The Bound Between Us

Chapter 1002

Katelyn was just joking around, tossing out a comment without a second thought.

Autumn was in her fifties-pregnancy at her age was pretty much unheard of. Most women she knew had already gone through menopause.

But sometimes, a joke lands in a way you don't expect.

Autumn's heart did a little flip. She thought of all those years she hadn't gotten pregnant, how her body had never really recovered after that miscarriage. It just wasn't in the cards for her-at least, that's what she'd always believed.

She pressed a hand to her nose, her face a touch pale. "Katelyn, you always mess with me. It's probably just my stomach acting up. I haven't had much of an appetite lately. Honestly, if I told anyone I was pregnant at my age, they'd laugh me out of the room."

"What's so funny about that?" Katelyn grinned. "You and Mr. Walker never had kids-maybe Riverdale really is good for the soul. You never know. It's never too late for a woman to have a baby."

Katelyn's words lingered in Autumn's mind, stubborn as a weed.

She barely touched her dinner, just ordered a sour plum drink and sipped it slowly, lost in thought.

Lately, she'd been craving sour things. Anything else, anything too rich, just made her queasy.

After dinner, driving home, it hit her-her period really was late this month. On a whim, she stopped by the pharmacy for a pregnancy test.

At her age, buying a pregnancy test felt beyond embarrassing. She put on a mask, bundled herself in her coat, sneaking around like she was up to no good. Back home, she slipped into her room, feeling like a teenager up to mischief.

She knew she was probably overreacting, but she just had to be sure. She took the test, nerves jangling.

Those few seconds waiting for the result felt endless.

One line. Then... two?

stared, wide-eyed, at the two red lines.

eyes, she took another test. And another. All three were

a rush of joy, then a flood of

baby... might not be

and now, after just one night with Devin Brown-she

were, this was

had never dreamed of becoming a mother again, not at this

Maybe, just maybe, her late daughter Julie had

and spilled down her cheeks. She gently touched her belly and made

the tests. She played it

to the hospital to get the news

was your last period?" the

giving a

match up, just in case Mr. Walker started

difference-no one would

results were clear:

the date she'd given, she was

Autumn took

report, a mix

swirling inside

it's safe for me to have a baby at

"You're fifty-five. This is a high-risk pregnancy. I really think you

being encouraged to go through with

"Thank you,

asked for prenatal vitamins and

hand,