Free New Beginnings by Lori Maguire Page A

I was expecting. Her father was a tall, thin man with snow-white hair and bright hazel eyes. He carried himself with a very sure, confident air about him, but he was not arrogant or pompous. Her mother, who was as tall as Carline with the same flat, brown eyes, also had that confident air about her. They were seated at our table along with Stewart and Marissa.
    Carline and Stephen arrived, but they steered clear of our table until after the meal. Even then, they only approached so Carline could say hello to her parents. Stephen stood several feet back shooting daggers at Stewart and Marissa. I avoided any direct eye contact with him. Xavier’s arm was wrapped around me possessively the entire time.
    When I excused myself to go to the ladies room, Marissa followed along. Usually, having her tag along totally annoyed the hell out of me, but given that I just found out I was pregnant this morning, I welcomed her presence.
    As I was standing at the sink washing my hands, Carline entered the restroom. Her eyes rested on Marissa waiting by the door before they focused on me. As she approached, Marissa pushed off the wall. I gently shook my head at her.
    Carline’s cold eyes shot me a noxious look. “Adding stalking to your list of things to do now?”
    “Good evening to you too, Carline. It’s so nice to see that you are back to your usual bitchy self. What happened to the nice and polite Carline you were so willing to show us at the last function we met at?” I raised my brows and pursed my lips at her.
    “That Carline disappeared the minute your fiancé falsely accused Stephen of stalking you. It turns out you are the one stalking.” She placed her fists on her hips.
    “I’m stalking Stephen?” I asked incredulously. “I have no idea what you’re getting at.”
    “Cut the shit, Ella. Stephen told me he caught you following him down Second Avenue Monday after I left Xavier’s office.”
    He told her what? I gaped at her, but quickly recovered. “Hmm, you mean the day you were escorted from Xavier’s office?” I sneered at her. “I hate to break it to you Carline, but he was the one stalking me. If he told you otherwise then clearly you are more brainwashed by his bullshit than I realized. One day you’ll wake up just like I did and Lisa did. Hopefully before it’s not too late.”
    “Not too late for what?” she demanded.
    “Before it’s not too late to save yourself. I don’t know what little game you two are playing, but I will destroy you just like I will Stephen if you both continue down this destructive path,” I said scornfully. Automatically, my maternal instincts kicked in as my hand wandered down to my abdomen and rested there protectively. Carline’s eyes widened at the gesture. Marissa didn’t miss it either. She frowned at me as her mouth hung open. I quickly wiped my hands on my dress trying to play it off as nothing.
    “You’re pregnant,” Carline said in a derisive tone as she pointed at my stomach.
    “I think not,” I said quickly. “If you’ll remember correctly Stephen ended that little dream not too long ago. Now if you’ll excuse me I think I’ve wasted enough time on you,” I said disdainfully.
    As soon as I walked passed Carline, Marissa grabbed my arm and hauled me out of the restroom. She stopped in the hall a few feet from the restroom. “Ella, are you pregnant?” she asked incredulously.
    “Of course not,” I quickly replied. I hated lying to her, but there was no way I was telling her before Xavier. She studied my face for several seconds before she wordlessly escorted me back to the party.
    Whew, that was close. There were fourteen days until Christmas Eve. At this rate, I wasn’t going to make it that far before my secret was revealed accidentally. I had to be more careful.
    Fortunately, Xavier didn’t question how long I had been gone, because he knew Marissa had been with me. Nevertheless, relief washed over his tense face as soon as he spotted us entering