Chapter 25 #2
She let out a breath, her shoulders sagging with relief. Of course, he knew what the right thing to say was. She felt safe with him, even in this moment of chaos. God, she felt vulnerable, but his unwavering presence anchored her. “So what do I do?” Sorinah asked, her voice small but hopeful.
Aldrich smiled, his eyes softening. “You do whatever feels right for you, for us, and I stand beside you.”
“That’s not helpful,” she all but whined, her shoulders slumping as frustration bubbled up.
“It may not seem that way, but I promise later you will appreciate that it is. Let’s get some lunch.” Aldrich’s tone was calm and measured, his steady presence a stark contrast to her inner turmoil.
“Who can think of food at a time like this?” she muttered, her appetite nonexistent.
“You need to eat, plus, it will help you think.” He stood and held out his hand to her, his gesture calm, as if to ground her in the moment.
Aldrich walked them to the kitchen and motioned for her to sit on the stool at the counter. Plates, utensils, and takeout containers sat on the counter before them, the scent of Greek food wafting through the air.
He opened a container and placed it before her with a fork. She didn’t feel hungry, but the food looked good and smelled amazing. Besides, she needed a distraction.
“I interrupted your workday,” she pointed out, her guilt resurfacing.
“It’s fine. My afternoon is pretty open. Actually, if you give me a moment, I’ll clear it up completely. How is your afternoon?”
Shit. Sorinah had been irresponsible—she hadn’t checked in with her assistant.
Her purse, with her phone in it, was in the car.
Hell, she hadn’t checked her phone since she left the hospital.
Aldrich retrieved her purse for her while she ate, meticulous bite after bite—a bit of meat, potatoes, sauce, then some cucumber and tomato, switching back and forth as if organising her thoughts through the motions.
“I know you have a lot on your mind, so I will not make a big deal of you leaving your car unlocked and your purse in it.”
“I was a little distracted,” Sorinah groused, taking another bite to avoid meeting his gaze.
“Yes, I’m aware.” He kissed her temple, his touch gentle. “How’s the food? Would you like something to drink?”
“Water, but I’ll get it after. You sit and eat.”
Aldrich did as she asked without pushback. The news was affecting him too, she realised, even if he was better at hiding it.
She quickly checked her phone. Nothing from Mars, not that she expected it. Sorinah sent a quick message to Imogen, letting her know she wasn’t available for the rest of the day.
Then she looked at him, her heart pounding. “Do you want to be a father?”
Aldrich paused, his expression thoughtful. “Here’s the thing, I have no problem answering that question, but I don’t want it to shape your decision.”
Her frustration mounted. “You know that’s ridiculous, right? Of course, how you feel will ‘shape’ my decision.”
Aldrich shook his head in a sharp motion. “That’s not what I meant. I just don’t want to put pressure on you. This is a big decision at a time you least expected. I’m not going anywhere. You understand that, don’t you?”
He was making his support clear, which was beautiful and meaningful, but it was also frustrating!
She nodded. Her emotions tangled between gratitude and exasperation.
He was here for her, but she still felt the weight of the decision pressing down on her.
Every choice she made carried the potential to change everything.
“Being a mom again feels like it would be overwhelming,” she began, her voice soft and hesitant, “but I think it could also be…” She trailed off, her gaze dropping to her hands, because she was afraid to admit she wanted this. What if he didn’t?
Sorinah wasn’t sure she could go through the rejection again.
Aldrich wasn’t Albert. He certainly wasn’t reacting like Albert had.
She swivelled her seat to the side, and he mirrored her action so they faced each other, his body language open and attentive.
“Would you be okay if I had your baby?” she asked, her heart pounding as she waited for his response.
Her expectation was that he would try to deflect again, but the man had a way of surprising her.
His gaze was unwavering. “I would be honoured if you were the mother of my child.”
A smile took over her face like a runaway freight train she couldn’t call back. Who knew that’s what she needed to hear to admit to herself that, as scary as the prospect of having another baby was, she wanted it.
“So, we are having a baby.”
Aldrich gave a shaky laugh, his relief palpable. He leaned over and pulled her into his arms, his embrace warm and stable, as if to reassure them both.
Later, she was in his lap, his arms wrapped around her, with her head resting against his shoulder.
“There is so much to consider and navigate,” she told him, her tone steadier now, but still laced with uncertainty.
There was a weight to her words, but also a quiet hope—they were in this together, and that made the unknown feel less daunting.