True-Blue Cowboy Christmas by Nicole Helm Page B

going to do just that, Summer scooted the stool closer.
    This was serious.
    â€œI think…maybe…possibly…I might be…” Delia looked around, as if people were lurking in the nonexistent nooks and crannies of Summer’s home and trying to hear their conversation.
    Apparently weird days were going around. “Might be what?”
    â€œI think I might be…”
    â€œOh my God.” Summer clapped her hands over her mouth as it dawned on her, and then dropped them with a squeal. “You’re pregnant!”
    â€œShh,” Delia said, waving her hands in front of Summer.
    â€œShh? We’re inside.”
    â€œYou left the door open, and sound carries around here.” Delia blew out a breath. “I’m not sure. I need to get a test, but it’s…possible. I mean, we weren’t trying, but there was a night where—”
    â€œLa-la-la, no details.”
    Delia smiled at that, but it quickly melted into a groan. “Oh shit, I don’t know what to do. Do I wait it out? Do I get a test? Do I tell Caleb?”
    â€œYou haven’t told Caleb?” Summer screeched.
    â€œNo, I haven’t told Caleb. What if I’m wrong? And we haven’t talked about this at all. And…what if I’m wrong?”
    â€œThen, I’m guessing, you try, try again.”
    Delia groaned and flopped forward, her chest now resting on her knees. “I’m not prepared for this, Summer. I’m still figuring out this whole ‘being someone’s wife’ thing I’m…so not ready.”
    â€œYou know what part of that whole wife thing you seem to be missing?”
    Delia glanced up. “What?”
    â€œTalking to the other person, duh!”
    Delia groaned again. “Don’t duh me, little girl.”
    â€œThen don’t be stupid, Delia Shaw.”
    Delia sat completely upright at that. “You know I hate it when people accuse me of being stupid.”
    â€œI do, but I also know you’re a big softy, and I am not afraid of you or your husband.” Summer reached across the distance between them, squeezing Delia’s hand. “It doesn’t matter if you are or aren’t. You still have to tell Caleb. You know that, or you wouldn’t be here telling me. You’d be hiding it or getting a test.”
    â€œBut…” Delia swallowed, a nervous gesture so unlike her. “What if he’s disappointed?” she whispered, the apples of her cheeks going pink with a blush.
    Delia was blushing. Summer couldn’t help but smile. She’d always believed in love, especially the true, lasting kind that made people partners in life, the kind that shared hopes and dreams and children. She’d needed to believe that was possible in the utter absence of it.
    So, she squeezed Delia’s hand tighter. It was nice to be the sounding board for this. To be someone’s friend. Someone’s…sister. “Disappointed by what?” she asked gently.
    Delia shook her head, looking to the roof. “That I am,” she mumbled. Then her head drooped. “Or if I turn out not to be.”
    â€œHe loves you, Delia.”
    â€œWell, I know that . Don’t get all mushy Summer on me.”
    â€œIt’s not mushy. It’s the bottom line. It doesn’t matter which one disappoints him or which doesn’t, because he loves you, and as with a lot of the bigger challenges you two have overcome, you’ll figure out a way to navigate whatever this is.”
    â€œI hate when you’re all smart and reasonable beyond your years.”
    Summer grinned. “And yet here you are.”
    â€œHere I am. And…thanks.” She squeezed Summer’s hand back and tried to tug it away, but Summer held on a little tighter.
    These moments of feeling like she really did belong here, that she’d built a forever-from-this-point family, were when she got so scared she’d lose it all