A Partridge and a Pregnancy (Holiday Brothers, #3)

by Willa Nash

“On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me.” Tobias had always loved it in college when I’d make up stupid songs in the shower. He’d sneak into the bathroom and sit on the toilet to listen. He’d often scared the hell out of me when I’d pulled back the curtain and there he’d been, those blue eyes dancing at my ridiculous lyrics. “Eva, what the hell is—” I held up a finger. “Three French hens. Two turtle doves.” I opened my eyes, slid my hand out of my pocket and threw the stick at him. Tobias snagged it from the air. “And a partridge and a pregnancy.”

Sure, Tobias had loved me too. Of that, I had no doubt. Maybe I hadn’t loved him enough to give up my dreams. But he hadn’t loved me enough to change his plans. He hadn’t loved me enough to ask me to stay.

There was a truck in the driveway, parked beside my space. My heart did a little flip. It always flipped for Tobias. I wasn’t sure why he was here, waiting on my porch. But it was nice to come home and not be alone.

Kids needed homes. They needed a resting place. They needed roots and routine. I had all of those in spades.

If Eva was going to fight for London and the next move and the next move, then I’d fight her for my child. And she’d hate me. She’d fucking hate me. But my kid was worth the fight. And I’d just drawn the battle lines with a kiss.

Why couldn’t she see how much sense we made? How good our life could be? How good we were together? I was a fucking fool. She’d leave me again. Just like she had before. This time, with my child.

No one would compare to Tobias. Maybe that was why I’d never wanted another man. I didn’t need experience to know, in my soul, that I’d already had the best.

“Why hasn’t he asked us to stay?” I whispered, sliding a hand across my belly. The baby didn’t have an answer. Neither did I.

Today’s doubts were paralyzing. They kept me pinned to my chair, even as my name was called. Even as the plane taxied down the runway. Even as it took flight without me.

Was this really a home if my heart was on its way to London?

I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m looking at my family. I’m staring at my home.”

Then we sang along. And at the end, when we got to our version, we both changed the lyrics. Two turtle doves, And a partridge and a pregnancy.