Free Charlotte and the Alien Ambassador by Jessica Coulter Smith Page B

doesn’t want anything to do with you? He really should be made aware of the situation.”
    Nausea welled up. “He doesn’t want me,” she said softly. “He was very clear about that when he said he would avoid me at all costs.”
    The doctor frowned. “The stress of being dismissed by the father, the trip back here, and by your own admission, the stress of being thrown out of your family home, has taken its toll on you. You’re underweight, your skin is pale, there are shadows under your eyes… I didn’t see you before the pregnancy, but I’m guessing all of these changes are recent. If you don’t start taking better care of yourself -- eating regular meals, getting plenty of rest, and ceasing to worry about the things you can’t change -- there’s a good chance you could lose this baby.”
    Charlotte placed a shaky hand on her stomach. The last thing she wanted to do was lose her baby. It was hard to eat when you were depressed and stressed, but she’d have to do better. She owed it to her baby. It was her responsibility to make sure the child received the nourishment he or she needed. Obviously, Charlotte was being a bad mother already, but she swore she would do better.
    “I see Cosmir arrived with you this morning.” The doctor studied her. “He isn’t the father, is he?”
    “No! Absolutely not. He’s just been really nice about making sure I eat and getting me to this appointment this morning. The father is still on your world, and I doubt he will be coming for me anytime soon. I’m prepared to raise this child on my own.”
    “I wouldn’t recommend doing that. Have you thought of taking a mate? Terran males aren’t very big on accepting another man’s child, but there are those who wouldn’t mind. You’re attractive and young. There’s no reason you couldn’t form a family unit with someone.” He grimaced. “Of course, we’d have to tell the father of your child that you were taking a mate and give him one last chance to claim you, and I’m sure you don’t want to face him right now.”
    Her stomach twisted.
    “Just think it over,” the doctor urged. “You have to do what’s right for the baby and not think about your needs. This isn’t a human child you’re carrying but a half Terran baby. It’s going to have needs you aren’t prepared to handle, especially if it’s male.”
    She knew the doctor made a good point, but it wasn’t something she was ready to hear just yet. Had she made a mistake by not telling Borgoz about the baby? Charlotte had no doubt that if he’d known she was carrying his child, he never would have pushed her aside. And it wasn’t like he was seeing another woman. He was scared that he wasn’t enough for her, and while that was sweet, it was also really annoying. How could the man she loved not be enough for her?
    Charlotte left the clinic with Cosmir by her side and was heading straight to the food court for some breakfast when he drew her to a halt near the main door. She frowned up at him, not sure what he wanted.
    “You should get something better to eat today than what we have to offer here. If you don’t wish to share a meal with me, let me find someone else to join you. It really isn’t safe for you to be alone in the city while you’re pregnant. What if you fell or someone pushed you? What if a car jumped the curb and hit you?”
    Her eyebrows climbed higher and higher with every word.
    “You really think any of that is going to happen?” she asked, knowing it wasn’t likely, but she supposed anything was possible.
    “I want you to be safe. If you won’t allow me to watch over you, then find someone whose company you’ll enjoy for the morning.”
    Charlotte nibbled on her lip a moment. “All right. I’ll have breakfast with you. But not anywhere fancy! I don’t know how much money is in my bank account right now, and I don’t want to overspend.”
    “Then we’ll stop by your bank first to ease your mind, but I hadn’t planned