Natalie glanced around, her face hard from the doorway. Everyone held their breath.

“Is now a bad time?” she asked pointedly.

God bless Ivy Parker, who snapped into action. “No, of course not! Please, come in. Give us just a minute. We have donuts and coffee!” She hurried to Natalie’s side to divert her.

Natalie cast a dubious look around the establishment as Luke quietly excused himself and steered Wendy out of the building. I didn’t hear anything anyone around me said. Instead, I watched them talk outside the window. Luke’s face drawn and haggard, his hands on her shoulders as he tried to talk her down. Wendy looked down, nodding, her chest occasionally hitching with a sob and hands taking turns swiping at her cheeks.

But what broke me completely was when he pulled her into his arms, holding her head to his chest. His eyes closed, tight with pain, his head bowed as if in prayer. And Wendy curled into him like she belonged there.

I didn’t realize I was crying, not until Laney touched my leg. Her brows were together, her face tight with concern.

I sniffled, brushing the cool trails of tears from my face.

“He doesn’t love her,” Laney said.

“I know.” And I did.

“I’m not even sure I believe her, Tess. But Luke will figure it out. And if it is true, we’ll get through it. He’ll make it right.”

“I know,” I said again. Because he would.

I just didn’t know how I fit into that picture. I imagined him shepherding her through her pregnancy, attending all the doctor’s visits. The bond they shared would deepen. Would it rekindle their affection? Would they fall in love again?

Would he leave me for her?

It was too much. The room too small. The air too thin. Too many people, too many pressures, all in one room.

“Are you going to be okay?”

I nodded, sliding off the counter, my shoes full of lead. “Let’s just get through this.”

Laney nodded, taking my hand, squeezing it gently.

I didn’t feel anything.

Luke entered the shop, and what little breath I had was sucked into him like a vacuum. He moved across the room to me like we were caught in a tractor beam, my awareness shrinking yet again.

“Tess,” he breathed.

He was touching me, I realized absently, the pressure of his hands on my arms distant.

I looked up at him, unseeing.

His eyes searched mine. “Please, say something.” Those hands moved from my arms to my face, tilting it up to his. “We’ll figure this out,” he promised.

“So it’s true then.”

Fear. I could feel it skating on his fingertips.

“I don’t know. There … there hasn’t been time. Please, Tess, let me explain—”

“You’ve been keeping this from me too, Lucas?” Mrs. Bennet’s voice was shrill, her face ruddy.

Natalie glanced over her shoulder at us, but Ivy laughed too loudly, hooking her arm in Natalie’s to direct her outside where her photographer was setting up.