As soon as Jarrod pulled her out, all eyes in the lobby followed them.
He didn''t slow his pace or loosen his grip on Elodie''s hand, not even for a moment. Only when they stepped outside the ss doors of Eastsoar International did he let out a breath, guiding her straight toward his car.
Elodie slid into the passenger seat, silent. She knew there was no avoiding the conversation that wasing-about her pregnancy.
Jarrod leaned over and buckled her seatbelt, pausing as his gaze lingered on her stomach for a few seconds. "Let''s go home first, all right?"
She sat quietly. "Whatever you want."
He started the engine immediately, not bothering to ask about what had happened with Ivan just now. "Have you been feeling unwelltely? Any morning sickness, or anything from... the baby?" His voice was unusually gentle.
Elodie stared out the window and didn''t answer.
Jarrod kept his eyes on the road, but seemed unfazed by her silence. There was even a faint, satisfied curve to his lips. "You''ve never been particrly healthy," he said, "so I''ll have Dr. Badgers take a look at you. Maybe he can help with the pregnancy symptoms, make things a little easier."
There was a patience in his tone that felt almost unfamiliar.
"You''ve always liked kids. Would you rather have a boy or a girl? Honestly, I think one child is enough-boy or girl, as long as it''s ours. What do you think?"
He meant it. Elodie had always wanted children, even though her health was fragile. Now that she was expecting, he just wanted to take care of her, make things as easy as possible, keep her from feeling anxious or ufortable. After all, pregnancy was a strain on her body; one child would be enough for both of them.
"By my count, it''s been... what, three months? That should mean you''re in the safe zone, right? I read somewhere that by twelve weeks the embryo''s basically formed-it bes a fetus, all the organs are in ce, the limbs even start moving. Can you feel it yet?" His words were slow, almost reverent, a faint smile in his voice.
Already formed... That meant there was a real, living child now.
But Elodie didn''t respond. Only she knew how all this would end.
Still, Jarrod''s certainty was more than just what he''d heard from Patricia. He seemed so sure.
He caught her quiet, and decided to be honest. "Someone sent me an email. Photos of you at the OB-GYN. I found outte, and not from you, but I wish I''d been there. I wish you''d told me first."
Elodie lowered her eyes. The OB-GYN... So, everything was out in the open now.
Patricia had learned from Queenie, and now it was clear Queenie had sent those photos to Jarrod as well.
Elodie turned her head, looking at him. She ignored the talk of the baby and asked, "Aren''t you even curious about what happened between me and Ivan?"
Jarrod kept his eyes on the road. "Is that really necessary?"
"I know you better than anyone. Just
because we were alone me
doesn''t mean anything. I trust
Su
you and myself-enough not to jump to conclusions."
He could see there was something suspicious about the whole situation. Maybe someone else would have doubted her, but if he let his thoughts run wild, it would be an insult to Elodie.
Right now, what mattered most was that they were having a child. Maybe this would be a turning point for them.
Elodie, on the other hand, just felt like everything had changed. Jarrod was always rational-today''s events wouldn''t shake him much. But-
"You''re not going to ask why I didn''t tell you?"
That was the real question between them.
Jarrod''s expression flickered. "What are you thinking?"
"I don''t want it," Elodie said inly, no attempt to hide her feelings.
Jarrod mmed on the brakes.
All those ns and hopes for the future vanished in a rush of cold air, snuffed out before they could begin.
He turned to look at her, his eyes dark and searching. "Why?"
Ever since he found out she hadn''t told him, the thought had crossed his mind a suspicion he tried to suppress. That was why he hadn''t asked why he''d avoided the
question, afraid of what her answer might be.