Page 145 of Finding Redemption

“Are you sure? I’m not one to tell people how to do their job but I’m thinking something's screwed up.” I blink rapidly, shaking my hands out.

“I assure you, you’re pregnant.” She pats my hand. “I’m assuming this wasn’t part of the plan.”

“No, not at all,” I mutter, thinking of Walker and knowing he’ll want to be with me. “He’s gonna hate me.”

But this changes nothing.

“Many women raise children on their own.”

Lady, you have no clue. Oh, God. What if I turn into my mother?

I glare at her. “It’s not his fault we’re not together. He’s a good man.”

“That’s good.” She stands. “I’ll get your vitamins. Should we schedule your ultrasound?” She waits for my response.

I nod. “Yes, please.”

She walks out, and I leap from the table, grabbing my phone to text Alden. Meet me at my place in thirty.

You okay?

Yeah. No.

I’ll be there.

I walk through my front door with Alden on my heels. “What’s up?” I wheel around, tossing the bag on the table. He picks it up. “You look pale as a ghost.” He glances into the bag full of prenatal vitamins, his eyes flash back to me. “Well, damn.”

I bite my nail, talking over it. “This is bad.” I breathe through my nose and out my mouth, trying to calm my racing heart. “What should I do? Don’t say tell him. Anything but telling him.”

His mouth agape, he glares at me as if I’m insane. “You have to tell him. Why would you not tell him?”

I shake all over, panic rising swiftly. “This, it changes nothing. Honestly, what am I going to do with a baby? Be a bitter mother for the rest of my life because I had a child with a man who will eventually forget about us and get another family?”

“That’s fucked up and you know it. Your mom is bitter because your dad chose someone else and she takes it out on you. Walker wants you! You’re the person messing it up.” I know he’s right, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t hurt hearing it. “You have to tell him.”

I shake my head. “No. I can’t.” I run from the room.

“You have to tell him, Reese.” He follows me from room to room as I run from him. Finally, he stops and crosses his arms in defiance. “You tell him or so help me God, I will.”

I stumble back, shocked he’d pick Walker over me. “You wouldn’t do that to me.”

He hangs his head, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I love you, you know that. But he’s a good man and doesn’t deserve this.”

He’s right. Walker’s an amazing man but the facts are, it will not work. “It won’t matter. We still can’t be together. Mark my word, he’ll never speak to me again after this.”

“When you decide Walker deserves knowing all there is, I’ll bet hard money he’ll still be here. You spew all this shit about how amazing he is, but you don’t act like it. I’m positive there’s nothing that will make him turn his back on you.” His brows are pulled low over his eyes, contempt dripping from his words.

I’m slack-jawed. I shake my head. “Fine. I’ll tell him, but I’m not letting him back in.”

“Fine.” Alden brushes past me on his way out the door.

I sit in my Jeep, staring at the back door to the crisis center. I’m working up my courage to go in. Walker changed his days, so we wouldn’t run into each other. He’s going to be surprised when I walk in. I’m waiting as late as I can, hoping there’ll be fewer people.

I should’ve asked him to meet me somewhere, but I want to feel safe and on common ground. I grab my bag and head inside. I swing the door open.

Maisyn’s eyes narrow. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to Walker.”