he grew impatient. “We won’t have the information any sooner unless you take the test, Gabriella.”
She took a deep breath and nodded her head. “You’re right.” She still sat there for another moment, trying to gather her courage.
“Gabriella?” Damon prompted, impatient to get the results. He had no idea what was going through her pretty head but he was starting to wonder if she was worried about the results. Could she genuinely not know that she was pregnant? Had he been the only one to put the pieces together?
Gabby snapped her head around to look at him, her eyes wary. “I’m….”
“The results won’t change by anxiety,” he replied although the words were more gentle than he’d intended.
Gabby took a deep breath and nodded her head. “You’re right,” she finally said. She stood up, picked up one of the boxes and headed for the bathroom. She was halfway across the room when she stopped, turned around and grabbed the second box. “Just to confirm any results,” she said in almost a whisper.
Damon wanted to laugh at how cute she looked as she trudged to the bathroom, her shoulders back as if she were about to face the enemy and needed to brace herself. But there was little about this whole situation that was amusing and his stomach was tied in knots as he waited for the results. He realized that he wanted Gabriella to be pregnant more than anything he’d ever wanted in his life. He didn’t examine that too deeply, but accepted that feeling and tried to limit his expressions.
He hated this vulnerability. Ever since he’d turned sixteen and had started to earn money, he’d been in control of his world. Nika was the only exception and when she’d aborted their baby before he even knew that the child existed, he’d been devastated. Now, standing in her tiny family room as he waited for her to come back with the results, he felt out of control, as if his life were hanging by a thread and the only thing that could snap it and create devastation was the small test that Gabriella was using.
He almost wished Yuri were here. They’d been through so much and Yuri was the only one who knew about their past, what they’d gone through. He was also the only one who knew what Nika had done and how it had affected Damon. At a time like this, Yuri would put his book down, slide his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose and put a hand to Damon’s back. There would be no words of wisdom or jokes to distract him. Just the connection between brothers and that would be enough. He and Yuri might not have had the same father, had no idea who their fathers were since his mother had trolled the streets, selling her body for whatever drugs she could get, but brothers had a bond. Theirs was stronger than most after living on the streets and fending for themselves after their mother had overdosed. They’d survived then and Damon would survive now. But he just wished Yuri were here to help him through the waiting.
She was in that bathroom for more than ten minutes when he couldn’t take the anticipation any longer. He had to know so he walked over to the door and knocked impatiently. “Gabriella? What’s going on?” he asked. His mind instantly thought about the layout of her bathroom, then relaxed. There weren’t any windows in the room so she hadn’t snuck out and left him without any news.
The painful silence continued and he knocked again. “Gabriella?” he called out once more.
The door opened suddenly and he looked down at her curly, dark head. When she finally lifted her face, there were tears in her eyes and she nodded. “It's positive,” she whispered.
Gabby couldn’t believe it. She was actually pregnant! The joy and fear were warring within her, neither emotion actually able to gain the lead. Thoughts were flying through her head. What was she going to name the baby? Was it a boy or a girl? Would it be healthy? She quickly reviewed her medical history, trying to remember if there were any genetic issues that might harm her baby. Where would the baby sleep? She had a one bedroom cottage! She’d have to figure something out, she told herself. And fast! This baby was coming and she wasn’t prepared. What’s the safest crib? What about clothes? And diapers? Goodness, she didn’t even know how to