Nic recognized Sage’s comment as an attempt to lighten the mood and she appreciated the effort. Celeste sat catercorner to Nic, and Sarah took the opposite seat. She reached out, took Nic’s hand, and said, “Talk to us.”
“I’m gonna have a baby.”
“Gabe’s?” When Nic nodded, Sarah gave her hand a squeeze. “I didn’t know you were seeing him.”
“I wouldn’t call it ‘seeing.’ It was a onetime thing.”
As Sarah and Sage shared a look, the story poured out. Her friends, being her friends, punctuated the tale with comments throughout.
“I could tell he had his eyes on you.”
“You liked him from the first.”
“Christmas is tough under normal circumstances.”
“In the foyer!”
“I’ll bet you were worried, not knowing how to reach him after he left.”
“Dodging your calls? What a jerk!”
“My blood pressure pills? Oh, dear.”
Then, finally, all three of her friends spoke at once. “He said no?”
“That’s right. He doesn’t want to be part of my baby’s life.”
Sarah’s eyes flashed. “That sorry skunk. I thought better of him than that.”
Nic tugged a tissue from the box Celeste offered to her and dabbed at an escaped tear. “It’ll be okay. We will be okay.” After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Won’t we?”
“Absolutely,” Sarah declared. “And I ought to know because I speak from experience. I won’t lie and say it’s not a struggle being a single parent, but you’re a strong woman, Nicole Sullivan. You’ll do just fine.”
“If that’s how it shakes out,” Sage said. She drummed her fingers against the table. “I think he’ll come around.”
“He said—”
“I don’t care what he said.” Celeste gave the surface of the lab table a little slap. “The news was undoubtedly a shock to him. I agree with Sage. Don’t give up on him yet.”
“I don’t know. He seemed pretty certain.”
Celeste dismissed her argument with a wave. “You caught him off guard. Be fair to the man. I am certain he simply needed a little time to process the information. Gabe is a good man. Once he’s had time to think it through, he will do the right thing.”
Turning to Sarah and Sage, she continued, “Now, that puts us under the gun if we are going to make Nic’s wedding the thing of her dreams. Nic, you attend St. Stephen’s, don’t you? Such a lovely old church. I can see the altar decked out with wedding flowers now.”
“Whoa. Stop.” Nic shook her head. “Wait just one minute. No one said anything about a wedding.”
“Do you want your child to be illegitimate?”
“No, but it won’t be the end of the world. This isn’t the 1950s, you know.”
“Or Regency England,” Sarah added. “He’s not going to lose out on a title or a fortune.”
Nic rubbed her eyes. “Mostly I don’t want my baby to be hurt. If Gabe can’t be in our lives all the way, then we’re better off if he’s not in them at all. Rejection by one’s father is a cruel burden to bear. I won’t have this child feel unwanted and unloved.”
“I understand your caution,” Celeste said, reaching out and patting Nic’s hand. “I just think you’re a bit premature. Gabe Callahan is not your father. He has a good and loving heart, but it’s been damaged. It’s still healing. And you know what the best medicine for a wounded heart is, don’t you?”
When Nic didn’t respond, Sage answered, “Love.”
Celeste nodded. “Allow yourself to love him, Nicole. That’s one of the greatest gifts a mother can give to her child, you know. To love her child’s father. I firmly believe that once Gabe’s heart heals, he’ll discover that you and your child already have a place there.”
“I think Celeste is right,” Sage agreed. “Give him time, Nic. He’ll come around.”
“It’s a big risk for her,” Sarah cautioned.
“But the potential reward is great,” Sage returned.
Nic sighed heavily. “Look, there’s no sense straining my brain about it. The man said no and walked out. He wasn’t wishy-washy about it one little bit.”
“Nevertheless, what’s the harm in being prepared?” Celeste asked.
“I appreciate the thought, but again, this isn’t the 1950s. Pregnancies don’t necessarily equal weddings anymore. It’s the day of the baby mama, not the wife.”
“Not in Eternity Springs,” Sarah said. “Not for you.”
“Not for Gabe Callahan, either, I suspect,” Sage added.
Nic sighed. “Even if Gabe and I were to decide to marry, we wouldn’t have a wedding. We’d get married at the courthouse.”
“Why?” Sage asked.
“Because I won’t marry in a religious ceremony unless love and commitment are