The Marriage Secret Read Free

I…”
    â€œActually what?”
    Emily shook her head, you couldn’t use a baby to paper over the cracks in a marriage. “It’s about the basics.”
    â€œBasics?” He regarded her with obvious impatience.
    â€œThings like you letting me share things with you.”
    â€œI share.”
    â€œNo, Finn, that’s Maeve you’re thinking of. I’m Emily, the dumb redhead you keep at home.”
    â€œSure, keep ‘em barefoot and tied to the sink, that’s my style.”
    â€œDon’t be flippant! I want to be involved, Finn. I want to know about the things that worry you.”
    â€œ You worry me when you talk like this.”
    â€œSometimes you treat me more like a mistress than a wife!” she accused hotly.
    â€œIs that a bad thing?”
    â€œThis isn’t a joke!” she raged.
    Finn looked into her stormy distressed face and drew a deep breath before gritting his teeth. “I know how much this baby issue matters to you. If you want, I’ll go with you for tests and things.”
    Emily didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She was touched by what for him was obviously an enormous sacrifice, but also frustrated by his inability to see what she was trying to say.
    â€œHave you listened to anything I’ve been saying, Finn?” she despaired. “And don’t worry, there won’t be any need for tests and things, because I’m pregnant!”

Chapter Six
    There was only so long a girl could hold her breath, Emily thought. Finn hadn’t leapt for joy at the news she was pregnant—in fact, he hadn’t moved a muscle.
    â€œWell I know this isn’t new for you, but I was expecting a moderate display of pleasure.” Unless, of course, he’d changed his mind? He already had Adam; perhaps the boy satisfied all his paternal needs.
    Finn blinked. “You…” The muscles in his throat worked convulsively. “You’re pregnant ?” He grabbed her by the forearms. “Pregnant…!”
    Emily watched the slow wondering smile break out across his dark face and felt a surge of relief.
    â€œI did the test this morning. Well, actually,” she admitted, “I did three—just to be on the safe side. I had it all planned I was going to tell you over dinner, only—”
    â€œâ€”I didn’t turn up.” He grimaced and Emily pushed aside the unwelcome thought that he looked guilty. “I’ve got terrible timing. God, what a hell of a coincidence!”
    â€œYou’re pleased then?” she asked, feeling for some reason ridiculously shy.
    â€œI’m stunned,” Finn breathed honestly. What man wouldn’t be, discovering he was about to become a father. Although he thought of Adam as his own son—and as far as the rest of the world was concerned the boy was—it wasn’t the same as knowing you’d created a life with the woman you loved.
    â€œStunned happy ?”
    Finn swept his wife into his arms and kissed her lingeringly. “Stunned, deliriously happy and of course, relieved.”
    â€œRelieved?”
    â€œRelieved that I won’t have to subject my person to the indignities of medical intervention.”
    â€œWell it was never going to happen, was it?” she pointed out, amused by his squeamish shudder. “I mean, your fertility was never under question—you’ve got Adam.”
    An odd expression flickered momentarily into her husband’s brilliant blue eyes. “God, yes, I hadn’t thought of that.”
    Emily had. She’d only shared her thoughts on the subject once with Finn, who had said he’d strangle her if he heard the word blame in that context again. She’d believed him.
    It was only now that Emily could finally admit that her desire for Finn’s baby had put their marriage under a lot of strain lately.
    Emily linked her fingers behind Finn’s neck and twisted the dark hair that