LITMIR.BIZ

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paced back and forth in her luxurious bedroom in her family’s palatial chalet. A gentle fire flickered in the fireplace, keeping her suite cozy. She couldn’t sit still.

      So much had happened in the last few months that it made her head spin. First, the pregnancy test had turned up positive. As she’d struggled to come to terms with what this meant to her future, she’d stumbled across the fact that she had a long-lost brother. The realization had jarred her entire world. How could her parents have kept Leo a secret all her life?

      An ensuing row between her and her parents had her shouting out hurtful words—words she didn’t mean. And yet now she couldn’t take them back. She couldn’t tell her parents she was sorry and that she loved them.

      They were dead.

      The reading of their will had succeeded in driving home the fact that her parents wouldn’t be here at the chalet as was their Christmas tradition. But the three siblings intended to spend the holiday together.

      It had been strange to meet her brother Leo for the first time, even stranger to hear the contents of her parents’ will. She never would have imagined that the terms of the will would be the way they were. Clearly Sebastian hadn’t either, because when he’d discovered that his parents had given Leo controlling shares in Cattaneo Jewels for six months, he’d been furious. And although Leo had been clearly reluctant, the terms stated that should Leo refuse, Cattaneo Jewels would cease trading and be liquidated. And none of them had wanted that.

      But tempers and emotions had risen, and it was all Noemi had been able to do to convince her brothers to think on it and to return here to the chalet in Mont Coeur just before Christmas for the final decision.

      Even now, she could only guess at what her parents had been thinking when they’d written the will and its unusual terms. She missed them dearly—most especially her mother. She needed her now more than ever.

      Noemi swiped at her eyes as she thought of her mother. And though their last conversation had been heated and hurtful, Noemi didn’t doubt her parents had loved her—even if she had made mistakes along the way. But all the wishing in the world wasn’t going to erase the last angry words that they’d exchanged, nor would it bring them back to her.

      Noemi moved to the French doors in her room and stared out at the cloudy afternoon sky as big lazy snowflakes drifted ever so slowly to the ground. It was a light snow. The kind that melted as soon as it touched the roads. And any other time she’d be caught up in the peaceful relaxing view. But not today.

      She was running out of time to keep her secret to herself. Her hand pressed to her slightly rounded abdomen. No amount of baggy clothes was going to hide her pregnancy much longer.

      And what was she supposed to say to people when they asked who the father was? His name is Max? He has the dreamiest eyes that appear to change colors to suit his mood? And his body is like a sculpture of defined muscles? Or when he laughs it is deep and rich? Even now, his memory brought a smile to her face.

      After the most magical night, he’d insisted that it would be best not to exchange full names or phone numbers. She’d hesitantly agreed. Neither of them had been looking for a lasting relationship. And now that she really needed to speak to him, she didn’t know how to reach him. She’d even asked Stephania about him, but she didn’t know him—

      Noemi’s cell phone buzzed. She moved to the bed and picked it up. She wasn’t in the mood to speak to anyone, but when she saw that it was Maria, her sister-in-law and close friend, she answered.

      “How are you doing?” Maria asked.

      “Okay. I guess.” Noemi sighed.

      “Really? I’d hate to hear you if something was wrong.”

      “What’s that supposed to mean?”

      “You’re usually bubbly but lately you’ve been really down. Is it your parents?”

      “No. I mean, I miss them a lot.”

      “So something else is bothering you?”

      Maria had always been good at reading her. And she was the closest thing Noemi had to a big sister. If she didn’t talk to someone soon, she was going to burst.

      Noemi worried her bottom lip. “Can I tell you something?”

      “Sure. You know you can always talk to me. Is it about the reading of your parents’ will?”

      Noemi shook her head and then realized Maria couldn’t see her. “It’s not that. But if I tell you this, you have to promise not to say a word to Sebastian.”

      There was a slight pause on the other end of the phone.

      “Never mind,” Noemi said. “I never should have asked you to keep anything from my brother.”

      “It’s okay. You need someone to confide in and I promise your brother won’t hear a thing from me. Sometimes he can be a bit overprotective where you’re concerned.”

      “And when he hears about this, he’s going to hit the roof. He’ll be just like Papa—” She stopped, recalling how poorly her parents had taken the news of her pregnancy.

      Even though her parents had had a child in their teens and had given him up for adoption, they’d still been disappointed with her unplanned pregnancy. What was up with that? It wasn’t like she’d set out to wreck her life. She’d thought that out of all the people in the world, they would have been the ones to understand. They hadn’t. And it had hurt Noemi deeply. Worse yet, they’d died before she could ever put things to right.

      “Relax.” Maria’s voice drew Noemi out of her thoughts. “We’ll figure out how to deal with him.”

      “Thanks. But I’ll deal with him.”

      “Whatever you want. But you still haven’t told me your problem. Maybe I can help. Perhaps it isn’t as big as you’re imagining.”

      “No. It’s bigger.” Noemi’s insides quivered with nerves. By saying the words out loud, it was going to make this pregnancy real. Just like the reading of the will had made her parents’ deaths startling real. Once she told Maria about the baby, there would be no more pretending. In less than six months, she was going to give birth.

      “Noemi...”

      “I’m pregnant.”

      Silence. Utter and complete silence.

      Noemi’s heart raced. Her hands grew clammy. And her stomach churned. What was Maria thinking? Was she disappointed in her, too, just like her parents had been?

      “Are you sure?”

      Noemi nodded. “I took three home pregnancy tests and then I went to see the doctor. It’s official.”

      “I don’t know what to say.” There was a pause as though Maria was searching for the right words. “How do you feel about it?”

      “I knew I wanted kids someday, but not yet—not now. I’m only twenty-six.”

      “And the father, how does he feel?”

      “I... I don’t know.”

      “Noemi, you’ve told him, haven’t you?”

      She inhaled a deep breath, trying to calm her nauseous stomach. And then she launched into how she’d met Max and how stupid she’d been that night. She’d been hurting and not thinking straight. And she thought it would be a good time without any strings.

      “Don’t worry. Everything will be all right,” Maria said, though her voice said otherwise.

      “Even you don’t believe it. What am I going to do? I’m not going to be able to hide my condition much longer. Most of my clothes don’t fit.”

      “I know.” Maria’s voice rose as though she’d just discovered the answer to all Noemi’s problems.

      “What?”

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