The Only Choice (The Choices Trilogy #3) by Dee Palmer

with his tall sleek frame, his eyes hold suspicion and disbelief, his expression is waiting for the punch line.
    “Had one boyfriend but not since I was sixteen. No time.” I smile but I know it doesn’t even touch my cheeks.
    His fingers trace my hairline and he tucks my wild hair, momentarily taming it behind my ear. “You have time now.” His words are soft and heartfelt. I hold his fingers stopping them from repeating his intimate touch.
    “Ethan I can’t. Please.” I can’t express how sorry I am for everything. How bad I feel I can’t return a fraction of what he clearly feels for me. Other than friendship, I have nothing and given what’s going on inside me right now I’m sad that I never will. He leans and gently kisses my cheek.
    “Ok Bets, you win.” He lets out a deep breath, a flash of sadness passes over his gaze rapidly replaced with a wicked grin. “For now.” He swoops quickly to kiss my cheek before he turns his back and walks away. I close the door and fall with my back flat letting out a frustrated growl. I don’t feel like I’ve won anything.
    “Sooo Ethan eh?” Marco is leaning against the hall the wedge of a slice of pizza poised to drop into his open mouth.
    “Not going there Marco.” I sigh resignedly; his expression changes from cocky to concerned in an instant. Clearly sensing that I am tired, emotional and on the raggedy edge he puts his one free arm around me, squeezing and steering me to the sofa for a much needed cuddle.

MY APPOINTMENT WITH Dr.Ward the following week was no surprise. I had read and re read every leaflet but there was never a question that I wouldn’t be keeping the baby. I know living at home when I was younger my sister Kit had joked that abortion was an alternative to contraception; it chilled me then as the thought of that choice does now. It is a choice but how ever unplanned, I feel strangely settled that this is my choice and my choice alone. It’s not ideal, it’s not perfect and its far far away from being a fairy tale ending but I’ll survive. I am not alone, I have the most amazing family that nature neglected to give me but I also have a new family that nature did. I have some security, although how extensive I am still mostly in denial but I know I will be able to provide for the two of us. My only decision has been to keep it secret until after the wedding.
    Sofia has been planning her big day since the age of seven, when she hand stitched Barbie her very own designer wedding dress because the shop one wasn’t good enough. Sofia has orchestrated the most amazing day and I would never forgive myself if I did anything to detract from that. She in particular has a large extended family all expected to come so both Sofia and Paul have put an inordinate amount of effort in to their day. This wedding is very much about the day.
    I have made my follow up appointments and am now armed with more literature regarding antenatal care, prenatal vitamins and a list of what to expect that would easily bring on sickness if I wasn’t already feeling sick, all the damn time. I push these to the bottom of my bag and make my way through Green Park and on toward Piccadilly to the American Diner, where I am meeting Tom for brunch. We spoke last week, presumably because Ethan had told him of my break up. It was sweet he thought to check up on me and even more impressive he managed to ask questions without being intrusive. I told him as much and he laughed explaining that particular talent had served him well and anytime I wanted he would teach me all his secret interrogation techniques. The Diner is busy, intimate booths of dark oak line one side and the décor is tasteful Americana but not a pastiche of the nineteen fifties. It is classic, iconic, original American. Tom towers over the partition separating the booths and waves me over. I remove my jacket and slide in along the dark red leather bench, pushing my bag underneath the seat.
    We order and because I