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Excerpt from Picture This & Video

“We have something we need to talk about,” she said cautiously and gauged Nick’s reaction. Sure enough, he looked at the monitor again. He scrubbed his fingers across the back of his neck then ran them through his hair, causing the wayward locks to become even more tousled.

 

He crossed his arms defensively and leaned back in the chair. “I’m all ears.” His tone was cool and even.

 

Maybe she could get through this without crying.

 

She waved a hand over her stomach. “I guess you were a little surprised to see me like this.” Her voice faltered. She reached for a glass of water on the tray and took a long drink.

 

His dark eyebrows raised inquiringly above espresso-colored eyes that remained trained on her face. “Oh yeah. More than a little. Surprised is an understatement.”

 

“And I guess you’re wondering how this happened, huh?”

 

“I think it’s pretty obvious how it happened, but there’s a question that’s really burning in my mind right now. Actually it’s been burning there since I saw you this afternoon.”

 

He never said the words, but Tess knew what they were, and the time had arrived to come clean about everything.

 

Tess placed her hand gently on her abdomen and looked directly at him. “This is your baby, Nick.”

 

He nodded. “I pretty much suspected it was, but I don’t know whether to be excited or mad or confused.”

 

She could understand the first two reactions. But the third?

 

“Confused?”

 

“Well, I did use a condom. Every single time,” he said with a hint of irritation in his voice. “I take that responsibility seriously.”

 

“You know as well as I do they’re not foolproof. Nothing is foolproof. Abstinence is the only method that’s one hundred percent effective to prevent pregnancy, and I don’t seem to remember either one of us being a great big fan of that.” Tess felt the baby kick as if to tell her to calm down. “I didn’t date anyone while you were gone. I can have DNA tests run if you…” Her voice trailed off and she looked away, avoiding his gaze altogether.

 

“No, there’s no need for that. I have no reason to doubt you. I do wonder why you didn’t tell me, but we’ll table that discussion for the time being. However, I am concerned about you not taking the doctor’s advice. This is serious business, Tess. That’s our son who’s at risk.” He gestured toward the monitor that displayed the baby’s vital signs. “Since I’m between assignments, I’m going to help you.”

 

Tess lost her battle against the tears, and Nick was beside her in two strides. He sat on the edge of the bed and used his thumb to wipe away the tears. Then he leaned over and kissed her gently on the cheek.

 

“If the doctor will release you from the hospital, I’ll stay with you until you can hire someone to come in and help. Is that a workable solution?”

 

Tess nodded, unable to speak around the lump in her throat.

 

“You worry about everything else, and I’ll put the chest together,” Nick offered. “After all, I do have every conceivable screwdriver known to man.”

 

“Thank you. I’d like that very much.”

 

Tess heard him chuckle softly. “That had to hurt, Tessie. You accepting help from someone had to hurt a damned lot. I was afraid you might tell me to go to hell again.”

 

“Don’t tempt me.”

Picture This Video

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