Unexpected Fate

“I’m sorry?” I whisper. “What did you say?”

She looks up, noticing my expression before looking over at my parents. I don’t know what she saw there since I’m absolutely terrified to look at my father.

“Oh, I am so sorry. I didn’t realize. With your lab work and the date listed as your last menstrual cycle . . . I’m sorry. I just assumed.”

“What are you saying, Doctor?” my father spits out. I can literally hear the force he had to use to get the words through his lips.

“I’ll need to talk to you daughter in private, and then, when she’s ready, she can choose to share the information we discuss as she sees fit. I do apologize, Mr. and Mrs. Reid.”

I don’t move my eyes from my lap. I keep my head down even through the struggle of my mom physically pulling my dad out of the room. I don’t move when I hear him yelling out in the hallway or when I hear something crash. Not even when the door clicks loudly when the doctor shuts herself in the room with me.

The whole time, my mind is spinning.

Pregnant?

Surely, she’s wrong. She must have someone else’s chart. I remember the question about my last period. I just opened the app on my phone and put what it said. My periods have always been erratic, so I never even gave it a second thought.

“Danielle? Is it okay that I call you Danielle?”

“Dani,” I mumble.

“I’m sorry?”

“It’s Dani. I’ve always hated Danielle. Sounds like a mouthful, so I go by Dani. It works. I don’t get any annoying nicknames. I’m just Dani. Dani Reid. That’s me. Holy shit, am I freaking pregnant?!” I end my verbal vomit on a scream that makes me wince.

“I take it this is a surprise?”

“Very much so,” I tell her, starting to freak out a little.

“How about I go get our portable ultrasound machine and we get a little look. Might ease your mind and make it seem a little more real. Well, once the shock wears off.”

I nod my head, but I don’t speak.

Pregnant.

Holy shit. Cohen is going to freak.

And my daddy is going to go apeshit.

THE NIGHTS ARE SO LONG here.

I’m left with nothing but longing to be home with my family and with Dani in my arms.

It gives me nothing but time to sit and think.

Think about the time I lost with Dani because I was too busy pushing her away.

Time I’m losing now because I’m over in this fucking hell, hunting terrorists.

And the worst feeling of all is that growing ache in my stomach that tells me I have to get home soon. I can’t explain it any other way. It’s a daily struggle to push the feeling aside so I can concentrate on my job and make sure I don’t get blown the fuck up in the process.

One thing is for certain in all of this. This time away from Dani has proven one thing to me. That one night I had with her in my arms will never be enough.

I roll over on the hard ground and close my eyes, and just like the night before and every one since I’ve been here, I see her smiling face.

THE DOCTOR COMES BACK IN the room, dragging some weird-ass computer behind her. She flips the light off before she has me lie back on the exam table, and she puts my shirt over my stomach before I can get over my shock. My leggings are wiggled down until they are resting just above my crotch. And then I let out a yelp when she squirts some goo on me.

“Sorry, Dani. I don’t usually run the ultrasounds, so I must have grabbed the gel that wasn’t in the warmer,” she mumbles more to herself than to me.

I look down to where her hand is moving some wand-looking thing around in the disgusting goo. This is so nasty. All of this work for her to tell me that she read something wrong.

I have almost convinced myself that there was no way she could be right. Hell, Cohen used a condom every time, so surely there is no possible way for me to be pregnant. I haven’t been throwing up. Everything has been normal. Just because I don’t have a regular period doesn’t mean I’m knocked up.

I am about to open my mouth and tell her just that when the oddest sound echoes through the small room. “What the hell?” I question at the noise. It sounds like thundering hoof beats.

“Well, that, Dani, is your baby.”

She sounds so pleased that I can’t help how my eyes narrow before the shock hits again. Jesus, it’s just the night for shocks.

I hesitantly look over at the monitor she’s pointing to before my heart stops for a beat before picking up. I have no idea what the heck I’m looking at. I just know it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life.

My baby?

Cohen’s and my little miracle.

The doctor starts pointing to everything and explaining what I’m looking at. Every word she speaks, I soak up like a dying woman. Already head over heels in love with the child I was convinced only seconds before couldn’t even be possible.

Holy crap. I’m going to be a mommy?

Even through I’m scared out of my mind for what this means for my future—my future with Cohen—I let the love for this child wash over me and smile the brightest smile I’ve probably ever had.

“So . . . surprised but happy?” she asks.

“Very.” And I am. I really am.

“The baby’s father? I can print these images for you.”

“He’s overseas. But I would love to have a few copies so that I can show him when he gets home.”

“Of course. Do you know when he is expected to return? If you would like, just come on by when I’m on shift and I’ll make sure you guys are able to sneak a peek at this little one. You’re measuring right at twelve weeks, so unfortunately, it’s too early for a gender screen. But come back in a few weeks and we can see if that little one wants to give you an early show.”

“Thank you,” I breathe roughly when she hands me the printouts of my baby and moves to turn the lights on. “Hey, Doc?”

“Yes?” She looks over after she washes her hands.

“Do you know if there is a back entrance you can sneak me out?”

She throws her head back with a laugh and shakes her head. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. He’s just a little . . . overprotective.”

“I noticed.” She laughs. “I’ll step out and give you a minute. Congratulations, Dani. I want you to be careful. You shouldn’t be alone tonight because of the concussion. You also need to follow up with your gynecologist later this week. Is it okay to have your parents come back in now?”