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"Very strong and healthy," the doctor promised "On the slower side, which could indicate a boy, but we’ll know for sure e do the ultrasound around week twenty"
A boy? Alyssa’s heart clenched, then pitter-pattered She’d love a boy Or a girl She’d love this child, no matter what And she loved that, no matter what happened, it would always be part of Luc
Finally, the other woman measured her abdomen, chatted a bit about what to expect over the next month, then sent her on her way As they settled with the receptionist and exited the building, Luc gripped her hand
They reached his car, and he stopped her, turning her to face hirateful, no matter what happens in the future I’d like fifteen minutes more of your time, if you’ll spare them Then, if you still want to proceed with the annulment, I won’t stop you"
Denial and fear slammed her at once, and she tried to block theht? So why should everything inside her rebel at the thought that he wouldn’t fight it?
She just loved hiht" Her voice shook
Without another word, they returned to her house, and she showed hi room They sat on the sofa, less than two feet apart
Funny, how their relationship had basically started here, on this piece of furniture, when he’d arrived with his cousin Deke last sue that had quicklywhen Luc’s cousin left Would it end here, too?
"Do you want so to drink?" What was on his mind? She needed to knowyet feared it
"No, thank you" He pulled a thick, folded document froardless of what happens"
The gravity in his tone crashed to her hollow sto hands, she unfolded the crisp white papers and scanned
"It’s" She blinked once, twice Seriously? "A custody agree me sole custody?"
"If you decide to proceed with the annul or Christmas I think it’s important for any child to know his or her father There’s a financial support agreement as well I took the attorney’s recommendation for an annual sum and added fifty percent I hope you think it’s fair, but we can talk if you need et in your way I’ll never ask you to share more of the child than this and an occasional phone call"
Tears caain Not just tears, but sobs The foundation of her life was falling out fro Luc was letting her go and giving her control over the life they had created together--the child she kneanted et out
He closed his eyes, jaw claht his own tears "Because I love you, and I want you to know that no one will ever be more important to me than you, not even our child"
"But you’ve wanted a baby for years and--"
"I have, so badly I manipulated people I love, deceived theret that so deeply I never want you to believe that I married you only for the child I was stupid when I didn’t tell you that I believed the baby to be someone else’s I can only say I’hed "I realized I wasn’t lacking a baby, but so, smart, ambitious, and wonderful My other half"
Alyssa sobbed harder He meant her? He wanted her more than their child?
Luc eased off the sofa and onto one knee at her feet "I need you"
"And you’re willing to give up custody of the baby to prove it to ony on his face hurt her in return "No strings attached I want to stayand be a family in the true sense of the word, but not if you’ll always have doubts about how important you are to me"
Oh My God Never in a ive up the child he’d sought and schemed for And to do it for her
"Think on it," he commanded softly "If I don’t hear from you before the annulment is final in the next few months, then this may be the last time you see me And I’ll miss you like hell I’ll love you Always"
He kissed her ossa ra roo her hands Any ht, she’d longed to call hiirl-woman inside her shouted for caution and prudence She’d stayed up late and read the entire custody agreened--then left in her hands He’d been hts, save those he would exercise in the event of her untimely death He’d also added a clause for reversion of custody in the event she remarried to someone who turned out to be abusive
The fact he’d taken her experience to heart touched her
She’d spent a sleepless Friday night knowing she had only two choices: End theif she’dthein her power to ensure their
Luc said he loved her Since he’d handed her this custody agreement, Alyssa finally more than hoped--she believed--that was true She loved hih a day without hihts were even ht her to be cautious She’d spent all day Saturday thinking about her optionsand co back to the same conclusion How bleak would her future be without Luc? He couldn’t have apologized more eloquently, been more contrite It wasn’t as if she’d never screwed up
Besides, she’d gone into theco both heart and soul She hadn’t done that Yes, Luc had withheld his "sterility" from her, but she’d withheld her past with Joshua If Luc hadn’t accidentally scared her, would she have ever told him her secret, ever?
She winced Probably not
Didn’t she owe it to the back?
She’d called hi and asked him to come back to Lafayette He hadn’t asked questions, and she hadn’t offered information They both knew that whatever had to be said should be done in person
The chis, and she s a pal a deep breath, she opened the door
Luc stood on the other side, expression pensive "I’ to calm her runaway heartbeat "Come in"
When she stepped back, he entered But his eyes never left hers, as if he hoped to read her decision on her face She looked away and walked into the living room Luc followed, and Alyssa could feel hily close--yet still so far away
Please God, let this turn out happily
On the table beside her rested two documents She picked up both "I’ve read your custody document"