Another Woman’s Baby

The first time Kier met Sable Morwenna was at a charity gala about six months after his father died.

He was standing by the bar, looking miserable, drinking too much and wishing he could leave. And then this woman just appeared next to him, like she had materialized out of thin air.

"You look like you'd rather be anywhere else," she said.

For a split second, he thought it was his wife. Those were exactly the words Celestine had used when they first met. But then he turned.

This woman was nothing like Celestine.

She had red hair. Bright red, like fire, falling in waves over her shoulders. Pale skin. Freckles across her nose. Green eyes that looked at him like she already knew everything about him. She was wearing a dress the color of emeralds, cut low in the front, and she was smiling at him with this little knowing smile.

"Something like that," he said.

"Sable Morwenna," she said, holding out her hand. "My father was friends with yours. I'm so sorry for your loss."

Her hand was soft. Her grip was warm. She didn't let go right away.

And that was it. That was the beginning of everything.

*

*

Sable was good at pretending.

She pretended she just happened to be at the same events as him. She pretended she just wanted to be friends. She pretended she felt guilty about his marriage, about his wife, about the whole situation.

"I don't want to cause any problems," she would say, touching his arm lightly. "You're married. I respect that. I just... I enjoy your company. That's all."

And he believed her. Because she was so good at it.

She sent him little notes. "Thinking of you." "Hope your day is going well." "No pressure, just wanted to say hello." Nothing inappropriate. Nothing he could point to and say she's crossing a line.

She showed up at his office with coffee. "I was in the neighborhood." She remembered how he took it. Black, no sugar. She remembered everything.

She listened to him complain about work, about his mother, about the pressure of running the company. She never interrupted. Never judged. Just nodded and looked at him with those big green eyes and said things like, "You carry so much. You deserve someone who understands."

She never asked for anything. That was her trick. She just... was there. Waiting, understanding and so perfect.

*

*

The first time they slept together, she cried afterward.

But it was not real tears and Kier didn't know that. But she put her face in her hands and her shoulders shook and she said, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I feel terrible about your wife."

And Kier, stupid Kier, held her and said, "It's not your fault. It's mine. My marriage was over before I met you."

She looked up at him, her eyes wet, her red hair messy, her lips trembling. "You're not just saying that?"

"I mean it."

She kissed him then, soft and sweet. "You're so good to me," she whispered. "No one has ever been this good to me."

It was a lie. Men had been good to her her whole life. She just knew how to make them think they were special.

*

*

*

Her apartment was in Kensington. A whole floor of an old building with high ceilings and original moldings and windows that looked out over a garden square. It was decorated perfectly with expensive furniture, fresh flowers and art on the walls that look costly.

Kier had wondered once how she afforded it. Her family was broke. Viscount father, empty bank accounts. But when he asked, she just laughed and said, "I have my ways," and changed the subject.

He didn't ask again. He didn't want to know.

*

*

That night, she opened the door wearing something silky and red. Her hair was down. Her makeup was flawless. Her smile was warm and hungry at the same time.

"Kier," she said, pulling him inside. "I was starting to think you weren't coming."

"Traffic," he said.

She kissed him long and deep.

She led him to the living room where she had wine waiting which he liked. She curled up next to him on the couch and asked about his day and listened like every word he said was fascinating.

He talked about the deal he closed, about the office and about how his mother was being impossible about some family thing.

"You carry so much," she said, her voice soft and sympathetic. "The company, the family and the legacy. You deserve someone who can carry it with you."

He looked at her. Red hair, green eyes and her perfect skin. She was so beautiful. So easy. So nothing like the woman waiting for him at home.

"Sable," he started.

She put a finger to his lips. "Shh. Just be here with me. Just for a little while. Forget about all of it."

So he did.

*

*

Later, after, they were lying in her bed. Sable was on her side, facing him, her red hair spread across the pillow.

She had a look on her face he had never seen before. Serious and intent and a little bit scared maybe.

"Kier," she said. "I need to tell you something."

His stomach clenched. "What is it?"

"I'm pregnant."

The words hung in the air.

"What?"

"Three months," she said. Her voice was steady, but her eyes searched his face. "I found out a few weeks ago. I wanted to be sure before I told you. I'm sure now. I'm having your baby, Kier."

He sat up. Ran his hands through his hair and tried to think.

A baby. Sable was having his baby. He was going to be a father.

He looked at her. Her hand resting on her flat stomach. She looked so scared, vulnerable. Like she needed him.

And he felt something that might have been relief.

This was it. This was the reason. This was what gave him permission to leave. To stop pretending. To finally have the life he wanted.

"Say something," Sable whispered.

He took her hand.

"It's okay," he said. "It's more than okay. This changes everything. I can leave her. I can be with you. We can be a family."

Her face lit up. That beautiful radiant smile. "Really? You mean it?"

"I mean it. I'll talk to Celestine. I'll figure it out. We're going to be together. You and me and this baby."

She kissed him again and this kiss was full of promise.

Then she pulled back. Her eyes dropped. Her voice got quiet, almost shy.

"Kier," she said. "You're going to tell your wife, right? I mean, really tell her? Because I don't want to come between you two. And I don't want our child to be... you know... a bastard."

She looked up at him, her green eyes wide and innocent.

"I couldn't live with myself if I ruined your marriage. But if it's already over... if you're sure it's already over... then I want us to be a real family with a ring on my hand and your name."

Kier felt something warm spread through his chest. She was so good, so thoughtful and so concerned about doing the right thing.

He kissed her forehead.

"It's already over," he said. "It's been over for a long time. I just needed a reason to end it. And you... you and this baby... you're the best reason I could ever have."

She smiled. Snuggled against his chest.

And in the dark, with her face hidden, her smile changed. It wasn't sweet anymore. It was triumphant.

She had him now. Hook, line, and sinker.