I can’t believe he accused me of getting knocked up by someone else. Come to think of it, he specifically said a ball player. Is he referring to Sam? If so, how does he even know about him at all or the fact that he is a ball player?

I shouldn’t even have to ask myself these questions. These men around here seem to know everything about everyone.

Hearing the door knob turn I get up from the edge of the bed where I was sitting and meet my sister and Leah as they come walking through the door.

"I am so sorry I deserted you down there, Leah. I was so taken aback and in the moment…I can’t believe I forgot you were with me."

Walking into the room further she takes in her surroundings. I grab the suitcase she packed for me from her slightly shaking hands and set it down by the closet.

"You guys really lived with all those men down there?" she asks with bewilderment as she wrings her hands together nervously. "I met Gabriel. He’s umm...big." She says giving my sister and I both a look.

I walk her to the bed and sit down with her as I watch Bella quickly close the door before responding to Leah, "Yeah, they can be a bit rough around the edges at times, but you really wouldn’t find a better family to be a part of."

And she’s right. Which makes me feel bad for bringing chaos back into the mix when it wasn’t very long ago we all had dealt with so much. I honestly thought whoever had been leaving notes stopped. I can’t wrap my head around someone threatening an unborn child.

It’s unfathomable to me.

"What I don’t understand is how someone was able to break into your dorm room there on campus. We made sure security was top notch when you first checked the place out. Someone in the building must have seen something," my sister questions as she walks over to the window, pulls back the curtain a little and gazes out into the night sky.

Leah gives me a sympathetic look, knowing I’m about to have a heart to heart with my sister that I’ve been putting off. For far too long I’ve let it fester and it’s put a barrier between us.

I sit straighter, "That’s because I don’t live on campus anymore. I moved a little over a month ago," I tell her.

"What?" Bella says shockingly.

"Yeah. Sam, Leah, and I are renting a condo about fifteen minutes from campus. I felt like I needed more space since finding out I was pregnant. I like it, Bella. It was a choice I had to make for myself."

"I get all that, Alba, but why? Why is it you felt like you had to hide that from me?" she asks with hurt etched on her face.

"I thought I had to. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to disappoint you. I never wanted to leave Polson. I wanted to stay here, maybe go to community college or take online classes, but you were so proud of me and so excited for my future that I wanted to make you happy. In the end I wasn’t happy, and this baby—MY baby put so much into perspective. I’m also taking online classes now instead of on campus, and I even started a small business online designing book covers for authors. It’s all coming together. I needed to make myself happy and live my life for me. I know you wanted me to have the world Bella and I do. My world just happens to be in Polson."

It feels freeing to finally say what I’m feeling out loud to my sister.

Looking up, Bella’s face mirrors my own with shed tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I’m so sorry I made you feel that way. It was never my intention. You should have said something sooner. I don’t ever want you to feel like you need to live life for anyone but yourself, and you could never disappoint me, Alba. If not going to college is what you want then I will support you" she says with sincerity.

Bella comes to sit in front of me on the floor. I look down at her as she looks up. Continuing she says, "I have sat around for months knowing something was wrong. Knowing for some reason you were not happy. I heard it in your voice every time we talked and every time you made up some excuse as to why you couldn’t come home to visit. I wanted you to talk to me so badly, but I wanted you to be ready and willing to open up to me on your own and tell me what you were keeping bottled up inside. I’m your sister. I’m not here to judge you. I’m here to cheer you on. I’m so very proud of everything you do, have done and will do in the future."

We hold hands and take a moment to collect ourselves.

We look at each other as sisters that have grown together and shared so much in life but it’s also a moment that we both are finally looking at each other as two separate women who have come so far and are both coming into their own.

Finding our own paths.

The moment is interrupted with commotion coming from downstairs.

"I’m pretty sure that’s all Gabriel right now," Bella lets out with a heavy sigh and gets to her feet.

"What are you talking about?" I raise my eyebrow and ask her.

Standing a little taller, she gives me a deadpan look, "Before I brought Leah up here, I pulled Logan to the side and gave him a quick rundown of what you told me. So, I’m guessing the noises we are now hearing is the reaction from your man being told that someone has threatened you and his child," she affirms.

I stand abruptly, causing myself to get a bit light headed, but quickly steady myself. I can only imagine his reaction. Hell, he just found out that he’s going to be a father.

A light knock on the door catches all three of our attentions before hearing a soft voice from the other side, "Bella, may I come in?"

I look to my sister wondering who the voice belongs to. She gives me a reassuring look before walking to the door and opening it. A beautiful, young woman with long, black hair and stunning green eyes steps in, shutting the door behind her.

"Alba, this is Gabriel’s sister Leyna. Remember me telling you about her a few weeks ago? She’s been staying here at the clubhouse."

Of course. How could I have completely forgotten about that conversation? Looking to her I say, "Leyna, I wish we could have met under better circumstances."

"Me too. And from what I overheard, it seems my hermano brother is going to be a papi daddy," she gestures to my protruding belly. "I told him he was foolish to do what he did months ago. I promise you Gabe is a good man. We are familia now, so can I hug you?" She asks with her arms stretched out in a warm welcome and a smile.

Accepting, I hug her in return.

Our introduction is cut short as the bedroom door bursts open, splintering at its hinges, causing all four us to jump back and Leah to shriek.

Looming in the doorway is Gabriel, all six feet four inches of him.

Silence fills the room. Like the calm before a storm.

The stillness of the moment is defining as his intense stare carefully appraises me. His movement is so swift I don’t even have time to react. Falling to his knees in front of me, Gabriel places his large hands on my belly before he hoarsely whispers, "Alba."

Overcome with emotions, I quietly sob. When he stood in the doorway I didn’t know what to expect. For a split second I found myself afraid. Not afraid of Gabriel harming me—not physically.

Fear of rejection again.

Fear of him rejecting our baby.

I look upon his face in wonderment. A sea of pride, joy, and love for his unborn child swells in the depths of his deep, brown eyes. The heat from his touch penetrates through my shirt, causing goosebumps to cover the surface of my skin.

A lifetime, that’s how long it has felt since the last time he’s touched me. Somehow, this moment feels so much more earth shattering. A sense of calm settles through my soul.

His rough, raw voice breaks through the stillness as his softly spoken words to our unborn child leave his lips.

"Your mother is my sky, and you… you are my star. I didn’t know just how much my heart needed you," Gabriel’s eyes lift to mine, "needs both of you. You both give me strength. You give me purpose."

Hearing sobs other than my own, I turn my head noticing my sister, Leah and even Leyna watching intently and quietly sharing the moment with me.

I quickly return my attention back to Gabriel. His handsome face becomes a blur as I study him. No longer able to ignore my heart I completely lose myself to him and my knees go weak, then I’m lifted off my feet. Nestling my face into the crook of his neck I breathe him deep into my lungs as he carries me out the door.