“It’s early,” she said. She still thought it was possible she’d miscarry. To her shame she wasn’t sure if she’d be terribly hurt and disappointed or relieved.

“You’re going to be fine,” he said. “You’re healthy. The baby is healthy. This is good.”

“Even though I don’t know how I’m going to raise it?” she shot back, annoyed.

He sighed. “You’re not going to raise it alone.”

“How do you know I even want your help? Oh, why did I say that? That was so mean! I don’t say mean things like that! I’m sorry, Rob.”

“It’s okay. You’re upset. Here’s something I just realized I knew about you—you carefully plan out everything. From your education to where you’ll practice to what meals you’ll have with your aunt and what nights you’ll work late... You don’t like surprises.”

“Who does?”

“No one, I guess,” he said. “You could let a person be understanding, all right?”

“I said I was sorry,” she said.

“Listen,” he began.

“Shhh,” she said, hushing him. She needed a little quiet to settle her nerves.

They drove the rest of the way in silence. When he got to her house, he walked her to the door. Then he walked her inside.

“Rob, I might need some time alone,” she said.

He put his arms around her. “I won’t talk,” he said. “But I need to be with you.”

“Not right now, all right? I think I might feel a good cry coming on.”

“Good,” he said. “Let it out. I’m going to hold you for a few minutes.”

She gave up, sighed and melted into his arms. Resting her head against his chest, she let herself feel protected.

He lifted her chin with a finger and kissed her. Lightly at first, then more seriously. Then urgently. Her arms went around his neck with a will of their own and, as usual, they found the bedroom, tumbled onto her bed and began undressing each other.

He knew all the right places to touch, all the things that made her crazy with desire. But this time, he was slow and steady, sweetly rocking her to orgasm. Just at the end, just when she was about to give it up, he slid a hand over her belly and whispered, “I’m not leaving you.” With a hiccup of emotion, she let it all go. Then she sobbed against his bare chest while he held her.

It was at that moment that everything became clear for Rob. No matter how difficult their circumstances might be, he wasn’t willing to let go of her. He couldn’t lose her. He wasn’t entirely sure this was love but it was damn sure need. In the nine years since he’d buried his wife, he was finally with a woman who brought him joy. Joy and pleasure that was incomparable to anything he’d known before. She also brought a fair share of frustration and confusion, but he’d figure it out. He had to.

He held her close while her body shuddered, first with pleasure and then with sobs, and he knew he was in it for the long haul. This was his woman and he was going to do everything imaginable to keep her. It might not have been their plan but they were having a family together.

He gently stroked her brow, their legs entangled, still joined. It wasn’t long before her sobs turned into sighs and then a soft snore. He pulled the throw from the foot of the bed over them both and rested his lips against her hair, breathing in the sweet scent of her.

He might’ve slept himself, though not for long, when she stirred. She took a deep steadying breath and turned in his arms, facing him. “I guess I had a nap,” she said.

“I think you had several things you needed,” he said. “A good orgasm, a good cry, a little nap.”

“I think I’ll be able to pull it together now,” she said.

“Listen to me, we’re going to make this work. We made this baby together, planned or not, and we’ll see it has a good life. You’re not alone.”

“I don’t know how to move forward on this.”

“People do it all the time. There are lots of options.”

“You didn’t want a baby,” she reminded him. “You’re forty and you’ve already raised a family.”

“You didn’t want a baby, either, but guess what? I doubt I’ll be using a walker when he’s in college. I’ve got plenty of good years ahead. A lot of men my age are just getting started. The only difference is, I’ve already raised two kids.”

“Starting again must terrify you,” she said.

“Well, there’s the thing—it’s not terrifying at all. I have the experience. It’s exhausting, that’s what it is. Babies and children and teenagers.” He laughed and shook his head. “I won’t be in a walker but I’ll probably feel like I should be after forty years of raising children.”

“You can bail out now, you know,” she said.

“And leave my child? And leave you? I don’t like that idea. I’m in for the duration.”

