There was a knock on the door and Quinn squared her shoulders. “Okay then. I’ll fight, no matter what.”
“Of course you will,” Wilder murmured as the door opened. “It’s who you are.”
The doctor entered, looking over her chart. “Looks like you had quite the night.”
“Excuse me?” It took Quinn a minute to realize she was talking about the fire. Good lord, how crazy was her mental space if the fact her house burned down was something she’d already forgotten about?
“There’s a note in the system that you left before finishing your complete physical.”
“I felt fine,” she said. “I had to go last night, for personal reasons.”
“Yes. Mmm. Now for the test results. Well, I might have a few surprises.”
Seriously? This is how they were going to tell her that she was going to have Alzheimer’s, with a surprise! This wasn’t like a five-year-old’s birthday party.
“The Alzheimer’s test came back negative.”
It took a second for the words to sink in. “Negative?”
The doctor smile gently. “You aren’t a carrier.”
“Oh. Oh my God. My God.” She started crying and reached for Wilder. He pulled her close in a bear hug, and even though his grip was strong, she felt the tremble course through his body.
“But I haven’t gotten to the surprise yet. But perhaps it is not a surprise?”
“Wait, okay.” Quinn scrubbed her eyes. She wasn’t out of the woods yet. “Is this a nice surprise?”
“You’re pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” She reeled back, unable to keep her voice even semi-steady. “But how? I’m not even late and am taking birth control.”
“It’s very early.” The doctor’s mouth tilted at the right in a small half-smile. “The blood work was done as part of your physical last night. It can detect pregnancy six to eight days after ovulation.”
The examination table felt suddenly wobbly. “Are you sure?”
“Why don’t I leave you two alone?” the doctor said. “We’re not busy today so take as much time as you need.”
The door opened and closed, and Quinn slowly lifted her gaze, unsure what to expect in Wilder’s eyes.
Chapter Twenty-One
THERE WAS A long, awkward silence.
“Say something,” Quinn begged, taking his hand. “Please. A single word so I know you’re still alive.”
“Baby.” It didn’t seem real. Quinn pregnant?
“I really am on birth control,” she said quickly. “I wasn’t trying to trap you or anything. I guess there isn’t a perfect statistical track record with taking the pills and—”
“Stop.” It was as if the smoke cleared and he finally saw his life’s purpose in crystal clarity. “Stop trying to explain.”
“I’m sorry.”
Shit. He hadn’t meant to raise his voice. “Wait, I—”
“I can handle this on my own.” Her voice was flat.
“Handle this?” He took by both her shoulders. “In five minutes we’ve learned you won’t get sick and we are going to have a child.”
She nodded tearfully. “It’s a lot to take in.”
He pressed a hand against her cheek, running his thumb over her bottom lip. “The best damn day of my life.”
Her brows flew upward. “Are you sure? I mean, it’s one thing to call me Trouble as a joke but this will change everything for you.”
“I never thought this would happen. I’m scared shitless, but a family is what I’ve wanted more than anything.” He pressed his other hand over her flat stomach. “After the fire I thought my purpose was gone. I didn’t realize that the past had to burn for a new future to grow. You. Us. This baby. This is my real life.”
“You’re really happy?” A small sob broke her lips as she rested a hand over his, cradling the small life within.
“Happy doesn’t cut it.” His voice was clear, confident. “We’ll have to stop at your bookstore and pick up a thesaurus so I can find a whole new vocabulary.”
She pulled his collar. “Kiss me.”
And he didn’t stop until the nurse knocked at the door.
THEY LEFT THE hospital in a daze. The sun still shined overhead, the snowdrifts sparkled so brilliantly that it was hard to see. He tightened his grasp on her hand. “We should go check in with Sawyer.”
As surreal as the last few hours had been, the real world was still out there, and it would only be pushed away for so long.
“Yes,” Quinn said. “And as for our news . . . do we tell everyone now? Or keep it a secret for a little while?”
“I’m tempted to say nothing, but this is Brightwater. I feel like people will somehow figure it out no matter what. There’s some collective town mind-reading power.”
“Okay, it’s better we get out in front of this. My dad would have loved to be a grandfather. Mom? She’s going to shit a brick when I call. I’m pretty sure she told her latest husband that she’s fifteen years younger than she actually is. She’d rather have me be her sister, take bikini selfies by the pool, than be a doting diaper-changing grandma.”
“Let’s give her a chance. What if she does the right thing?”
Quinn stared. “Who are you and what have you done with my grumpy fiancé?”
The word made him grin ear to ear. “I’ve expected the worst for so long and it never got me anything good. Why not expect the best for once?”
When they got to the sheriff’s office, Sawyer’s desk was empty. Kit turned down the radio. “Well, well, well. Look who the cat dragged in.”
“Cousin,” Wilder said with a curt nod.
“Your ears must be burning. Nobody has stopped talking about the pair of you all day.”
“What’s the current situation?” Wilder asked.
“Sawyer went looking for you. Your phones have both been turned off. Garret King has been officially cleared as a suspect; he had a watertight alibi last night. A lady friend. Or rather two. Guess somebody had to pick up Archer’s mantle now that he’s settled down.” Kit whistled low. “The Kane boys are dropping like flies, but not yours truly. I’ll be buzzing free for a long time yet.”
“Are you comparing me to a fly swatter?” Quinn asked with mock annoyance.
Kit chuckled. “Hey, don’t take anything I say personal. I talk straight out my ass.”
“Good to know some things never change,” Wilder said.
“I’ll call the boss, let him know you are around. He’ll want a chat. Warning, he’s not all that happy about your disappearing act.”
“We’ve had a heck of a day,” Wilder said. “He can deal.”
Kit made a quick call and gestured to a few chairs. “Can I offer you folks some refreshments?”
“I’m a little hungry actually,” Quinn said as Wilder eyed the window, waiting for Sawyer’s patrol car to pull up. If Garret had an alibi that checked out, then whoever set those fires was still out there. And that meant Quinn and the baby were at risk.
The baby.
It was more like a floating sea monkey at this stage but he didn’t care. What if it was a boy? Wilder’d take him fishing, camping. Teach him chess. If it was a girl he could do the same, but if she looked like her mother, she’d wrap him around her pudgy little finger in no time.
“I keep Girl Scout cookies stashed in my desk,” Kit said with a conspiratorial wink. “You want to come see my selection?”
“Do you have Thin Mints by any chance?”
“Hell yeah.”
“Then you’re my favorite of Wilder’s relatives.” He handed her a cookie sleeve and she took a few. “Want one?” She waved one at Wilder.
“I’m good.” He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t do anything except focus.
If not Garret, who?
Fucking who?
Could it really be Lenny?
Quinn traded good-natured banter with Kit until she asked if anyone had gotten in touch with Marigold Flint and let her know that the cottage had burned.
Wilder noticed the change in the room. Tension grew and Kit’s face lost his easy smile.