The Military Wife (A Heart of a Hero, #1)(95)

“I meant, long term if it turns out…” Harper already knew what the pregnancy test would say, and she’d been a fool not to suspect earlier.

“Tell Bennett. You don’t think he’s going to be excited?”

“He brought up marriage about a month ago.”

Allison grabbed her hands. “In general or specifically related to the two of you getting married?”

“Specifically us.”

“What did you say? Obviously, not yes, or he would have put a ring on it already.”

“It felt like less of a yes-no situation and more like he was feeling me out. Like he didn’t want to outright ask if I wasn’t open to the idea.”

“And are you?”

“Of course I am. I love him, but we haven’t been together long, and he’s never wanted to settle down.”

“That’s because he was waiting for you.” Even though Allison was only a couple of years older than Harper, she possessed a wisdom that far outstripped her. “How did you leave things?”

“I did some babbling about Ben and needing time and went to the bathroom to regroup.”

Allison burst out laughing. “Smooth.”

Madeline stuck her head through the connecting door. “It’s time, ladies.”

Harper grabbed Allison’s wrist as she was turning toward the door. “I’m scared.”

She wasn’t sure if she was referring to the prospect of an unplanned pregnancy or the opening of Home Front. In a few short months, her easy, boring life had been upended, by chance and choice.

“I know. But isn’t it exciting?” A slow grin spread across Allison’s face.

Now threaded alongside her nerves was excitement. The possibility for failure hovered, but she would reach for success, both personally and professionally. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

They entered the café side by side. Two customers stood at the counter ordering coffee, while a carload of four more people in office attire piled inside, their chattering filling the space.

The next eight hours went by at warp speed. When two o’clock rolled around, Harper flipped the sign to Closed and pulled the shade on the front door. Until the shop got its footing and she could hire and train more wives from the base, they would close after lunch.

It was another two hours before she and Joyce had balanced the register and cleaned up, readying everything for the next morning. They’d had more customers than she’d anticipated, which was good, but Joyce needed to up their order for bakery items the next morning.

“I’m exhausted.” Harper stretched her back as they stepped out into the hot pre-summer sun.

“You stop at a pharmacy, and I’ll head home and order pizza.” Allison gave her a pointed look.

Harper did as she was told, then drove to Allison’s, glancing periodically at the small box on her passenger seat like it was an unexploded bomb.

It was like an evil witch’s curse had been lifted off Allison and Darren’s house. Sophie and Libby were playing dress up and chasing each other up and down the stairs. Darren was in the backyard throwing soft underhanded pitches to Ryan, their laughter carrying through the screen door to the back patio. Allison flipped the pizza box open and glanced over her shoulder as Harper walked in.

“Go take it before the kids descend on the kitchen like locusts.”

Harper slipped into the powder room and ripped the package open. Peeing on the stick was an uncomfortable, messy affair. She capped it and washed her hands, staring at the little window. Her future might change in a matter of minutes.

The seconds ticked off. Light blue appeared. She picked up the stick and blinked. A plus. She was pregnant. Not surprising, but shocking nonetheless. Her already-complicated life was about to get more tangled.

She walked out of the bathroom and held up the stick for Allison to see the result.

“Oh my god, you’re pregnant!” Allison gave a whoop.

Harper burst into tears.

“Are you upset?” Allison rubbed her back.

Harper couldn’t get a word past the hiccups.

“That was a dumb thing to ask. Obviously, you’re upset. Are you worried about what Bennett will say?”

“B-Bennett. The café. Ben.”

Allison’s mouth formed an O. “I get it. It’s complicated, but all the kinks will work themselves out. As far as the coffee shop, you could offer Madeline and Joyce bigger stakes in the company. Take some of the responsibility off you.”

“I need to call Bennett.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to wait until you”—Allison waved a hand over Harper—“get yourself together?”

The need to talk to him, share her burden, even though it would become his burden soon enough, was overwhelming. Without becoming aware, he’d become her partner, and she hoped he would continue to be her partner into this brave new world.

She tapped his name and waited through three rings.

“How did the first day go?” The deep rumble of his voice, even through the distance, was like a lifeline.

Tears clogged her throat and all that emerged were a few stuttered words.

“I can’t understand you, sweetheart. Can you take a deep breath and tell me what happened?” Love and worry transmitted behind his words.

She took one deep, shuddery breath. “Our first day was a smashing success. More customers than we anticipated. We sold out of muffins and cookies and bagged, roasted beans.”