“Carina can tell you all about it.” Finn kicked Jarrett’s feet aside and dropped onto the footstool. “Go ahead, Carina. Tell Stephanie how you put cannabis in Branson’s drink.”
“Cannabis? You mean marijuana? Isn’t that illegal?” Steph wondered if they had filed a report.
“It’s legal in Nevada.” Carina leaned against the bedroom door, as if she wasn’t sure she was welcome inside the room.
“It’s legal to buy it and consume it in a private residence,” Finn clarified. “It wasn’t legal for her to bring it in the hotel or put it in his drink.”
“Were you trying to kill him?” Stephanie’s muscles trembled from head to toe. How she wanted to spring at Carina and rip out her hair!
“I only put in a couple of droppersful. How was I supposed to know he’d have a bad reaction?” She ventured around the perimeter of the room, moving to the other side of the bed to stare down at Bran.
Steph tried to cross her arms, but Branson held fast to her wrist. “Why put anything in his drink at all?”
“To help him relax, so we could have a private conversation.” Carina’s contrite expression vanished in an instant. Her eyes sent daggers Steph’s direction.
“I’m assuming he didn’t give you permission to drug him. Isn’t that a crime of some sort? Assault, maybe?”
“You’re right, Stephanie.” Finn regarded Carina with narrowed eyes. “Maybe we ought to call the police.”
Branson broke the tense mood with a sonorous snore, and Steph pulled her hand free.
“Carina…” Cole sauntered into the room. “Why don’t you share the real reason you tried to make Branson fly high as a kite? I don’t believe for a minute you only wanted to talk to him.”
“And while you’re at it,” Jarrett added, “you can tell us why you’re so anxious to get married. What girl wants a quickie wedding instead of a big deal with a long white dress and all the trimmings?”
To Stephanie’s utter amazement, Carina started crying. “Fine! I’ll tell you why,” she sobbed, “I wanted a quick wedding because I’m pregnant.”
The room darkened, and Stephanie gripped the bed cover, balling it in her hands. Her chest felt so tight, she could barely breathe.
Carina’s pregnant. Steph should’ve known. No wonder her boobs looked bigger. And why else would she have been so desperate to rush the wedding? How she must’ve laughed while feeding Steph that story about not being able to have children. And Steph, trying to follow MawMaw’s advice, had pitied her.
“Miraculous healing, Carina.” Steph cleared her throat to steady the warble in her voice. “Earlier tonight you told me you couldn’t get pregnant.”
“I refuse to apologize.” Carina sniffed, but her eyes looked suspiciously dry. “I did what I had to do to save my marriage. My baby needs a father.”
“You don’t look pregnant.” Cole leaned back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest.
“I am. Here’s the proof.” She opened her small clutch and unfolded a paper, tossing it on the bed beside Steph. A sonogram.
Steph didn’t want to look at it. Using her crutches, she moved across the room, as far as possible from the offensive paper. She pulled out a desk chair and plopped down.
What was left of her hopes went up in smoke. She and Branson could never be together. He wasn’t like Jeff. Bran would never abandon his child. She tried to keep an indifferent expression, though she felt like dying. It would’ve been better if Bran had never said those sweet things to her. If only she could forget his words. Instead, the scene would replay over and over in her brain, reminding her of what she almost had.
Finn stood, his shoulders stiff, stomped to the bed and picked up the sonogram, studying the image as if he could detect her subterfuge. His tone was accusing. “How far along are you?”
She hesitated. “Twenty-two weeks.”
Steph’s eyes dropped to Carina’s flat abdomen. It wasn’t fair she was that far along and not showing, but tall women had an advantage. With her short torso, Steph’s tummy started expanding early, almost the day she conceived.
“I’m not surprised.” Jarrett counted on his fingers. “I have four sisters, six nieces and two nephews, so I learned more than I ever wanted to know about pregnancy and childbirth. I noticed you ordered a salad at lunch, but only ate saltines. My oldest sister lived on saltine crackers the first twelve weeks she was pregnant.”
“Exactly. Is that enough proof for you?” Carina pushed her already-plumped-up lips into a pout.
“It’s not us you have to convince—it’s Branson.” Finn offered a hand to Jarrett, who rose from his comfortable chair with a reluctant wince. Finn continued, “You can explain everything to him tomorrow morning, assuming he’s awake and in his right mind. He’ll decide whether or not he wants to file charges.”
With disheveled hair and his tux coat across his arm, Jarrett moved to stand beside Cole. “Wonder if he’ll do it.”
Finn shrugged. “Who knows?”
“You think Branson would press charges against the mother of his child? No way,” Carina scoffed. “Once he finds out he’s going to be a father, I expect he’ll decide to make good use of that marriage license while we’re here in Vegas.”
Stephanie exchanged a glance with Finn. It was even more impossible than he knew.
“Still no reason to do it here, this weekend,” Finn argued, leaning over the bedside to stare at his friend, whose chest rose and fell in peaceful sleep. “I know Branson, and he doesn’t like being pressured into anything.”
“Why didn’t you tell him before, Carina?” Jarrett asked. “You must’ve known for a while.”
“I had personal reasons,” she answered, tersely. “The important thing is I’m pregnant with Branson’s child, and we should get married immediately.”
“You’re not considering an abortion?” asked Cole in an acid tone.
“I suppose I might, if Branson doesn’t marry me. I’m not planning to be a single mom.”
Cole’s face reddened. He whipped around and strode toward the door. “That’s it. I’m outta here. See you guys later.”
“Cole, wait!” Jarrett went after him, and the door closed behind them.
“What’s wrong with him?” Carina asked.
