"There. What do you think, Fin?" Findlay stepped back and admired the finished greenhouse. It had taken him six weeks to finish. He had painted the words 'Sarah's Place' on a piece of Cedar he had in the shed and hung it over the door.

"It's beautiful, Dad. She would love it."

Findlay studied his daughter. Something was up. Her face was ghost white and even though it was only nine in the morning there were beads of sweat on her top lip. "What's up, Fin? You don't look happy." He frowned and looked from her to the plaque. "Do you think the sign should be lower?"

"No, it's..." Fin spun around and heaved. She put her hands on her knees and retched again.

"Fin! Shit! What's up?" Findlay crouched to look at his daughter's face. "You're sick. Why didn't you say something?"

There were tears in her eyes. Findlay stood and put his arm around her. "Come on. Let's get you inside. Do you want to go see the doc?"

"No." Fin wiped her hand across her mouth. "I'll feel better in a minute."

"How long have you been sick?" Findlay sat her at the table and gave her a glass of water.

"Not long. It comes and goes." She lifted the glass to her lips and swallowed.

Findlay leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Fin. When was the last time you had your period?"

She frowned, put the glass of water on the table and bit her lip in thought. "When I was with Co... Beau."

"Fuck!" Findlay stood and ran his hands through his hair. "Shit. The bastard has got you pregnant." Findlay put his hands on the table and said, "You're sure it was when you were with him?"

"Yes..." Her father hadn't been angry since she'd come home and she didn't want him to be angry again. "Don't be mad. I might not be."

Findlay picked up on her stressed look. "Fin. Honey. You've been home for ten weeks. If you haven't had your period well...? We need to take you in to see the doctor." He stood and said, "If you are, there's not much we can do about it now."

He smiled with affection at his daughter. "Come on, bunny. Go and have a shower and we'll go see Doc Green." Findlay grinned wider. "This house could use a bit of a shake-up anyway." He led Fin towards the bathroom. "We'll repaint the spare bedroom. What do you say?"

Fin couldn't say anything. She burst into tears and threw her arms around her father's neck. "You're not angry?"

"No, honey. Not with you."

Doctor Green walked into the room and sat across the desk from Findlay. "We'll wait until Fin's dressed." He put his hands together and gave Findlay a nod. "How are you anyway, Findlay? You're looking good."

"Yeah, I'm good. I've given up the grog."

The doctor smiled again. "I heard. I can see it's paying off." He nudged his head toward the door of his adjoining examination room. "So, you and Fin are getting on?"

"It's great." Findlay beamed. "She's a good kid."

Robert Green lifted his stethoscope and rolled around the desk on his chair. "How about I check your blood pressure while I've got you here?"

"I'm good but..." Findlay jerked his chin forward. "If you want..."

The air hissed out of the blood pressure bag when Fin entered the room. "What's the matter, Dad?"

Findlay patted her hand. "It's nothing. The doc thought he'd check my blood pressure while we waited for you."

Robert ripped open the Velcro and pulled the plugs out of his ears. "It's good, Findlay, the best I've seen it. Have you got him exercising, Fin?" The doctor chuckled as Fin shook her head. "From memory, you always were a fit bastard, Findlay." He scooted his chair behind the desk and clasped his hands as he said, "Now, Fin. You're pregnant. From the examination, I'd say you're about five months."

"She can't be."

Rod Green focused on Findlay. "What do you mean she can't be? I'm sorry Findlay but the urine test says she's pregnant and by my examination, I'd say five months. Both tests can't be wrong."

"I don't mean that. I mean five months is too far along. He brought her back three months ago and she was with him for two months. That's five months. Fin says she had her period while she was with that bastard."

"He's not a bastard, Dad."

"He is!"

"No, he's not." Tears filled Fin's eyes. "He was good to me. I don't want you to call him a bastard."

Before Findlay could speak again Doctor Green intervened. "Look let's not worry about Beau Hawkins for the moment. If Fin can't be five months, then this baby is big."

He grabbed his pad and wrote. "She needs to go for a scan anyway. That'll tell us how far she is and her due date." He handed Fin the paper. "You have to go to the hospital for the scan. You'll need to make an appointment first. They'll want you to drink a lot of water. The nurses will give you a sheet that tells you what you need to know. Then I'll want to see you back here a couple of days later." He studied Fin's face. "Are you going to tell him? He has a right to know?"

Findlay stood and took Fin by the hand. "That bastard is not coming anywhere near her."

"Dad... he's not a bastard."

Fin is going to be a mother. xoxo

I guess it was inevitable. I think she deserves a vote of support. ♥