Something was off about her. He’d noticed she was off her food, and when she woke up in the mornings she’d run to the bathroom a few times to vomit.
Was she pregnant?
He couldn’t be sure, and he didn’t want to pressure her. They hadn’t talked about kids, and he didn’t know her thoughts on kids. He knew she liked kids from the way she was with his nieces and nephews.
What were her thoughts on them having kids?
“You’re quiet tonight,” she said.
“Thinking about the weekend. John’s parties are always full of surprises. He’ll probably get the photograph album out for you to have a little laugh over.” He chuckled.
She laughed along with him. “He’s a teaser?” she asked.
“Not really. He takes life pretty seriously,” he said, thinking about John.
Lana grew quiet. They’d argued about photographs before. Kent didn’t want to bring up any bad memories for her.
“Your friend sounds amazing,” she said.
“He is.”
They drove the rest of the way in silence. On the way up to their floor Kent kept thinking about her morning sickness. When they got into the apartment Lana went straight for the sofa. She collapsed on it moaning.
“I’m so tired.”
“Do you want anything to eat?” Kent asked, looking around their space. Their space was cleaner than he remembered it. A chocolate fudge cake was on a cake stand underneath a lid on the counter in the kitchen. She baked a lot, and the staff inside the block loved what she produced. The shelves and counters in the kitchen were filled with her books. He’d also noted some of her ornaments on the counters around the phone.
He’d taken a couple of pictures of her over the weeks and gotten them framed. One was on his office desk at work.
“No, I’m not hungry,” she said, grumbling.
Kent helped her into bed and then walked through to the sitting room. He picked up his cell phone, checked the time, and tried his mother.
Penny answered on the third ring. His mother was known for her late nights and early mornings.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I was wondering if you’d bring a pregnancy test on Saturday.”
His mother squealed. “Oh my God! Derek, wake up. Lana’s pregnant.”
He waited for her to calm down before talking. “I don’t know if she is. I’m going to propose to her on Saturday, and then we’re going to do the test. I don’t want you to rush ahead,” he said.
Kent grew exasperated as Penny kept talking about grandbabies and preparing for the future. He rubbed his eyes.
“Please, don’t tell the others. Something is bugging her, and I don’t want to rush ahead until I know what’s wrong.”
At his words, Penny calmed down. He talked to her about everything that happened with Lana.
“I’m sure it’s nothing, son. She’s hormonal, and if she’s pregnant she’d probably a little frightened. You’ve got to give her time.”
He agreed. After some time passed, he hung up the phone and went into his room. Lana wore a sheer negligee, and one of her legs was wrapped around the blankets. She looked exhausted even in sleep.
Stripping down to nothing, Kent climbed in beside her. He placed a hand on her stomach and wondered if his child was growing inside her.
Lana was everything to him: his woman, his lover, and the other half of his soul.
“I love you,” he said, cradling her close to his heart.
Chapter Nineteen
Lana stared at all the photos of John’s family. There were several pictures of Kent with John when they were younger. She held a glass of water in her hand and her purse in the other as she looked at him. The party was a barbeque, and the scents were turning her stomach. Lana didn’t know how she was going to get over the next few hours. The thought of eating made her feel sick. The only food she could stomach was the dry crackers she kept in her purse. Every now and again she took one out of her purse to eat when no one was looking.
Kent’s family had turned up. The instant Penny saw her, the older woman wrapped her arms around Lana. Staring at the photos sent uneasy thoughts tumbling through her mind. She’d taken a pregnancy test yesterday when Kent had been at work. The stick she’d taken read positive. The test she’d taken was wrapped in a plastic bag, and she’d placed it in her bag. She needed to tell him, but her past felt like a barrier between them and happiness.
“There you are. I was wondering where you’d escaped to,” Kent said. His arms wrapped around her waist. “You can’t leave me at these events.”
She smiled. “I was looking at some of the pictures.”
He chuckled, and they walked over to them. “John loved to take photos even back then. He always had a camera. Didn’t you ever have a friend like that?” he asked.
Lana froze. Again, a question about her past. What should she do? Answer the question, or ignore it?
Kent let out a sigh. “Here we go again,” he said.
She turned on him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Putting her glass of water down she faced the man she loved. Would he want her when he knew where she came from and the lifestyle she used to live?
The patio doors leading out to the garden was open. The room they were in offered some kind of privacy for them.
“You’re cutting me off. I ask something of your past, and you keep it hidden. I asked a question about you, Lana. Other women would want me to take an interest in their life.”
“Oh, that’s right because you’re such a f**king gift from God.”
What was wrong with her? Her emotions were all over the place.
“No, that’s not it, and you know it. I want to know everything about you because I’m in f**king love with you,” Kent said.
She opened her mouth to argue and froze. “What?”
“You heard me,” he said. He grabbed a box from his pocket. “I organized all of this. I wanted to propose to you today.”
What had happened?
“You keep your life so wrapped up in yourself that you won’t let anyone inside,” Kent said. His voice rose, and she gazed out the door to see the crowd of people getting closer. Lana clutched her purse tighter against her stomach. Her stomach that would soon be fuller with his child.
What are you doing? You’re in love with him. I can’t do this on my own.
Lana closed her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks. Her past was a nightmare, but she couldn’t run from it anymore. Kent had invaded her life and her heart, and she couldn’t live without him. He was part of her life.