She couldn’t help smiling at his words, which were so like her thoughts. They really were on the same wavelength.

“Some of those couples split up under the weight of the grief and those men and women have the benefit of love on both sides.”

“I don’t know about other people, but I don’t give up in the face of adversity and neither does your daughter. You, of all people, should be intimately aware of that fact. She survived leaving friends and familiarity behind time and again in her childhood and a disaster of a first marriage as an adult.” He put his arm out to her. “Piper isn’t going to give up on our marriage, no matter what we have to face together.”

She practically flew off the sofa to land against his side, the relief she felt in the shelter of his presence nearly physical. His words created another welcome layer of protection against her parents’ fears and her own secret ones.

He put his arm around her waist and looked down at her as if they were the only two people in the room, as if her opinion was the only one that mattered. “You said nothing would change your feelings for me.”

“It won’t.”

“Well, nothing will change the fact that I want you to be the mother of my children and the woman at my side, including the far-reaching possibility you will not carry this baby to term.”

“Then we’re golden.” She smiled even as tears burned at the back of her eyes.

her parents in turn. “If that’s not good enough for you, I am

statement of long-term intent if she’d ever

you hold off on the wedding for a while.” Piper’s mom gave Zephyr her let’s be reasonable look. “Surely, you can be a father

be a better father and helpmate to your daughter if we are married.” Zephyr wasn’t budging and she didn’t think his attitude would be any different if they hadn’t

responded the same way. Unlike her parents, who

said. “You didn’t say anything about not wanting me to

something you say over a telephone line.” Her mom

Not one little bit. “And you wouldn’t have

“Piper!” her mother admonished.

at her with that disappointed expression he reserved for misbehaving troops

shook his head. “She didn’t mean that.” But he didn’t

really hurting her and right, wrong or indifferent, she’d lashed out. “Of course I didn’t. I’m sorry, but this is

is not our intention. We just want what is best for

a considering look. “Tell me something, did you suggest she

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