Emergency Marriage

He heaved a deep sigh. “Did you think about…?” The eloquent gesture of his hands painted her plight.

An incredulous laugh almost choked her. “What do you think? But maybe you’re right to ask. Thinking implies a rational mental process, not the panicking and obsessing I’ve been indulging in, considering my options…”

“Options?” His eyes emptied of empathy, if indeed it had been that. “What options? Adoption? Abortion?”

Those possibilities had entered her mind—only to exit the other side as no options. But how dared he presume to have an opinion on this anyway? A judgmental one, too!

“And what if I am?” She swung her legs angrily off the bed. “What is it to you?”

He sprang to his feet, an impatient step bringing him looming over her, exuding power, tension crackling about him. He flicked an extra light on. Now his intensity was visible in every line of his features. His hand shot out. She tensed, only to be surprised by his extra-gentle, supportive grasp. He stunned her more when he talked, his awesome baritone devoid of rancor, almost soft again. “It is a lot to me. This is Diego’s child.”

How had that not occurred to her? Her baby shared Armando’s blood. She should have realized what that would mean to a proud Argentinian who revered family ties above all else. Defiant indignation seeped out of her, and her rigid body slumped. “Those possibilities crossed my mind, OK? But, strange as it sounds, I actually want this baby.”

It was his turn to be surprised. Heavy-lidded eyes widened. “You do?”

“Don’t look so astonished! I didn’t want this baby. Of course I didn’t. But now it’s real, growing inside me, I want it. If it sounds crazy…”