deep breath and slowly let it out. “No. You’re right. I brought these for you.”
I hold the cupcakes and flowers out for her, but she just spares them a glance, looks up at me, and doesn’t walk forward to take them.
Okay.
I set everything on the countertop and pace away, shoving my fingers through my hair in agitation.
“I fucked up.”
“Big-time,” she agrees.
“I know. I was wrong.”
“Which time?”
“Excuse me?”
She walks around the island, toward me. “Which time, exactly, were you wrong? Was it last night, when I was worried and I went to you, looking for support? Or this morning, when I asked you to go to the doctor with me, and you lied to me about your schedule being full? I’m the one who fills your schedule, Carter. I know you had the time.”
“Well, I—”
“I’m not done.” She digs her pointy little finger into my chest. “Christopher went with me, by the way. Not that you care.”
“I care.”
She shakes her head and walks away. “Or were you wrong when I got back to the office, and you didn’t even fucking ask me how the appointment went? I had to basically beg you to care.”
Jesus, I’m so ashamed.
“I had my walls up because I was scared.”
“I get it,” she says with a nod. “I know what you’ve been through in the past, and I understand. I really do. In that moment in your office, when you finally apologized for being cold, and admitted to being afraid, I totally forgave you for the previous eighteen hours, without a problem.”
“You did?”
“Of course.” She throws her hands up in frustration and paces away. “I’m not stupid, Carter. You lost your wife to cancer, of course you were scared. We both have some baggage, and it’s going to rear its ugly head once in a while.”
She’s right. We do. And no matter how much we think we’ve moved on, there will be bad moments from time to time.
“Here’s what I don’t forgive,” she continues and I brace myself because I’m quite sure what’s coming is going to knock me on my ass. “I told you I’m pregnant.”
Her eyes fill with tears, and I move to hold her, but she scurries away, out of my reach.
“Damn it, Nora.”
“I told you I’m pregnant, and rather than ask me questions like ‘How is this possible?’ or ‘Are you sure?,’ you asked me who the father is.”
A tear slips down her cheek.
“You accused me of something that I hate so much, something that ruined my first marriage. How could you possibly think after the past weeks together that I would ever want anyone else? And not only that, how in the bloody hell could I find time to fuck someone else? I’m with you twenty-four/seven, for God’s sake!”
“I know. Nora, you’re completely right. I’m a colossal dick, and I was so thrown, I just reacted without thinking.”
“I would never do that to you,” she whispers. “Not just because I think cheaters are horrible, but because I know what that feels like. I know how much that hurts. I would never make you feel like that.”
“I know.” It’s all I can say.
“And in return, you made me feel like a whore.”
“Christ.” I pace away from her, and then back again. “I never meant that, Nora. You mean too much to me to ever intentionally hurt you like that.”
“The words came out of your mouth.” She angrily swipes away a tear.
“I wish I could take them back. With all my heart, I wish I could go back and do it all differently. Starting with last night.”
“Me, too.”
“I can’t do that.” I hold my hands out at my sides. “I can only apologize, with everything I am, for ever making you feel like I don’t care. And for hurting you so deeply.”
“The trust is cracked a bit here, Carter. I’ve never seen this kind of behavior from you, and it scared me.”
“I’ll earn it all back,” I promise as I walk to her. She doesn’t push away this time as I pull her into my arms and hug her closely. “I know it’ll take some time, but I’ll make it up to you.”
“So you’re not freaked out about the baby?”
“Oh, I’m a little freaked out.” I kiss her head and take a deep breath, pulling the scent of her in. “First, I was confused. I did have the vasectomy, like I told you. But I called the office, and I never made it to the follow-up appointment, where they make sure the procedure