Love in the Light (Hearts in Darkness, #2)(42)

She made a quick excuse and slipped away from the table, hoping her exit hadn’t appeared as hurried as it felt. She made a beeline for the hall bathroom and locked herself inside. And damn if her first thought wasn’t about the time she’d locked her and Caden inside the very same room so she could talk to him about Cameron.

She sagged back against the door, silent tears rolling down her face. She fought against them, knowing if she let the flood gates open she might not be able to close them again. Her quiet sniffles and shuddered breaths filled the room.

Maybe the baby wouldn’t grow up without one of his parents. Maybe once she told Caden about the baby, he’d at least want to be involved in the kid’s life.

Because she absolutely had to tell Caden. She knew that. And she planned to do it. The question was when. She hadn’t told him yet because she’d been hoping he’d realize he made a mistake and come back to her—and if he did, she wanted it to be for them. Makenna and Caden. Not because she was pregnant with his baby.

So, at some point, she was going to have to talk to him again. To see him. At the very least, she wanted to give Caden the opportunity to see the baby during her next ultrasound. He deserved that. He deserved to be involved, to know his child.

That appointment wasn’t for another six weeks, but Makenna was already excited because it was the one where she could learn the baby’s sex. She’d already decided that she wanted to know. For some reason, when she thought about the baby, she always thought of him as a boy. Maternal instinct or pure randomness? She’d find out soon.

Pull it together, Makenna.

Right.

She cleaned up her face and took a deep breath, then walked out the door.

And nearly walked into Patrick, standing in the hallway. Arms crossed. Clearly waiting. “Wanna tell me what’s wrong?” he asked.

Leave it to Patrick to realize something was wrong. “Nothing,” she said, giving him a smile.

He arched an eyebrow, his frown deepening.

Makenna sighed. “Later.”

“Promise?” he asked. She nodded, and he pulled her into his arms. “Whatever it is, I’m here for you.”

A quick nod against his chest, and then she pulled away. “Come on. It’s time for presents.”

*

Later came faster than Makenna hoped. Certainly faster than she was prepared for. Though, honestly, there was really no way to prepare for what she had to tell her family.

They’d exchanged presents. Watched A Christmas Story—because it really wasn’t Christmas without Ralphie wanting a BB gun and shooting his eye out. Helped their dad make their traditional beef tenderloin dinner. And now that they’d eaten and dinner was all cleaned up, Patrick kept giving her that eyebrow.

If she didn’t say something, he would.

“Can we all sit in the living room for a minute? I need to tell you guys something,” Makenna finally said, her belly flipping.

“Is everything okay?” her dad asked, coming around the kitchen island to her.

“Yeah, but, can we just go sit down?” she asked.

The guys all gave her strange looks, but everyone followed her in and took seats around the room, Dad and Patrick on either side of her on the couch. The Christmas tree stood in front of the big window and threw off a multi-colored glow from the hundreds of lights strung through its branches. She’d missed decorating it yesterday, the day the James family had decorated its tree for as long as she could remember.

“What is it, Makenna?” her dad asked.

Makenna’s heart thundered against her breastbone and a tingly nervousness fluttered through her. “So, I have some news.”

Beside her, Patrick heaved a deep breath.

She met his gaze, and then her dad’s, and then Collin’s and Ian’s. “I’m pregnant.” Makenna nearly held her breath waiting for their reaction.

For a moment, no one said a thing, and then her father moved closer. “Um.” A series of emotions flickered over his face. “A baby is, uh, pretty amazing news, Makenna. But why do I feel like there’s more?”

She hugged herself and nodded. “Because—”

“What does Caden have to say about this?” Patrick asked, his expression as serious as a heart attack. His narrowed eyes had her feeling like he’d already pieced this story together. It was the damn police officer in him.

“He doesn’t know,” she said, giving him a look that pleaded for his support.

“What?” Ian said.

“Why not?” Collin asked.

Everyone started talking at once, and her father hushed them all. “Tell us what’s going on,” he said, taking her hand.

“Um.” She swallowed around the lump in her throat and fought back the emotion threatening to overwhelm her. “So, we broke up a few weeks ago. I’m not really sure what happened, to be honest. Caden had been really sick and stayed at his house. And then when I saw him after he was better, he just seemed off. He said we were moving too fast for him, and that was it. I’d just found out that I was pregnant and in the midst of everything, I didn’t have a chance to tell him. And then I didn’t want to tell him if that was the thing that would make him come back.”

His expression full of concern, her father nodded. “How far along are you?”

“Almost twelve weeks,” she said. “I’m seeing a doctor and everything looks good.”