under her Middlebury sweatshirt before carrying it down the hall to the shared bathroom.