Dear Leslie Sutton,

Capital Financial Inc. is pleased to announce it has merged with Credit Constant. This merger will take effect June 1. You must be an active employee when the merger is finalized to obtain the health benefits and 401k plan offered by the company. We understand you are on an approved FMLA leave without pay, but Credit Constant will be condescending certain positions, and we advise you to reconsider your status in order to remain an employee with Credit Constant.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office.

Your response is required by May 15.

Helen Marsh, HR

“Can they even legally do this?” I mutter as I stare at the screen for a good fifteen minutes before I move from my chair. Can they even legally do this?My life and responsibilities in Chicago are calling me home. Unable to sit still, I pace my bedroom, contemplating the steps I should follow next. Surprisingly, life has been great in Prescott. Other than my father’s heart attack, it’s exactly what I’ve wanted my entire life. My gaze lands on the Post-it I have stuck to my desk.

Dad will be released on Monday!

“Fuck.” This is the worst time to get this letter from HR. My father will be home Monday morning and he will have to transition from living in a hospital with round-the-clock care to being here. I definitely don’t want to leave until he’s situated and my mother can hold down the fort on her own.

It has taken some time, but over the past few weeks, my relationship with my mother has blossomed. We’ve gone from constantly bickering to having a pleasant mother and daughter relationship. Yes, I’ll be the first to admit it isn’t perfect, but we’re working on it.

I’ll also have to find someone to help her out in the studio. There’s paperwork to be filed and choreography to learn, and my mother doesn’t even know any of the students. I massage the side of my head, and sit on the bed feeling exhausted. There’s one more reason this letter came at the worst possible time, too.

Ethan.

God, I don’t want to leave him—not again. We finally have a chance to make this last a lifetime.

I sigh once more, stand, walk back to my table and open the laptop. I read the letter once more and look up at the calendar. It’s already April twenty seventh, which means I have less than three weeks to figure out exactly what I'll do.

I pull out my phone and dial Ethan. I need to know what he thinks. I need to know that he and I are can make it work. If he doesn’t feel the same, it means I have three weeks to get my father situated and my mother up to speed.

Biting my nails, I hold the phone to my ear until his voicemail picks up. Quickly, I hang up and dial him again. Still no answer. I can’t hide the pain in my chest. The man I love seems to be drowning inside.

Just as my mind is about to wander into uncharted territory, my phone buzzes in my hands.

Ethan: Hey, I'm having a meeting with the guys. Is everything OK?

I quickly type out a message for him.

Me: Sorry, I just wanted to hear your voice. You didn't stop by after work like you promised.

I hate that I sound like a desperate girlfriend.

Ethan: I'm sorry, babe. I have a ton of paperwork to go through. Can I call you when this meeting is over?

Me: Yes, I'll be up waiting for you.

Ethan: I love you. 

Me: I love you more. 

With my phone volume on high, I crawl under the covers and wait for his phone call.

* * *

The sun is warm on my skin the following morning. I stretch my arms above my head as my body thanks me for another full night’s rest, but my eyes shoot open as I realize I missed Ethan's call. Locating my phone underneath my pillow, I press the home button to light up the screen. Ethan hadn’t called like he promised.

He completely forgot about me.

I turn over and tuck my hands under the pillow and let the disappointment resonate deep in my bones. I’m in the midst of throwing myself a pity party when my phone rings. Hoping and praying it’s Ethan calling, I rush to grab it.

It’s not Ethan; it’s Stephanie.

I debate whether to answer when my phone stops vibrating in my hands and the voicemail picks up. I decide sitting in bed all day will get me nowhere and I call Stephanie back.

“Morning, sugar,” she answers happily. “How's life? How's Ethan?”

“You’re chipper this morning,” I grunt into the phone with a yawn.

“I just went for a seven-mile run. It's absolutely gorgeous outside. Do you have plans this morning? I wanted to treat myself to a Danish at Bavello’s. Want to grab breakfast?”

“No plans. I’m actually off today, so a sugary breakfast sounds perfect.”

“Meet you in thirty?”

My body wants to protest leaving the bed anytime soon, but when I realize it’s already nine in the morning I force myself up. “Yeah, that works.”

