She'd wanted to walk from Luke's--partially to clear her head and partially to try to reposition the baby from where it felt like he was hanging from her ribs like she was a jungle gym.

People talked all the time about the pain of pregnancy--about the torment of those last few weeks, with the baby's head pressing down on her and the pressure of the impending big day, but what nobody mentioned was the constant weird aches. Her back was close to breaking from the effort of carrying her tummy around and her stomach itself--which used to just be something of a less-than-convenient shelf--now felt like a live human was inside her, readying his way to come into the world.

Halfway to her apartment, she stopped to sit on a bench, then blew a little breath out her nose as tears threatened. God, that had been awful. He’d looked so stunned. So hurt. She’d wanted nothing more than to go back and tell him she’d changed her mind. That she’d made a horrible mistake.

But right on the heels of that thought, an image of Luke grinning from ear to ear as he stood outside the glowing sign of his brand new bike shop popped into her head and she clenched her jaw.

She’d done the right thing. Luke himself had told her how his parents had sacrificed everything for all of their foster kids and adopted children, and there was no way she was going to corner him into sacrificing for her. She hated hurting him and would mourn his loss in her life daily but that was better than seeing bitterness and resentment grow inside him, especially if it was aimed at her or the baby.

She could handle anything but that.

She glanced at the street sign and decided to waddle to Suzette's house. She knew better than to expect support on her decision, but at least she'd have a comfortable seat and a friendly ear.

When she'd finally made her way to the front door, she knocked, then placed her hand on her lower back for support. Suzette's mother opened the door, glanced at Tawny, then her tummy, and offered her a warm smile.

"One second, honey."

She jogged up the stairs then disappeared down the other side of the upstairs hallway just as Suzette appeared at the top of the steps.

"You did it, huh?" she asked.

She nodded. After all, what was there to say? She couldn't tell her about everything Luke had said--about the crushed, defeated look in his eyes when she'd lied to him.

He looked exactly how I feel, she thought, but there was nothing to be done about that either.

Not anymore.

"Come in." Suzette rushed down the steps, then curled her arm around Tawny's and led her toward the nearest sofa. It was the most uncomfortable piece of furniture in the house, but it had a sturdy back, and in the days since her tummy had overreached her ability to see her toes, she was beginning to realize the importance of proper lumbar support.

"How are you doing?" Suzette asked.

"I'm fine," Tawny said automatically.

"And how are you really?" Suzette challenged.

Tawny eyed her, wondering if she dare tell her friend exactly how awful she was feeling about this whole thing.

Suzette must’ve seen the hesitation in her face because she sighed. “Look, I don't agree with what you did, but I still know why you did it. I want to take care of you. Tell me, how are you?"

Luke’s eyes, so blue and clear, swam through her memory and she thought of the way he'd crumpled as she'd spoken--the shock and the alarm behind that cool blueness. The hurt.

Tears pricked at the back of her throat and she shook her head.

"It was terrible. Truly, truly terrible." She sniffed.

"You can cry if you want to cry," Suzette soothed.

"I know I did the right thing. Nobody can convince me otherwise but I had a dream too, you know? I wanted a family. A real family with Christmas and baseball practice and pot roast on Sunday nights. Sure, it happened earlier than I wanted, but I was starting to think I could have all of it with him and..." A tear finally slid down her cheek, scalding and shameful. "I never had that, you know? He has brothers and parents. All I have is me. What if it’s not enough?”

"You are plenty. You are the best thing a baby could have. You’re a wonderful person and you’re going to be a great mom.” Suzette wrapped her arm around her friend and Tawny let another tear fall before swiping it away.

Tawny shook her head. "I tried to force Luke into my dream and he had no place there. What kind of person am I that I never asked what would make him happy? What his dreams were?"

Suzette shook her head. "Sweetheart, I think you're getting a little emotional. When tomorrow comes, you'll be able to see everything more clearly."

"When tomorrow comes, I'll still be alone."

Suzette frowned, then, quirking her mouth to the side, she held up one finger. "Hang on right here for a minute. I have something I want to show you."

She rushed upstairs and Tawny waited, still doing her best to choke back the tears threatening her at the back of her throat and stinging the corners of her eyes.

When Suzette reappeared, it was with a computer in hand, and she took her seat again before placing the thing securely on her lap.

"What's all this?" Tawny asked.

On the web screen there was an image of a tiny little shack near the edge of the woods--the only thing recommending it was the massive barn near the edge of the trees, but the bricks were old and crumbly looking. The polite way to put it was likely that it had good bones, but not much else.

"I was thinking if you didn't break up with him today, you might be able to talk him into getting this place. It's on the edge of town—fifteen minutes closer to the city, and that barn could easily be converted into a bike shop, don't you think? It's already zoned residential and commercial because the woman who lived there was a hairdresser before she died. It’s super cheap and has been on the market forever.”

"How did she die?" Tawny asked, staring at the picture, trying not to let Suzette’s plot get the best of her and shake her resolve.

"Not important. There may have been...a grizzly murder. But that was ten years ago!” Suzette rushed to add, ignoring Tawny’s shocked gasp. “The house has been abandoned ever since and that’s why it’s such a steal, don't you think?"

Tawny raised her eyebrows. “Even if he didn’t care about the fact that the place is likely haunted and was the site of a murder, Luke doesn't want to live in Alhouette, Suze."

“No. He didn’t used to want to live in Alhouette. Now I’m convinced of that, way more importantly, he doesn't want to live without you." Suzette brushed her shoulder, then gave it a little squeeze. “The least you can do is come clean and give him the option. Don't you think?"

"But to put him through all that for nothing?" Tawny shook her head. "It's selfish. It's selfish to ask him to stay."

"It's selfish to take this baby from him, too," Suzette murmured and Tawny looked at the house again, trying to examine it with new eyes.

If the windows had shutters and flower boxes...if the floors were redone and the walls were painted? It might be a nice family home. And it was still close to Luke’s family and Suzette. It would be amazing if the baby had a chance to be with both his parents, but—

“Ah!"

A sharp pain pierced her insides, and she felt a strange sensation inside that seemed to travel. With a gasp, she looked down to find that her maternity pants were dark with something wet.

She could barely process what she was seeing as the pain subsided. Jesus. This was it. She was having the baby.

Panic threatened to take her over as she breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth--or was it in through her mouth and out through her nose? God, one contraction and she was already losing track of everything she'd learned through all her reading.

She shot an alarmed-looking Suzette a weak smile as she leaned back and breathed deep again. "I owe your parents a new couch. My water just broke.”

Suzette’s eyes widened and she let out a squeal. “This is the worst couch ever anyways. Oh my god, Tawny!”

"I know," Tawny said, the realization finally hitting her that it was time. It was really, finally time. "We're having a baby," she whispered, just as another wave of piercing hot pain shot through her. She was so happy that her friend was here for her, but in the deepest part of her, all she wanted was Luke…