The MacBrides: Hannah and Ash by J.L. Petersen

Nerves tingled with apprehension as he encouraged her to continue. “What’s going on, Hannah? Just tell me.”

“Ash, I’m pregnant,” she said as she stared out over the fields. It wasn’t the way she always imagined telling the father of her child they were about to be parents. At his silence, she looked up at him. The expression on his face frightened her. It was hard and cold.

“Is it mine?” Came the ice-cold words.

Appalled that he could even ask that had her stepping away from him. “Of course, it’s yours.”

“How? We used protection.”

“I have no idea, maybe there was a tear. All I know is that I’m ten weeks pregnant and you’re the only man I’ve slept with in over a year.”

All types of emotions swam through his system as he tried to process what she was telling him. “When is the baby due?”

“February twelfth.”

Ash felt as if his world came to a complete stop. Again. Turning away from her he ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Another woman claiming to be pregnant with his child. Hannah was a woman whom he felt something deep for and thought he could trust. Yet she was the same as the others. God, would he never learn. Anger surged through him making him want to lash out.

“I want a paternity test done.”

Shaken, Hannah could barely speak. “O…okay. I don’t know anything about the process. I could ask my doctor.”

Ash laughed callously. “I’m an expert at these things. If you’re ten weeks we can have a non-invasive prenatal test done. I’ll accept the results of that test.”

“I don’t want to do anything to hurt the baby,” she said laying both her hands over her stomach, tears welling up in her eyes.

For a moment he softened, then reminded himself. She was just like the others. “It won’t hurt the baby.”

Hannah wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. Fighting for her composure she looked away from Ash and focused on her gardens. “I’ll call my doctor tomorrow morning and see what can be arranged.”

Ash studied Hannah as she looked over her gardens. A part of him wanted to believe what he saw, a lovely, soft woman who had stolen his heart. But he had too many experiences that taught him to be cynical. Now it was his turn to leave.

“I’ll wait to hear from you. Now, if you don’t mind I want to leave.” Hannah didn’t turn around to look at him.

“Take the UV back to the house.”

“I’m not leaving you here to walk back.”

“I’ll find another way back. There’s always someone around who can give me a lift.”

Ash hesitated, wanted to say something to her but didn’t know what. Finally, he turned to leave. “I’ll expect to hear from you in the morning.”

Hannah kept her eyes averted as she heard him drive off. When she knew she was alone she collapsed to the ground. Burying her face in her hands, she wept.