“Now, now honey. Come here. Let me hold you.”
I turned over and found myself wrapped in Pippa’s arms as she patted my back.
After about ten minutes, I started to calm down and moved away from her so I could sit up. On unsteady legs, I made my way to the bathroom.
“I’m just going to have a quick shower. I won’t be long.”
With the door shut, I stripped out of my clothes and climbed into the shower. I did need a shower, but in part, it was an excuse. I didn’t know what to say to Michael’s mom. I desperately wanted to know why he’d reacted the way he had. I knew he had big problems about trust, but all I wanted was to be back at home with his arms wrapped around me, telling me that everything was going to be all right.
I washed my hair with Lucien’s shampoo and then washed my body. I smoothed my hand over my stomach that sheltered our child.
Determined not to cry again, I turned the shower off and climbed out. I took as long as I could to dry and, finding Lucien’s robe behind the door, I quickly put it on and wrapped the towel around my hair.
I walked out of the bathroom and realized I hadn’t brought any clothes with me. I looked at the bed and found a pair of leggings and a t-shirt which I presumed Pippa had brought me.
I dressed quickly and walked out into the lounge area to find Pippa sitting at the table by the window eating breakfast.
“Do you feel better?” she asked.
I tried not to cry again. “A bit.” I walked over to the table and took a seat opposite her.
“I wasn’t sure what you like to eat, so I ordered a few things.” She stood up. “Let me pour you a coffee.” My stomach rebelled.
“I think I’ll stick to the orange juice, but thank you.”
She looked at me funny and took her seat again while I slowly sipped the juice. My stomach growled, which made Pippa laugh.
“What would you like to eat, Lily?”
“I’ll just have the fruit for now, please.”
She passed me a bowl with strawberries, melon, grapes and orange slices in it, which managed to slide down my throat rather well considering the huge lump stuck there.
“Lily,” she said in a questioning voice, “Michael can be an idiot at times. I don’t know what’s happened between the two of you, but I want you to know that in his thirty-six years, he’s never been in love before, until now. He was hurt badly with what Viv did to him. Has he talked about her?”
I nodded.
“She was a wicked woman who he married thinking with his dick instead of his head and heart.”
I laughed, stunned that she would say ‘dick’.
“Viv never touched his heart and no one else has. I’m guessing it’s something Michael’s done that made you run to Lucien, but please be patient with him while he works everything out.”
“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out.
She was stunned. “You are?”
“Yes, the doctor thinks I conceived about three weeks ago.” The tears started rolling down my face again. “I told Michael and within seconds he was ordering me out of his house. Why would he do that? I think Lucien knows, but he said he had to talk to Michael first. Do you know why?”
Pippa had tears on her face. “Are you sure that’s how far along you are?”
I looked at her funny. First Lucien asked me this question, and now their mother. Why? I was starting to get pissed.
“Yes, I’m sure, or rather the doctor was sure after giving me a sonogram.” I stood up and started pacing. “David had a vasectomy four years ago, plus I haven’t slept with him since I met Michael. The only person I’ve slept with is Michael. Now why did both you and Lucien ask me that question? Please tell me, Pippa.”
She shook her head. “You need to talk to Michael.”
Then it hit me. I knew why. “He thinks he can’t have children. I’m right, aren’t I?”
Pippa just nodded.
“Why though? Why would he think that? And surly me telling him that I’m pregnant would have made him jump for joy rather than kick me….”
I didn’t finish as a thought struck me. Did he think I’d been unfaithful to him?
I felt the color drain out of me as I sat back down rather abruptly. I felt sick to my stomach. How the hell could he think that?
Pippa just looked at me with an odd expression on her face. “He thinks I’ve been unfaithful to him, doesn’t he?”
“Maybe,” she whispered.
“How could he think that? I love him. I’ve only ever slept with two men in my life, David and then Michael.”
I stood up and stormed to the bedroom to find my purse. If Michael thought I’d been unfaithful to him, he was going to get a piece of my mind. I started to cry heavily and lay on the bed with my face buried into a pillow.
“Lily,” Pippa whispered. I felt her climb on the bed with me and then she pulled me into her arms.
“How could he think that? I’ve never looked at another guy until Michael came along,” I sniffled, “he’s all I want. I never gave David my heart, but I gave it to Michael. I can’t believe….”
I couldn’t talk anymore because of my tears.