There was a knock on the door.
“I’ll just be a minute,” she said.
She washed her hands and stared at the test. Grabbing some paper towels, she dried her hands, and the test had finished.
Positive.
She lifted the test, as well as the box, and checked the results.
Positive.
She was pregnant.
There was a second test inside the box, but again, she didn’t see the reason for wasting the test. It was positive.
She was going to have a baby, with Wilson.
Sliding the test into the box, she left the bathroom, being careful to hide the kit from strangers. She moved toward the back, in the small staff holding room.
Macie pulled the stick back out of the box just before she slid it into her handbag. The lines didn’t lie.
“Congratulations.”
Startled, she dropped the test and turned to see Carl standing in the staffroom.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay.”
“Does Wilson know?” he asked.
“No.” She shook her head, lifting her gaze up to his. “No, he doesn’t.”
“Are you happy?”
Tears filled her eyes. “Yes, I’m happy, but what if…”
Carl stepped forward but then seemed to pause. “What if what?”
“What if he doesn’t want to have a baby with me? What if it is all just fancy words to get me into bed?” she asked.
Tears filled her eyes then slowly dripped down her cheeks. She swiped at them, not wanting them to fall. “I’m sorry. You must think awfully of me.”
Within seconds, Carl pulled her into his arms. “Don’t think that. I don’t think anything of you, Macie. Your life is your own, but what I will say is when it comes to Wilson, your feelings are unfounded.”
“But—?”
“No buts. That man is completely besotted with you. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you. All you would have to do is click your fingers, and he would come to you.” Carl cupped her face. “Now, congratulations. Wipe those tears and come and get to work before the other girls think I’ve got a favorite.”
Macie chuckled.
“And while you’re at it, call Wilson or text him. Tell him you need to talk, or better yet, tell him you’re pregnant and see if he responds.”
She felt a little sick. “What if he doesn’t come back?”
“He will, Macie. Trust me. That man will go wherever you go.”
Carl left, and Macie put the test back into the box. She would have to show Wilson the test if he came back.
Grabbing her cell phone from her bag, she pulled it out and found his number. She hovered over calling him and then settled for a text.
Macie typed the message, knowing she’d spelled several words right, and even the dictionary she had in place didn’t have any ideas. Gritting her teeth, she pressed the send button, and there was no way for her to take it back or to stop it.
The decision was taken right out of her hands.
She put the cell phone back, pressed a hand to her stomach, and stopped. There was a life growing inside of her. She was going to be a mother. Could she handle this?
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out,” she said, rubbing at her stomach.
Stepping out into the waiting diner, she got to work, aware of Carl keeping an eye on her. She served customers, keeping a constant smile on her face while also trying to keep an eye on the parking lot for a sign of Wilson.
Nothing.
The hours ticked by.
The text message seemed to ring in the back of her mind.
“Are you okay?” Carl asked after three hours and still a no-show from Wilson.
“Yes, of course. I’m fine. Completely fine.”
On the inside, she was dying a little. Wilson had said he loved her and she believed him. Taking a deep breath, she tried to gain her composure, but that wasn’t happening. Each minute that he failed to show up, she died a little more.
Every now and again, she’d put a hand on her stomach, and inside, she’d sob.
It’ll be fine.
It’ll be fine.
By the end of her shift, Macie felt sick to her stomach.
No text from Wilson, and no sign of him either. Carl made her a cup of tea and told her to wait, but even as she took a seat, she had this horrible feeling.
Chapter Ten
Wilson drove like a crazy man, navigating traffic and racing against time to get back to the diner. He’d been sent an alert on the guy’s whereabouts, and he’d tracked him down. He had no choice but to call Edward as he got word the man had decided to attack a gas station, and the woman who’d been working there had disappeared. After checking the security footage, Wilson saw his perp grabbing the woman and dragging her out by her hair.
So much for good behavior.
Getting the text from Macie had turned his whole world upside down.
Instead of waiting, he’d charged in there, getting shot in the process, but he’d been able to apprehend the bastard, locking him up until the police and medical services had arrived.
He had to give a statement, get medical treatment, and he’d been very much aware of the time ticking by, letting him know that he was late.
Macie’s shift had ended half an hour ago. His shoulder was killing him. He’d opted out of painkillers, much to the paramedic’s annoyance. The bullet had done a through and through. It wasn’t the first time he’d been shot, and he knew the drill.
He slammed his hand on the horn. “Get out of my fucking way.”
He needed to get to the damn diner. He’d been so distracted with getting this guy, he’d missed Macie suspecting she was pregnant. He should have been there with her when she took the pregnancy test.
Wilson hadn’t wanted to miss a damn thing, and now here he was, and he knew for a fact Macie was going to be thinking the worst. How he didn’t want to have a kid and all his words had possibly been lies.
He knew his woman, and she had a lot to learn about him.
He hit the horn a third time, and people finally moved out of his way. The diner was less than ten minutes out.
Slamming his foot on the gas, he made it in less than five, pulling on the parking brake swiftly.
Wilson climbed out of the car and went to the door. The main diner was dark, and he hit the door hard. In the back, near the kitchen, he saw a soft glow, and he knew Carl wouldn’t allow Macie to leave.
The man himself came out of the kitchen. He unlocked the door, letting him inside. “I was wondering when you were going to get here.”
“Where’s Macie?”
“In the kitchen. I’ll give you two some privacy. She’s … she is scared.”
Wilson nodded, and then he walked to the kitchen and stepped inside. Macie sat at the kitchen table. He was a little taken aback by how … nice the kitchen looked. Carl clearly took pride in his work. It was probably another reason people kept on coming back.
Macie captured his attention as he stared at her. She swiped at her cheeks, and it broke his heart.
“You are never going to cry again, so long as I can help it,” Wilson said.
“Wilson?” Macie gasped and stood.
He went to her, cupping her face, staring into her eyes, and kissing her. At first, she didn’t respond, and then she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him back, and he couldn’t get enough of her. She was so fucking perfect. He loved her more than anything, and she was going to have his baby.