Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THAT’S NOT HELPFUL
Sorinah
As the shock of the doctor’s words registered, she felt her stomach drop like a stone, her hands tightening in her lap as if to anchor herself.
She was pregnant.
Another unplanned pregnancy. Of course, she couldn’t ask herself how this happened—she knew exactly how. The familiar mix of disbelief and dread washed over her, and she sat there, staring blankly ahead, as the reality of the situation sank in.
Sorinah was supposed to go directly back to the office, but instead, she found herself parked outside Aldrich’s place, her mind spinning like a whirlwind. The news was so shocking that she didn’t know how to process it. Her chest felt tight, and she could feel the pulse pounding in her ears.
Why was she always getting pregnant when she least expected it?
This felt so overwhelming. The idea of starting all over with parenthood wouldn’t be easy.
She wasn’t even certain it was something she wanted to do.
All the long nights, the sleeplessness, the endless demands of a baby; it felt like too much.
She’d just started to see the light at the end of the tunnel with Mars nearing the end of high school, and now this felt like a tremendous step backwards.
And then there was Aldrich. She didn’t know how he would feel about her being pregnant.
She didn’t think he wanted children of his own, but he was amazing with their niece, so gentle and attentive.
Still, this was different. This would be a permanent change, a lifetime commitment.
Would he feel trapped? Would he see this as a burden rather than a blessing?
A sharp knock on her window interrupted her thoughts, and she jumped, her heart leaping into her throat. Bernard, Aldrich’s assistant, was standing there, and he’d scared her half to death, pulling her from her thoughts. She clutched her chest, her breath coming out in a shaky exhale.
“Good afternoon, Sorinah,” he said with a polite nod, his expression neutral but kind.
She put down the window, her hand still shaking slightly. “Hi, Bernard. I didn’t expect to see you.”
If he was surprised to see her in the middle of the day, Bernard didn’t let on. He just offered to get her something to eat, his voice calm and steady. “I am heading out to pick up some lunch—can I get something for you as well?”
While she wanted to decline—who could eat with news like this weighing on her—she knew it would be easier to agree.
Going over her choice of selection with Bernard was a temporary distraction that she welcomed, even as her mind raced in the background.
Once he drove off, she headed into the house, her steps hesitant.
Aldrich was in his office, his door open. He looked up at her, his smile widening as he gestured with the universal phone sign and invited her in with a come in motion.
When she stood within arm’s reach, he pushed back his chair from his desk and stood up, his movements quick but controlled.
He muted his call, and she felt a pang of guilt for interrupting his work, but it also felt soothing to be near him—for him to place his hand on her waist and look at her the way he was, with warmth and affection.
“Is everything alright?” he asked, his smile still in place, but there was a hint of concern in his tone as he checked to see if she was okay.
“Yeah.” She nodded, though she wasn’t sure how true her confirmation was.
“This is a nice surprise.” He pecked her cheek, then her lips, his touch soothing.
“I’m finishing a call. I’ll be done in fifteen. Bernard just stepped out to grab some food. I can message him to get you something as well.”
“I saw him on his way out—he has my order.”
“Great, I’ve got to get back to the call.”
“I’ll be in the living room.”
He released her waist and patted her ass as she walked away, a small, playful gesture that made her smile despite the turmoil inside her. “See you soon,” he called.
Sorinah made herself a cup of tea, hoping the task would keep her mind from over-processing.
While she waited for the kettle to boil, she wondered why she’d headed straight to Aldrich.
God, she should have taken time to think everything through before telling him.
But it was too late now—how could she leave without letting him know what was going on?
But how could she even begin to bring this up with Aldrich? What if he felt overwhelmed? What if this changed everything between them? The weight of it all pressed down on her, and she leaned against the counter, her hands wrapped around the mug for warmth.
She couldn’t ignore the conflicting emotions—the fear, the uncertainty, and the flicker of something that might have been hope. A small, fragile part of her wondered if this could be a new beginning, but it was buried under layers of doubt.
This wasn’t just about her. It was about them, about their future, and she had no idea how to navigate this new, unexpected path. The uncertainty gnawed at her, and she felt torn between the life she’d envisioned and the one that was now unfolding before her.
