I kissed Leslie’s forehead as she continued crying against me. “I also want you to do something for me.”
Suri snickered. “Sure, why not? What’s up?”
“I want you to tally up all of the hours you’ve spent helping Leslie and Rori out since she’s been in my employ. That would be six or so weeks of work. I want to make sure you’re getting paid for your time.”
That caught Leslie’s attention. “You don’t have to do that.”
Suri nodded. “She’s right. I don’t watch Rori for the money. She’s my goddaughter. I’d watch her anyway.”
I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. You should get paid for your time. And before you fight with me, Leslie, nothing you can say will change my mind. She’s been invaluable to you since you started working for me, and she should be paid as such.”
Leslie shook her head softly. “I can’t even pay her to take care of one child. How the hell am I going to do it with two?”
I cupped her cheeks in my hands. “First, stop talking as if you’re alone because you’re not. You’ve got Suri, and now you’ve got me. So, let’s take this one step at a time, all right?”
Tears streaked her cheeks. “Promise?”
I kissed her salty lips softly. “Promise.”
A voice wafted over from the nurses’ station. “Miss Leslie Popovich?”
We both turned and looked at the same time before the nurse held up a thin manilla folder. “I have your test results.”
I wrapped my arm around Leslie as she looked back at Suri. “Can you watch—”
Suri waved her hand in the air. “Yes, of course, I’ll stay with Rori.”
I pointed at her. “Count up those hours. Otherwise, I’m liable to simply throw money in your direction.”
Suri grinned. “I could get used to that.”
Leslie sighed. “Ready?”
I looked down at her and held fast to the strength her grip against my hand gave me. “Of course, I’m ready. Let’s go speak with the nurse.”
Then, the two of us set off hand in hand, readying ourselves for what might come. And as we slipped into an empty hospital room and our fingers intertwined, I knew things would be okay.
Even if Leslie were afraid now, I knew we’d find a way to work it out.
Just like we had up until that point.
20
Leslie
Alto, oscuro, y guapo.
I stared at the bottle of prenatal vitamins that now sat on my bedside table. The colors swirled together as I perched on the edge of the bed, my hand mindlessly resting against my stomach. Pregnant. My God, I was pregnant with yet another man’s child that I had hooked up with.
You know Trey is more than a hook-up.
“Yes, all week. Uh-huh, working from home. I know it’s unusual, but some personal things have popped up and—”
Trey’s voice filtered into my bedroom from the hallway, and I swallowed hard. Suri was napping with Rori downstairs on the couch with the television on. Trey hadn’t once left my side since the nurse had announced that we were, in fact, pregnant. I closed my eyes and drew in deep breaths. I had to try to calm myself down. I mean, there was no way in hell I was lucky enough to have a guy who would stick around this time—not with my shit-ass luck.
“Hey there, beautiful.”
I smiled softly and opened my eyes as Trey sat on the bed next to me.
