Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
I thought of my brother raising a teenage girl alone, how we’d all rallied around him and moved into the brownstone to pitch in. That was my family. My eyes filled with tears—happy ones this time. “I have the best family support.”
She smiled. “That’s great. Well, it sounds like you want a family, and even if your boyfriend winds up not being in the picture, you could handle it. Those are two important things. Timing and circumstances—those are often out of our control, even with the best-laid plans.”
I thought about my parents, how they’d done everything the right way—engaged, married, children. They’d had the timing and circumstances they wanted, yet look what happened. My mother didn’t have the time she thought, and my dad wound up with different circumstances than they’d planned—as a single father of three. So really, sometimes the best-laid plans brought you to a different place anyway.
“Thank you,” I told her. “I was definitely focusing on the wrong thing. I was so worried about what Wilder was going to want, I never stopped to ask myself what I want.”
Dr. Connolly smiled. “I’ll let you rest. You should get some sleep. Your body needs it after today.”
“Thank you.”
She stood. “Take care, Sloane. It was nice meeting you.”
“You, too.”
Dr. Connolly was halfway out the door when I realized something. “Hey, wait!”
She turned.
“You said you had two pieces of advice. What was the other thing?”
She smiled. “Don’t tell him after you’ve just finished doing a colonoscopy together. He’ll be white as a ghost, and then the poor patient will burst into tears, certain you’re about to tell her she has cancer.”
29
SLOANE
I looked in the mirror, turning sideways, and put my hand on my belly.
A week had gone by since my trip to the emergency room, and I still couldn’t believe I was pregnant. Then again, it was easy to pretend I wasn’t when no one knew—not even Wilder. I’d promised myself I’d tell him before he went back to England three days ago, but I’d chickened out at the last minute. It was eating me alive to keep such a life-changing secret, so I’d decided I was telling him tomorrow. I even wrote up what I was going to say and practiced it in front of the mirror. I just needed to get through the wedding tonight, let him enjoy the evening with his friends, and then it would be time.
Wilder and I were supposed to go the wedding together. I usually traveled with Elijah, but his grandma had died unexpectedly three days ago. So he was back home in Utah until Sunday, and a substitute photographer was filling in. Then Wilder’s flight had been delayed, so I was going by myself. It might’ve been the first time I was relieved he wasn’t with me. The wedding would keep him busy, what with groomsmen duties and all, and it would be one less lie I’d have to tell when he inevitably asked why I was quiet. The excuse of a concussion and being tired was wearing thin. He was already asking if I should go see the doctor again, and I hated to make him worry.
I took one last look in the mirror. To settle my nerves today, I’d kept myself busy—doing my hair in loose curls, applying a full face of makeup that included sultry cat eyes, and painting my fingernails and toes. My dress was gorgeous—green, as Wilder preferred, low cut, and with a slit higher than I’d normally wear. I looked good—really good even. Now if only the way I looked on the outside could seep into how I felt on the inside.
I took one last look down at my belly and wondered how much longer I’d fit into my stock of dresses. Heaving a deep sigh, I grabbed my silver clutch and headed for the door.
Tonight’s wedding was at a venue I’d covered before for the magazine. It would’ve been my choice for my own wedding, if the price had been anywhere near what Josh and I could’ve afforded. I loved it so much that not even my nerves put a damper on the excitement I felt as we pulled up to the New York Public Library.
It was a magical building, especially at night with a red carpet rolled out on the grand marble staircase and twinkling lights adorning the handrails. I snapped a few pictures for the magazine’s social media, then made my way inside.
“Hey, Sloane.” Aiden, the groom from the very first wedding I’d attended for this project, stood in the rotunda. He was a nice guy, unlike his other half, Piper.
“Hi, Aiden. How are you?”
“Good.” He pointed down a hall and smiled. “Just waiting for my lovely bride.”
Lovely? To each his own, I guess. “How is Piper?”
He slipped his hands into his pockets and rocked from heel to toe. “Pregnant.”