After I hang up the phone, I drag myself into the shower. I don't know why I feel so exhausted; I slept for over eight hours, but still I can't shake the sleep off. My body is aching for a few more minutes in bed.  Still, I push through the exhaustion and slide my head under the shower spray. I’m halfway done when my stomach drops and a chill runs up my spine. Shutting the water off, I grab a towel and rush to my room. I kneel on the floor and dump the contents of my purse all around me. When I find the small black packet, I flip it open and pull out the small pills.

“Fuck,” I curse and sit back on my feet. My period is four days late. Water drips from my hair to my skin and onto the carpet. “This can’t be right.” I flip open my agenda, my hands trembling as I count the days. Once. Twice. Three times. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuckity fuck, fuck, fuck.”

This is not what I want. Well, at least not this second in my life. Kids seem like a possibility. Eventually. When I’m in my thirties and I have my life figured out. Shoving everything back inside my purse, I decide not to panic until I know for sure. My period has been late before, and I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately. Aside from being tired, I have no other symptoms, so I choose to ignore this little bump until I’m one hundred percent certain.

When I arrive at Bavello’s, Stephanie is waiting outside for me. As always, she looks stunning, her make-up and hair flawless. I yawn as I greet her. "I really hate that your hair is perfect all the time."

"Morning to you too, buttercup." She nudges me with her shoulder. "You look tired. Didn't sleep well?"

I pause as we walk inside and quickly fabricate something to tell Stephanie. "No. I tossed and turned all night,” I lie. “I was waiting for Ethan to . . .” My words fail me as I stumble forward from the impact of someone behind me. Looking back, I sigh in annoyance.

"Excuse you,” Stephanie says to the back of a platinum blonde’s head. She doesn't have to turn around for me to know it’s Erica who rudely bumped me. 

"Oh, my goodness,” she simpers. “I'm so sorry!” She gives me a sly grin. 

"Cut the crap, Erica, we know you did that on purpose,” Stephanie quips and crosses her arms over her chest.

Erica's mouth opens dramatically as she yawns. "No, seriously. I'm really sorry. I'm so tired this morning." Her gaze cuts directly at me. "Ethan had me up all night."

Instantly, my teeth grind.

"You know how he can be in the sack." She winks at me but then pouts. "Or do you? I mean, he wouldn't be knocking on my door if you did." 

My hands ball into tight, white-knuckled fists. I step toward her to strike, but Stephanie moves between us. "Erica, I suggest you leave before I let Leslie whoop your ass first thing in the morning."

Erica takes a step back and laughs. “Bye, Stephy.” She blows her a fake kiss and then looks over at me. “Bye, Dance Queen."

"Fuck off!” I shout, and the entire crowd at Bavello’s looks over at me. Instantly, I'm embarrassed and I lower my gaze. 

"Find us a table and I'll grab our coffee,” Stephanie says to me in a softer tone. 

A few minutes later, she pulls back the wooden chair across from me and places my cup and a tray of sweet Danishes on the table. Lost in thought, my mind wanders to what Erica said. Had she spent the night with Ethan? Were they seeing each other? And was that why he was pulling away? I lower my head on the cool table, feeling lightheaded.

"Hey, you okay?" Stephanie waves her hand at me and I shake my head, throwing those thoughts out the window. 

"Sorry, lost in thought."

"You weren't thinking about what Erica said, were you?"

"Oh, God no.” I lie again, choosing to be the bigger person. “She simply wants attention and to get a rise out of me." And I believe the words I say. I know Ethan. I’ve known him my whole life, and even when he was a teenager the last thing I had to worry about was him being with another girl. He has always loved me. I find myself thinking this and I force myself to believe it, but there is a tiny voice in the back of my mind that reminds me the Ethan I knew and loved, the one I never had to worry about, is not the Ethan who’s been present.

“Okay, good. Because I’d have to kick your ass if you believed her for a second.” I laugh and take a sweet treat from the basket. “I can’t believe you told her to fuck off in front of everyone.”

I close my eyes, mortified. “Uh, was it that bad?”

“Let’s just say the whole town will be talking about it by lunch.”

“Great. Something else I’ll have to explain to Ethan.”

“What do you mean something else?” Stephanie asks.

I chew on the inside of my lip and decide it’s better to use Stephanie as a sounding board before telling Ethan. “So, I got an email from my job. They need me back by June first.”

“Oh, crap.”

“And my period is four days late.” Stephanie’s eyes widen as she takes a bite of her food. “Yeah, now I have to add this little quarrel with Erica to the list.”

“Did you take a test?” Stephanie’s voice is an octave louder than before.

