“Probably because the next day Christian started coming around.”

Sonia blinked her eyes rapidly. “Why? Did you tell him Scott left you?”

“Not really. I told John when he came to fix the sink. He’d asked why my guy wasn’t fixing the sink and I said I had no guy. Then he asked if I was sick and I told him I had been. Then Christian showed up because he heard I was sick and that there wasn’t anyone around to help me out.”

Sonia narrowed her eyes at her. “So taking Scott to the wedding was really a good thing? I mean it woke Christian up.”

In more than one way.

Sonia covered her hand with hers. “This has nothing to do with Christian just showing up, does it?”

Victoria swallowed hard and tried to gather her nerves. She took in a cleansing breath and let it out. “I’m pregnant.”

Sonia’s eyes opened wide and then her mouth opened and closed. She covered it with her hand and then slowly dropped it. “Oh, Tori.”

“That wasn’t the reaction I thought you’d have. It was mine, but…”

“How long?”

She ran her tongue over her teeth. “Five weeks.”

Sonia covered her mouth again. “Christian’s?”

Tori nodded.

“And is that why he’s come around?”

Victoria shook her head. “The only other person that knows is Scott.”

“And that’s why he left?”

She nodded.

“Oh, honey.”

“It’s going to be okay. I don’t expect Christian to hang around much longer. And when he finds out about the baby, he’ll run. He’s been playing favorite uncle all week, but it’s only been a week. If he couldn’t be a father to the kids, he can’t be father to his baby.”

“But you can’t do this alone.”

“I don’t think I’ll have to. The baby is a Keller. They won’t let me do this alone.”

“But is that enough?”

“It’s going to have to be.”

Sonia stood up and walked around the table and pulled Victoria up out of her chair and pulled her into an embrace.

“I’m here too. Whatever you need. I’m here.”

“Thank you,” Victoria said pulling back. “But don’t say anything. Not yet. I’m not ready for the kids to know or for Chris to know.”

“You don’t have forever on this. He’ll figure this out soon you know.”

“I know.”

Victoria thought she’d see how the week went and then she could decide how she wanted to handle telling Christian.

~*~

Christian tapped his pencil against the top of his desk as he looked over the plans for the baseball stadium. In the past two weeks, he’d had a change of heart when it came to the project.

He’d been playing catch with Ali and Sam each night when he got to their house. And even at three-years-old, Sam showed the same promise his father had. Dave should have been major league. Christian would never understand why he hadn’t been picked up.

The stadium was now a personal mission to Christian, something he could honor Dave with.

He jotted down notes to take to the next meeting as his office door opened. His brother walked through.

“I have come to the conclusion that there is a no knocking rule when it comes to family entering my office,” he said without looking up from what he was doing.

“I figure it saves me the hassle of you telling me to go away.” Ed sat down in front of his desk. “How’s the stadium going?”

“I think the plans look good. I only have a few suggestions.”

“Good. I’m glad to see you are finally looking enthusiastic.”

Christian blew off his brother’s comment. He realized he hadn’t been very gracious about the job or the project.

“So what did you need?” Christian set the pencil down and leaned back in his chair.

“Rachel was asking about you. Well she asked Warner, who asked Clara, who called Darcy, who sent me.”

Christian snorted a laugh and picked up his pencil again. “And just what did Rachel want to know?”

“Why you stood her up a couple weeks ago.”

“And she’s just now sending messengers?”

“Well? Why’d you stand her up? She was trying to get your attention at the wedding and then she finally gets a date and you don’t show up?”

“Why do you care?”

“Just isn’t like you.”

Christian shook his head and dropped the pencil again. “I’ve been spending my evenings at Tori’s with her and the kids.”

“No kidding.” Ed sat forward and leaned his arms on the desk. “You’re back together? I thought that was a one night thing?”

“It was. I’m just helping her out. I promised Dave I’d help take care of those kids and I did a lousy job last year.”

“You sure did.”

“Thanks.” He sat back in his chair.

The evenings he’d been spending with them, and the weekends, had become very special to him. They’d become a family. There was only one missing piece. Tori still hadn’t told him about being pregnant.

Christian had come to believe that maybe his Uncle John had been mistaken. She’d been sick and was having a hard time getting over it, but he was sure by now she’d have said something about it. If she hadn’t said something he thought the kids would have or even Sonia might have dropped a hint. But there had been nothing.

But every night that he was there to listen to the bedtime story and tuck in the kids, he began longing to do it every night—forever. And if she was pregnant, it was a chance to be there from the beginning of a life—even if it wasn’t a life he created. How could Scott walk away from her knowing such a thing? Then again, maybe Scott didn’t know and she thought it was better to keep it from him.

His mind spun the situation around a million times. If Scott didn’t care and he was the one who stepped in and loved the baby, perhaps he’d make up for the year he’d been an ass—but this time he’d do it for love of the kids, love of the baby, and his undying love of Tori.

“So what are you going to do?” Ed stood and looked down at his brother. “Are you going to try and get her back or are you just going to help her out? You know…I need to pass back something to Rachael.”