Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
“You can take the chair, Moon.” Priss moved around Lana to ready the equipment for the ultrasound.
Larissa sat self-consciously as Lana did a routine check of her vital signs.
“I see Priss has taken your weight. You’ve gained a pound. How are you feeling?”
“Good.”
Her sister gave her a concerned frown as the blood pressure gave a beep. “Your blood pressure is slightly elevated. That’s new.”
Larissa felt blood rushing to her cheeks when she saw Lana and Priss glance toward Moon. who was still standing against the wall, observing them in silence.
“I want you to take the blood pressure kit home with you. Text me the readings. I want to keep an eye on it.”
“Okay,” Larissa agreed.
“Lie back.”
As she lay down on the exam table, she felt Moon’s eyes on her. So far, she had managed to look in his direction only sparingly. His cold expression showed he’d rather be anywhere than in a room with them.
Staring at the ceiling, she blinked back tears. This was all her fault. She could practically read the feelings come off him in waves. Her carrying his child was Moon’s worst nightmare.
When she felt a tap on her arm, she glanced back down to meet Lana’s concerned eyes. Silently, she gave her a thumbs-up that she was okay.
“Everything is looking good,” Lana told her. “Moon, do you want to see?” Lana pushed a button so they could listen to the baby’s heartbeat as Moon came to stand next to the machine.
Watching him from under her lashes, Larissa didn’t notice one change in his countenance, so she turned her head and stared at the blank wall.
“Do you have any questions, Moon?” Lana asked politely as she turned the machine off and began wiping the gel off Larissa’s abdomen.
“He’s healthy?”
Larissa sucked in her breath as Moon spilled she was having a boy.
“What?” Moon stared at them while Lana and Priss glared at him, aghast at what he had done.
Priss’ hands went to her hips. Larissa thought it was to prevent herself from hitting him with the metal tray, which was on the table next to her.
“When I texted you the information that you were having a boy, I specifically reminded you that Larissa wanted the baby’s gender to be a surprise!”
Larissa turned her face away.
Rather than be apologetic, Moon doubled down. “Was it a surprise when I told you?”
Larissa turned back to Moon. “We’re done here.” She made sure to keep her tone even so he couldn’t hear how badly he had hurt her. “I haven’t had lunch yet. If you wouldn’t mind, could you get us a table at King’s? I’d like to talk with you before I go back to Jamestown.”
Without a word, Moon left the room.
Her sisters stared at the closed door, their expressions mirroring the same disgust.
Larissa sat up. “Moon is angry I’ve put him in this position.” She made the excuse for Moon, not wanting her sisters to hate him for the way he had behaved. “He’s angry, and he has a right to be. I should have told him I was pregnant instead of taking off like a coward. We have to get along, whether we like it or not, for the baby,” she pleaded with her sisters. “Gradually, we might be able to become friends.”
Priss looked at her as if she had taken leave of her senses. “We’ve been looking forward to one of us having a baby one day, and he’s going to ruin it for us.”
Larissa slid over the exam table. “I’m sure he’d say the same thing about me being the mother of his child.”
Lana rolled the ultrasound back in place. “I agree with Larissa, Priss. We have to be understanding if we expect the same in return.” She moved to stand back in front of her. “But I do want to say one thing.” Her voice became firm. “You didn’t make this baby on your own. It took two. I’m not going to watch him behave this way when he comes in for the appointments, or he can wait out in the lobby. Either you can say something, or I will.”
“I will.”
“Good. Then I need to get back to the hospital.”
“Thanks, Lana.”
“Anytime, sis.”
“You really going eat lunch with that jerk?” Priss asked after Lana had left.
“Yes. We need to find a middle ground, not for us to be able to get along, but for the baby’s welfare. I want him to have a healthy relationship with our child, and it’s going to start today,” she said with determination.
“You want me to come with you?”
“No, I think Moon and I need to have this talk alone. Sooner or later, I have to be able to talk with him and come to a mutual agreement to be more cordial toward each other.”
Priss gave her a conspiring nod. “Fake it until you can make it sort of thing?”