“You know there are other options,” she said. “We haven’t even discussed termination.”

“Because neither of us wants that,” he said. “Once you know what it’s like to have a child and watch him grow, that just isn’t a consideration.”

“There’s adoption,” she said.

“What a thought,” he said. “Carry it, give birth and give it away?” He shook his head. “Believe me, you would grieve every day. I know I would.”

“I’m not ready to marry someone I’ve just begun to know,” she said.

“Leigh, you’re already pregnant. Your baby is going to be born in just over seven months. Getting married tomorrow won’t fool anyone. It’s not urgent. It’s a good option for us to think about, though.”

“What would we do? How would we live?”

“That’s just logistics,” he said. “But at least we’d be able to share a bed.”

“My house? Your house?” she asked. “What about your boys?”

“My house is roomy. It would take some rearranging. Organizing. It’s doable,” he said.

“Oh God, I need time,” she said. “It’s so complicated...”

He kissed her forehead. “Don’t panic. We’ll find the solution that works best for all of us—the boys, Aunt Helen, you, me...”

Just as he mentioned her name, they heard the front door open and close. “Hello,” Helen called.

“We couldn’t be more naked,” Leigh muttered. Then she scrambled off the bed, dragging the throw with her, leaving Rob without a cover. He rolled off the bed in search of his clothes.

“Be right there, Auntie,” Leigh called, closing the door. Rob was hustling into his clothes. “Apparently I have lost the ability to do anything convenient!” she said to Rob. She pulled on her pants and looked in the mirror to fluff her hair. “Lord. Well, she’s going to have to be told. Would you like to leave that to me?”

“You want to come out with it now?”

“Just to Helen,” she said. “She’s very stable and calm. Stay or go?”

He tucked in his shirt, ran his fingers through his hair and sat down on the bed to put his shoes on. “I’ll stay. But I feel sixteen.”

“She can’t ground you. You don’t have to stay.”

“I did it,” he said stoically. “I’ll stay.”

This is one of the worst moments of my life, he thought. Helen was in every way a lovely, funny woman. She was also intimidating as hell.

“There you are,” Helen said as they came into the living room. She was sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine and looking at her phone. “I thought that was Rob’s car out there.”

“I wasn’t expecting you, but since you’re here, I have something to tell you,” Leigh said. “Family business for now, Auntie. Let’s not share this yet.” Helen’s face looked bright and happy with expectation. “We just found out,” Leigh went on. “I’m pregnant.”

Helen’s face fell and her expression darkened. It took her a moment to absorb the news. “And how the bloody hell did that happen?” she said, her temper showing.

“The usual way,” Rob replied.

“It’s a little complicated...” Leigh began.

“Turns out it was sex,” Rob said. “That old demon. We have details to work out but we’re in this together.”

“Good God, aren’t the two of you old enough to know how to prevent pregnancy? Until you plan it at least? Oh dear God, you didn’t plan this, did you?”

“It’s a legitimate accident in spite of our efforts to be responsible,” Rob said. “But since it’s happened, we’re going to take a little time to figure out our next step.”

Helen looked right at Leigh. “Don’t take any steps you don’t feel are right for you, Leigh. Please don’t rush into anything.”

“I plan to think it all through carefully. The only decision we both agree on so far is that I’m having the baby.”

Helen let out an audible sigh of relief. “I assume you two fancy yourselves in love or something?”

“We’re a little surprised by the whole thing,” Leigh said.

“Yes,” Rob said, clearly having noticed Leigh didn’t confess to feeling love. But he’d tackle that later. She was entitled to be a little confused.

“This is the first time since I lost my wife that I find myself with a woman I can’t imagine being without. And whatever Leigh wants to do, I am the baby’s father and will raise it with her, whether we’re married or there’s some other kind of arrangement. I think Leigh finds the idea of moving in with two teenage boys a little daunting...”

“God help us!” Helen said.

“They’re very nice boys,” Rob said. “But that’s just one of several options.”