Sorinah was still standing in the kitchen, holding the mug, when Aldrich walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, his breath warm against her skin.
“You seemed a million miles away,” he said, his voice low. He moved his hand to her shoulder, then turned her around, so they were face to face. “What’s on your mind?”
Sorinah needed to talk to him, but the words felt lodged in her throat, too heavy and tangled to say out loud. She avoided his gaze, her shoulders tensing. “It’s nothing.”
He pulled back, arching an eyebrow at her, his expression skeptical. “You came over in the middle of the day without warning. It’s something.”
Sorinah’s hackles rose. She chose to take offence as a defence.
Her posture stiffened; she folded her arms across her chest. In anticipation of an invisible storm, she clenched her jaw and shifted her weight from foot to foot.
Her eyes narrowed, a shield against vulnerability.
“I’m sorry to come by unexpectedly,” she huffed, her tone sharper than she intended.
“Nah, we aren’t doing that today, Kitten,” he said firmly, his nickname for her softening the rebuke.
“You’re here because you need to talk, so we are going to talk.
” He took her hand and led her to his living room, his grip gentle but insistent.
He sat beside her, turning to face her, his body language open and focused.
“Tell me,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for evasion.
Well, he wanted to know, so Sorinah ripped the band-aid off. “The thing is… I found out earlier that I’m pregnant.”
Silence filled the room like an invisible gas seeping in, thick and suffocating. Sorinah studied his expression carefully, her heart pounding in her chest. It didn’t change. There was no reaction, as if she’d dropped a bomb on him and he’d absorbed the shock without flinching.
What the hell, Aldrich? she thought, her irritation spiking. Give me something.
His hand landed on her thigh, its warmth seeping in through her pants, but his touch was steady, offering no clues to what he was thinking. “And how are you feeling?” he asked, his tone still giving nothing away.
“I…” she trailed off, her mind racing as she heard the door open in the background.
Aldrich looked over her shoulder, and he seemed to relay wordless instructions. Then Bernard’s soft footfall retreated towards the kitchen without a word.
“You were saying?” Aldrich probed, his tone still infuriatingly calm for someone who had just received life-altering news.
A moment passed, and Bernard didn’t come back. There didn’t seem to be any sound coming from the kitchen. She looked over her shoulder towards it, but it wasn’t the best angle to see the entire room.
“Bernard has left to eat,” Aldrich explained, his eyes fixed on her expectantly.
God, she wasn’t sure how to answer his question. So Sorinah opened her mouth and let the words spill out. “Honestly, I’m freaking out. I wasn’t expecting this.” She waved towards her stomach, her hand trembling slightly. “And frankly, your reaction isn’t helping.”
His expression finally morphed, changing to surprise. “Come again,” he requested, his Trini accent thicker than normal, a clear sign emotions were swimming beneath the surface.
For some reason, that knowledge took the edge off slightly. Sorinah confessed, “It’s a lot. The news is unexpected, and I don’t know how to feel. How do you feel?”
“Some of what you’re experiencing is the same for me, but I’m mostly concerned about you,” he said.
“For two people who have walked through this relationship without a care in the world, or even discussing or planning the future, it is an enormous change.” He squeezed her thigh, his touch grounding her.
“I guess so. First, I want you to know that whatever my decision concerning this pregnancy…” she paused to gauge his reaction.
Nothing! He gave nothing, just looked at her, intentionally hanging on her every word.
Was he upset? She couldn’t tell. She continued, “…I don’t want you to feel trapped or obligated. ”
That finally got a reaction, but not the one she expected.
He reared back as if she’d slapped him, his expression a mix of hurt and disbelief.
His eyes widened, and his jaw clenched tightly, a muscle ticking beneath his skin.
His hands, which had been steady on her thigh, withdrew as if burned, leaving behind a ghostly warmth.
Aldrich’s breath seemed to catch in his throat, and he ran a hand through his hair, as if trying to process the unexpected blow.
“Kitten, I know you are freaking out right now, but you aren’t alone.” He cupped her jaw, tilting it upward so her eyes met his. “While it’s your decision because I respect you to do what’s best for your physical and mental health, I’m with you every step of the way, either way.”