“Shh.” I kick her under the table and glance around to see if anyone is listening to our conversation. “No, I realized all of this half an hour ago.”

“You need to pee on a stick.”

“Because me buying a pregnancy test won’t get back to Ethan. You know how this town lives for gossip. Besides, it’s probably nothing. I’m just stressed with Jerry’s death and whatnot. I’m probably just late.”

“You know . . .” Stephanie pauses and puckers her lip.

“What?”

“I am married.” She lifts her left hand and her emerald cut diamond sparkles up at me. “I can buy the pregnancy test. It’s not like Bruce would care what the town says.”

“You’re a genius.” I sigh and I feel a grin grow on my face. “Carlton’s opens at ten. We can finish here and head right over.” I nod. “Some people smuggle drugs. We’ll be smuggling pregnancy tests.”

I chuckle and take another sip of my coffee. There wasn’t anything I could say. The possibility of me being pregnant weighed heavily on my chest. It was only a matter of time before I could put this all behind me.

* * *

With my heart pounding with each step, Stephanie and I walk over to Carlton’s, the town pharmacy. We are halfway there when I spot Ethan getting out of his car. I stop and watch his every move. He walks around the car to pop open the trunk and pulls out a folder.

“Are you just going to stand there?” Stephanie asks.

I shrug. “I don’t know if he wants to see me.”

Ethan closes the trunk and his gaze lands directly on mine. “I guess you can’t hide now.” Stephanie nudges me. “Go talk to him while I run inside Carlton’s to grab the goods.”

I nod and will my feet to walk across the street. Ethan leans on his car and crosses his arms over his chest. His blue jeans hug his waist, and his white T-shirt is tight around his chest.

Nervously, I grip my purse strap. “Hey,” I say when I approach him.

When I don’t move, he loops his finger in the belt strap of my jeans and pulls me toward him. “Morning, Freckles,” he whispers before kissing my lips. “I went by the studio this morning.”

“We’re closed today, third Saturday of every month.” I pull my eyes away from his green orbs.

“What’s the matter?” He lifts my chin so I’m forced to look at him.

“You never called last night.” I purse my lips.

“I know,” he sighs. “I didn’t get out of the meeting ’til late and I didn’t want to wake you.”

I gnaw on the inside of my lip. A part of me wants to say that he never had a problem climbing through my window at two in the morning, but not wanting to sound like an annoying girlfriend, I choose my words carefully. “I ran into Erica at Bavello’s.” I pause and stare at his face. There isn’t a single flinch. “She said she spent the night with you.” I swallow and watch his every movement.

Ethan digs his hand in his back pocket and pulls out his phone. He clicks a few buttons and his speaker turns on as his phone begins to ring. He pulls me flush against him, and wraps his free arm around my body.

“Hello?” Erica’s voice erupts from the speaker.

“Where were you last night?” His voice is angry.

“Home, why?” Erica’s mousy voice has softened.

“Was I with you?” he barks.

“No.”

“Then do me a fucking favor,” he growls, and a shiver crawls up my spine. “Stop spreading fucking rumors. I hear about you lying one more time, Erica, and I swear to God . . .”

I smack his chest, not wanting to know what he’s about to say.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice is barely audible before the line goes dead.

“You didn’t need to threaten her.” I pull away from him.

“I’m tired of her running her mouth.”

“Hey, lovebirds.” Stephanie’s voice interrupts us.

“All set?” I ask, and she nods. I turn to Ethan. “Okay, I’ll see you later.” Before I can take a step, he yanks me into his arms and his mouth crashes over mine. His hands tangle in my hair as his tongue invades my mouth. When he pulls away, I’m breathless.

“Don’t let what Erica said change anything, Freckles. I have—and will always—only love you,” he says against my lips. “I’ll come by later, okay?”

“Okay.” I kiss his lips one last time.

“Bye, E.” Stephanie says when he lets me go, and Ethan waves.

We are halfway down the block when Stephanie laces her arm with mine. “Do I want to know what that was about?”

“Me finding out if he was with Erica last night.”

“Was he?” Stephanie looks up at me.

“Ethan’s eyebrows furrow when he lies.” I smile up at her. “He wasn’t with her last night.”

“Oh, good. That’s one thing crossed off your list.” Stephanie lifts up the white pharmacy bag. “Now let’s see if him not being a Daddy is another.”