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Her comment sounds absurd. Wyatt’s the father. He helped make this baby. He had dreams of a family, too. I can’t take that away from him.

“You don’t have to decide anything today. But you do need to tell him.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “I know.”

While I haven’t exactly been looking forward to going through a divorce, I knew it would eventually be behind me, and I could move on from being Wyatt Patterson’s wife.

Now, there will forever be something tying me to him. Nothing will ever change that.

“Okay then.” Mom wipes a tear from beneath my eye. “I’m going to run to the store and get you some prenatal vitamins. Some hard candies, too. And crackers. And ginger tea. That’ll help with the morning sickness. I’ll also call Dr. Patel’s office about getting you in this week. Do you need anything else?”

I wouldn’t even know where to start with what I need for my pregnancy. “Not right now.”

“If you think of anything, send me a text.” She pulls herself to her feet. “I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, why don’t you run yourself a warm bath? It’ll help alleviate some stress.”

“Okay.”

“Good.” She slips out of the bathroom but only makes it a few steps before pausing and looking back at me. “You’re going to be a great mom, Wynter. I’ll support you. Always.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Of course.” She gives me one last smile, then disappears.

I stare straight ahead, trying to figure out what this means for Wyatt and me.

And Joshua.

I may not know the answer to that, but I do know one thing.

Wyatt deserves to know.

So I do the one thing I’ve avoided since I left Texas. I grab my phone and call my husband.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

JOSHUA

I stare at the house next door, searching for any sign of movement. There’s been none since Wynter’s parents left to help decorate floats for the Sycamore Falls Christmas Parade.

Two hours ago.

She promised she’d come over shortly after they left.

I’d cook dinner again. We’d talk and laugh again. And then I’d make her come over and over all night long again.

But two hours later, there’s no sign of Wynter. Hell, there’s no sign of life at all in her house.

I texted her a few times, but she never responded.

So I’ve just been sitting in the cold on my back porch, watching.

And waiting.

The longer I sit here, the more I wonder if she’s finally realized our little arrangement is a bad idea. She is planning to go back to Houston after the new year. But to not even respond to any of my texts? That doesn’t sound like something she would do.

But what if she can’t respond? What if something happened to her?

I hadn’t considered that before.