Page 16 of Bennett (On the Line 2)

; I sat down in a wood chair in front of her desk, my heart pounding with nervous anticipation. Wren’s opinion of me mattered. I wanted to be just like her someday. She was polished, hardworking, and compassionate.

“I’m so pleased with your work on the Matthews case,” Wren said. “That was some great negotiating on your part.”

“Oh. Thank you.” I looked down at my hands in my lap.

“What’s up, Charlotte? You can tell me.”

I took a deep breath. “I’d like this to stay between us for now, but since you’re my boss, I feel like I need to tell you that . . . I’m pregnant.”

Wren nodded slightly. “I figured.”

“You what? How?”

“You had some bad morning sickness.”

I laughed lightly. “Yeah, what’s up with that term, anyway? It’s so not just in the morning.”

“Has it gotten better, then?”

“A little. And I’ve gotten more used to it. If I keep myself well-rested, that seems to help.”

“Good. I wanted to reach out to you several times and remind you that you have sick time and medical leave, but I didn’t want to intrude.”

I studied the way her red suit coat looked against her cocoa skin, not wanting to think about her knowing this whole time. It mortified me.

“Does Riley know?” she asked softly.

“No.”

She nodded. “I’d never bring something like that up with him, but I’ve been hoping maybe the two of you would be able to work things out, in light of this . . . development.”

My lips parted and I forced them closed. “In light of . . . ? Oh. It’s not his baby.”

Wren’s expression shifted then and I saw it. Judgment. Humiliation complete.

“Oh. I’m sorry for assuming, Charlotte. That was thoughtless of me.”

“No, not at all.” My cheeks burned as I tried to think of what to say. “This was . . . unplanned, obviously. Riley and I had broken up.”

About three hours before it happened, I thought but didn’t say.

“And the father is . . . in your life? If you don’t mind my asking?”

I nodded. “He is. He’s been very supportive.”

At least, he’d tried to be. I wasn’t responding to Bennett’s texts and invitations to get together much because I was overwhelmed already with work, being sick, and trying to eat and get enough rest.

“Whatever you need, just let me know,” Wren said. “Time off, a lighter schedule . . .”

“No. I’m fine. I just wanted to let you know because I’ll need time off for doctor’s appointments and maternity leave when the time comes.”

“I hope you’ll stay with me. That’s selfish, I know, because you could earn more in private practice.”

Why had she passed me over for the juvenile job if she thought so highly of my work? I was about to ask when she spoke instead.

“You’ve impressed me so far, Charlotte. I chose Riley for the juvenile job because he’s more experienced. It wasn’t an easy decision.”