Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 353

Chapter 353

“Goodnight, wifey.”

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His arm came around me, firm and warm, pulling me against his chest, and I smiled so wide my cheeks ached. Wifey. After Julian, I had never dared to dream that word would belong to me from Dominic. But now I knew it was coming, and I was looking forward to it with every part of me.

I lifted my hand and stared at the ring, turning it this way and that in the dim light. I was so happy I could not bear to take it off, not even to sleep. I just kept staring at it, smiling like a fool, until I did not know when my eyes closed.

When I opened them, the first thing I saw was Pat. Crying.

I was out of that couch before my brain caught up, and the sight of her tears undid me completely. I would have done anything in that moment to put a smile on her face, anything at all. Who would have thought the news of my engagement would be the thing that did it?

The morning passed in a blur of laughter and tears. Pat shrieked at the ring, Dominic did his funny little bow and left for breakfast with a kiss blown his way that he caught and tucked into his pocket like a treasure. The door clicked shut behind him, and I turned to Pat, ready to finally ask her what had happened.

And then the doctor walked in.

He checked Pat’s vitals, made notes on his clipboard, smiled and said she would be discharged in no time. Then his face changed, and the temperature of the room dropped.

“I have very important information to share with you both.”

“Go ahead, Doctor.” My hand found Pat’s.

He was silent for a long moment, and the silence filled the room like water. “The ultrasound showed a gestational sac, which implies that the pregnancy is still ongoing.”

Pat’s voice came out thin. “What exactly do you mean by ongoing, Doctor?”

He chose his words with care. “What I mean to say is that, Miss Spears, you are still pregnant.”

“What?”

Pat went rigid. Then the tears came.

“How can I still be pregnant?” Her voice cracked and broke. “After everything I went through yesterday? How?”

I turned to the doctor. “Please excuse us.”

He nodded and left, closing the door softly behind him, and I gathered Pat into my arms while she sobbed against my shoulder, her whole body shaking.

“Shh.” I held her tighter, rocking her the way my mother used to rock me. “Breathe, Pat. Just breathe.”

“I took the pills, Celeste.” The words came out muffled against my shoulder. “I did everything right. I went through all of that pain for nothing. And I am still pregnant. How is that possible?”

I did not have an answer. I just held her and stroked her hair until the sobs quieted and her breathing evened out.

When she finally pulled back, wiping her face with the back of her hand, I took both her hands in mine. “Tell me everything.”

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She stared at her hands for a long moment. Then she told me about the pink blood in her panties, Kingsley’s appearance, her dream, the pregnancy discovery and the decision to get rid of it.

I pulled her into my arms again and held her until the trembling stopped. Then I took her face in my hands.” Listen to me, Pat. Never, ever hesitate to call me. Whatever difficulty you find yourself in, however dark it gets, you call me. Do you understand?”

She nodded weakly.

“And do not beat yourself up over this.” I shook my head. “Everything happens for a reason. I have always believed that, and I still believe it.”

“What reason could this possibly have?” She laughed, bitter and wet.

“Just listen.” I leaned forward. “Children, once conceived, are innocent. They do not deserve to suffer for the actions of the adults who made them. Every child has a right to be born into this world. Every single one.”

Pat stared at me, her eyes red-rimmed.

“We do not know what the future holds for this child.” I kept my voice low and steady. “What if this child grows up to be someone great? What if this child becomes a doctor who saves a thousand lives? What if this child becomes the president of this country?”

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