baby had him teetering on the edge of an imaginary cliff.
“There will be no wedding,” Gina stated firmly, tearing her gaze from him to look at her brother and then her mother. The shocked expression on her pale face caused Gina’s stomach to take a nauseous roll. Wow, losing her dinner on Justin’s boots wouldn’t help her make her case.
She pulled in a deep breath and tried again. “I. Am. Not. Pregnant.”
“She’s right. I am.”
Everyone turned to look at Racy. She walked to Justin and pulled the stick from his grip. “This pregnancy test is mine.”
Turning to her husband, she smiled. “I’m the one who’s going to have a baby.”
“You are? We are?” Gage stammered. “But how— Why would Jacoby think—”
“I took the test today at Gina’s.” Racy laid a hand on her husband’s chest, moving closer as he encircled her in his arms. “I’ve been waiting for the best time to tell you, but things have been a bit hectic tonight.”
“But…it’s us?” Gage asked.
“Yes.” Racy rose on tiptoe and gave her husband a quick kiss. “It’s us, Daddy.”
Gage’s smile was wide as he wrapped Racy in a bear hug, but he immediately released her to lay a hand over her still-flat belly. Racy covered his hand with hers and nodded.
Gina turned away, blinking back the sting of tears at the loving gesture.
“Oh, this is wonderful news!” Sandy Steele clasped her hands together. “Let’s all go inside and celebrate! I’ve got freshly baked pies cooling in the kitchen.”
Gina sent her a grateful look, silently mouthing thank you as her mother hustled everyone back into the house, including Jacoby, who seemed just as happy his title was now cousin instead of big brother.
Silence fell over the yard again, as uncomfortable as before because she wasn’t alone out there. Justin hadn’t moved a step either.
With a jolt of awareness, Gina realized she never said a word of good wishes to her brother. “I didn’t even congratulate Gage.”
“Me neither,” Justin said. “Congratulate either of them, I mean.”
“Boy, from parents to aunt and uncle in a heartbeat.”
Her words sounded pathetic, but Gina felt powerless to stop them as they tumbled from her mouth. She cast a sideways look in Justin’s direction. The stunned expression in his eyes was mixed with a hint of—
Disappointment? No, that couldn’t be right.
She turned to him. “Why did you ever think I was pregnant?”
“Jacoby found the test stick in your bathroom and he heard you and Racy talking.” He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them to look at her. “He said you were excited…he thought it was you…”
“And you assumed I was keeping the possibility of a child from you.”
Justin nodded. “Gina, I’m so—”
“Don’t say it.” She cut him off, putting more space between them. “I don’t need your apology.”
She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t stand here and listen to him express regret over the sweet words he’d spoken, because deep inside, she truly wanted everything Justin offered her. Except he forgot to include one thing, the part of himself she needed the most.
His heart.
“I wish you luck with Jacoby.” She started walking backward toward the deck. “Like I said before, you two belong together. I hope his grandparents or the judge—whoever you have to convince—can see that.”
“Gina—”
Her feet hit the steps and she stumbled. Justin reached out, but she righted herself before he could touch her. She scooted up the stairs, not stopping until she grabbed the door handle. “I’m going inside for a piece of pie and to celebrate with everyone. You should come in, too.”
Justin joined her with a hollow laugh, each step slow and measured. “Yeah. A celebration. Just what I’m in the mood for.”
Chapter Sixteen
“What do you mean Gina’s leaving town?”
“She told us a few days ago at the library.” Jacoby looked up from where he lay on the cabin’s living room floor, a large poster board in front of him. He carefully lifted the paintbrush and he filled in the block letters drawn on the poster with bright red paint. “I told you, but you were busy looking at a bunch of papers. She’s going away to school.”
Stunned, Justin glanced over at his sister who stood pouring herself a glass of iced tea at the center island in his kitchen. Racy nodded, confirming his son’s words.
“I don’t want her to go,” Jacoby continued. “None of us do. It was hard to say goodbye to her. That’s why we decided to carry these signs on the library float in the parade