BlakeA long minute passed before Aston answered me. She stared out the window, thinking through her response before I got to hear it. “I think it took a lot of courage and caring to keep you and Danny out of a long, possibly drawn out custody battle. I know it’s not what you want to hear and I know she could’ve gone about things differently, but in her own way, I think she put herself through hell to do her best to save you.”She was right. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear. It was exactly the explanation my mother had given, but the logic just didn’t sit right with me. “There are plenty of kids who went through the divorce of their parents. Their mothers didn’t walk away to save themselves the trouble of a custody battle.”“True,” Aston said. “But those kids go through a different kind of hell than the one you went through. I don’t think it’s necessarily easier that way at all. There’s the split, the battle in court with all the alienation, fighting and badmouthing that goes along wit

AstonSlowly but surely, my perception of the world and the people who lived in it was already changing. When Blake first told me about his mom, I thought what she did was terrible. I never thought I would be able to see her side of things.Having met her and trying to imagine giving up my own baby, even if it wasn’t here yet, I realized how excruciating the decision must have been for her. Walking away already seemed impossible to me.“You’ll see one day when you have children of your own. You only want what’s best for them. It doesn’t matter what it costs you, not just in money but in everything, you want to be able to give it to them.”“Hmm,” I agreed vaguely. It felt like I was lying to her by not telling her I was pregnant, but it wasn’t my place to have that conversation with her.Cluing her in would also mean that Blake’s father would find out, or I would put her in the position to have to lie to her husband. Given how new their rekindled romance was, it wouldn’t be right to as

BlakeWe had a clear path to the bathroom. I knew this suite like the back of my hand, so it was no problem to navigate our way as I walked us into the bathroom without breaking the kiss.Aston was so soft in my arms. She felt so damn good. Clinging to me, she twisted her fingers into my hair and tugged at the strands. It was a move I was a sucker for and she knew it.I groaned deeply, devouring her mouth with renewed vigor. When I finally set her down on the counter, her cheeks were flushed and she was breathing deeply. “Okay, you’ve convinced me. You can shower with me.”"“Gee,” I said with a grin, giving her a nip on the collarbone. “Thanks.” Aston laughed and hopped off the counter, turning her back to me as she pulled off her tank top and shimmied out of the shorts. Giving me a coy look over her shoulder, she crooked her finger at me and walked into the shower.A second later, I heard the water starting to run and her lacy panties were flung over the top metal rail of the stone

AstonA middle aged, greying man walked into the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He glanced down at the tablet he was carrying. “Aston Brier, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Doctor Evans.”He walked over to the side of the bed and smiled first at me, then at Blake who extended his hand to the doctor. “Blake McAllen.”“It’s nice to meet you too, Blake.” I liked how he immediately started using our first names. The interaction between that woman and the nurse out in the waiting room, as well as the way she had treated me during the preliminary tests, I got the distinct feeling that these people became like your family during the pregnancy.The ease with which the doctor was treating us was adding to that feeling. “Right, let’s get started. I have the results for the blood test you had earlier this morning. You’re definitely pregnant. Congratulations.”“Thanks,” I blushed. Blake’s grip on my hand tightened.The doctor started gently pushing on my abdomen, fixing me with a

Blake“Legally,” David said, “as soon as both you and your father have signed those documents, you are in control.”“Wow.” That was fast. This was really happening. “Good. Dad needs to stop worrying about this so he can focus on his recovery.”“I agree,” David nodded. “Full control of the company will rest with you, though your father remains as part of the board of directors. All of your duties and responsibilities are outlined in the memo I included in the envelope. Read through it, let me know if you have any questions.” “David’s firm is on retainer any time you need them,” Dad added. “Their advice has been invaluable to me. I hope you’ll find them helpful, too. You can contact them about anything. They know things even I don’t.”David chuckled, snapping his briefcase shut and rising from his chair. “That’s about the size of it, gents.”“That’s all you came here to say?” I asked, incredulously. It was a super short meeting considering the enormity of the consequences.He nodded,