She had just finished the Sunflower Ceremony, put on specifically for the UT School of Law graduates. Everyone had driven up from Houston: her parents, Uncle Roy, Aunt Pat, and Ben.

She knew Carter had a game that day in Houston. Thus, she hadn’t expected him to come out, despite their being back “on” again. They had kept it to phone calls since their reunion, mostly for the sake of Jordan’s finals. The truth was, she just couldn’t handle the pressure of studying and dealing with his reaction to the news. She was also still a bit apprehensive about what his mother had told her that day.

Part of her was glad he wasn’t here at her graduation. Obviously, she would have loved seeing him here for one of the most important events in her life. On the other hand, it would have caused way too much of a commotion. April was still the only person in her class who knew the two of them were dating.

Besides, it gave Jordan an excuse to put off telling him about their happy little accident. Completely naked, it was more than obvious that she had a nice little baby bump in the making. Flowy dresses and baggy shirts had done the trick for the casual observer.

The tell-tale signs were there for anyone looking out for it. Zoe, the managing editor of the law review, had pointed out that she was “glowing.” Fortunately, she had just teasingly attributed it to some secret boyfriend that Jordan had—and it was “about time, girl!” She didn’t bother correcting her.

Morris & Gibson would be a different story. It didn’t matter the circumstances, she would be nothing more than a statistic in some people’s eyes. Hello! Pregnant, unwed, black woman reporting for duty! Oh, and by the way, thanks for hiring me, now I immediately have to take a few months off for maternity leave. It was the perfect way to start her legal career.

She’d worry about that when the time came. Right now her family was here, ecstatic about her success and ready to celebrate. They were at the reception taking pictures of Jordan with some of her fellow classmates.

She heard the ripple of whispers that ran through the atrium, where the reception was being held. Jordan was posing with Zoe for a photo when she sensed it. She held the pose until her father had snapped the photo. Just as she turned to see what the commotion was, Ben cleared things up for her.

“Carter!” he yelled.

Jordan saw him make his way through the crowd of surprised onlookers.

“What in the world is Carter Fox doing here?” Zoe pondered next to her, looking at the man with undisguised admiration as he made his way toward them, holding a large box.

It had been almost two months since she’d last seen him. She had nearly forgotten how handsome his face was, especially when it wasn’t haggard with worry. She wanted to memorize it the way it was now, giving her that grin, his green eyes twinkling with delight. She wondered what it would look like after she told him the “happy” news.

She had turned in her robe and was wearing a business-like shift dress that, fortunately, was still loose enough to cover her smallish bump.

“You came,” she said, smiling. “I thought you had a game. When did it end?”

Zoe looked at her, then back at Carter with surprise. When she saw the intimate way the two stared at one another she slowly backed off to join the rest of Jordan’s classmates to revel in this bit of freshly brewed gossip.

“A couple of hours ago,” Carter answered. “I tried to hightail it out here, but it looks like I missed the ceremony. Sorry about that.”

Jordan just shook her head with wonder and delight. “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad you’re here.”

There was a small lock of blond hair that fell on his forehead. She instinctively reached up to brush it back. The gesture was so minor but they both seemed to feel the instant wave of warm affection run through their bodies. His eyes softened with adoration.

She realized her family was standing there watching the two of them, and behind them her fellow alums and their families. She drew back self-consciously. She looked down at the large wrapped gift he had in his hands. It was beautifully wrapped with thick white handmade paper, a white crepe ribbon in UT orange, and white roses tucked into the bow on top.

“Not to ruin the surprise but it’s something that is technically already yours.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear. Her heartbeat intensified so much it nearly leapt out of her chest. She wanted him closer, so much closer. “You left it at my place.”

He pulled away and that wicked grin that made her wild with desire returned.

“Hey, Carter,” Ben said, reminding the two of them that they weren’t the only two people in the room.

“Hey, Ben,” he said giving him a fist bump.

“So are we still top of the division?” Ben asked.

“You know it. 5-2 today.”

“Awesome!”

Jordan felt everyone else’s eyes on her while Ben and Carter talked baseball. By now everyone in the family knew her little secret. Now that she was here, face to face with Carter she couldn’t put off telling him anymore. It was late May. Five months was already too long…far too long.

Of course, right here, in the middle of a curious crowd of her fellow classmates, was no proper time and place either. She was headed back to Houston tonight to settle into her own apartment. She’d set aside a time to meet with him where they could talk privately and figure it all out, together.

Carter turned back to her. “So you’re back in Houston tomorrow?”

She nodded. “Yes. Why?”

“Let me take you to dinner after the game tomorrow. We can make up for lost time.”

So, tomorrow it was then.

* * *

Jordan wanted to laugh at the irony. They were at the same restaurant that they had eaten at the night she became pregnant. Full circle.

At least it was private and appropriately intimate. They could definitely talk here. She could also rest assured that he wouldn’t have a total freak out since there were other diners around them.

She was thrilled to see him again after so long, but her excitement was overshadowed by the butterflies that were at it again in her stomach, and not in a good way. Her steak was half eaten and the garlic mashed potatoes had been picked over.

“You haven’t touched any of your wine. That’s a pretty good bottle there.” He gave a small laugh, “It should be for what I paid for it.”

Jordan looked at the untouched glass the waiter had poured for both of them. She supposed now was as good a time as any to tell him. He was still eating. She’d wait until he was done. One tiny little sip wouldn’t harm the baby.

She smiled and took a small sip. “Mmm, you’re right. It is good.”

“So are you excited about finally having your own place?” He gave her a teasing grin.

Normally, she would say something sassy in response. Tonight, she just smiled and nodded.

He frowned a bit. “Are you okay?” he asked with a tiny crease in his forehead. “You seem a bit off tonight.”

She brightened up, the mask coming down over her face. “Yeah,” she said shaking her head. “I’m just thinking about all the studying I have to do for the bar, and then work.”

He laughed. “There’s the Jordan I know. No rest for the wicked.” He gave her a devilish wink.

She gave a genuine laugh in response.

He put his knife and fork down, finishing his meal with a sip of wine.

Jordan braced herself. Now was the time. She looked over at his handsome face, oblivious to what was about to come. It pained her. But it needed to be done.

Just tell him!

“Carter, I’m pregnant,” she blurted.