Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Ginny gave her a mischievous smile as she reached back into the small basket. “Luckily for you, I bought in bulk. Can you go again?”
Numbly, she nodded.
“Cool. Then I’ll leave you again.”
Alanna stared at the closed door.
This time reading the instructions carefully, she took the test again. She washed her hands as she stared at the test carefully, not taking her eyes off it, as if a little gremlin had switched the last test to pull a sick joke on her.
When the test came back the same way the first one had, she picked it up, as if it would change just from her touch.
Swallowing hard, she opened the door. Expecting Ginny to be there, she went in search for her in the living room. But when she entered the room, she saw Matthew sitting with his hands in his lap. He must have left his shop in such a rush because he was still wearing the gloves he used when he worked in the forge.
Hearing her enter the room, he lifted his head. From the hopeful look in his eyes, Ginny must have told him what she was doing in the bathroom.
“We shouldn’t get our hopes up until I go to the doctor’s office to get another test,” she said huskily.
“Does it say you’re pregnant?”
She nodded in dismay. “This can’t be accurate, Matthew. I’ve seen several doctors who told me it’s impossible for me to become pregnant.”
He nodded back at her. “Then we won’t get our hopes up until we know for sure. I’ll call—”
Ginny cleared her throat from the kitchen. “I just called my obstetrician. She’s going to work you into her schedule.” Ginny went to a glass tray beside the door. “Here, you can take my car.”
Removing his gloves, he handed them to Ginny then took the car keys. “Ready?”
Bemused, she followed him to Ginny’s car.
The whole way to town, neither of them spoke. After parking, Matthew was out of the car and opening her door before she could even unbuckle her seat belt.
“There’s no way, Matthew.” She tearfully took his hand.
“Alanna, I’m going to love you the same way I love you now, when we go in that door, as when we come out.”
Gathering her courage, she was already preparing herself to feel the bitter pang of disappointment until she looked up into his face. He was smiling down at her with the full wealth of the love he felt for her.
Gripping his hand tighter, she pulled it to her cheek, feeling the soothing warmth that never failed to calm her.
“Fire isn’t your gift.”
“It is—”
“No, being able to start a fire is just a part of you. Your true gift is how you make people feel, how you make me feel.”
“How do I make you feel?” he asked hoarsely.
She could answer him with one simple word.
“Loved.”
Alanna looked up from watching the tiny hand clutching her finger at the sound of the bedroom door being opened.
Smiling at Matthew as he walked inside the room, she then frowned at seeing the pale complexion on his face, which wasn’t there when he had left to get her suitcase from his truck.
“Did we forget something at the hospital? There’s no need to be upset if we did.”
“No. I forgot the suitcase. I’ll go get it in a minute. I was just talking to Silas.” Matthew sat down on the side of the bed, where she was lying with their newborn son.
“Did he want to come in to see the baby? I don’t mind—”
“No, he left. He’ll come back later.”
“Matthew, you’re scaring me …”
Matthew was terrible at hiding his feelings, and she could see anguish plainly in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” she asked fearfully.
“Greer had a stroke.”
“Oh God …” She sat up in the bed. “How bad is it?”
“Bad,” Matthew told her, his face twisted in grief. “He had it three days ago.”
“Three days …” Her voice broke off. She had been in labor three days ago. Their eyes met, thinking the same awful thought. She started getting off the bed.
“Is he still in the hospital?”
“No. They just brought him home. He refused to stay there any longer. What are you doing?” he asked, gently lifting the baby into his arms.
“Getting dressed. You’re taking me to see Greer.”
Tate answered when she knocked on Greer’s door. Lines of fatigue fanned across the man’s face as he stared at Matthew then her questioningly.
“May we see Greer?”
“Greer isn’t up for visitors. He just got home from the hospital.”
She didn’t move away from the door, pleading, “We won’t be long, I promise.”
Tate moved away from the doorway, allowing them entry. “Greer won’t want to see you. He even locked Holly out of the bedroom.”
Entering the home, she saw Greer’s other brother, Dustin, and Greer’s wife standing in front of a door. Both turned as they approached.
Dustin gave Tate an irritated glance. “I told you to get a screwdriver, not to let company in.”