“Do you think that’s going to happen?”
Zoe dropped her head to her chest. “My luck isn’t that good. I wish it were. I briefly thought about giving up the baby for adoption, but I doubt he would go for that. So here I am, unexpectedly expecting.” She looked at her friend. “What are you thinking? Are you mad?”
Jen hugged her tight. “I love you. Why would I be mad?” She drew back and smiled. “I know this isn’t about me, but I’m super thrilled that you’re going to have a baby. I’ve been the only one of my friends with a kid. I think it will be fun to have that to share. I can tell you all about pregnancy and a newborn. I want to help however I can.”
Zoe wasn’t ready for any actual information, but knowing she had a supporter was a big help.
“What’s next?” Jen asked.
“I’m going to go see my dad. Then I have to suck it up and tell Chad. I’m not looking forward to that.”
“You think he’s going to want to be involved with the baby?”
Zoe glanced toward the carousel and back. “I know he is. He has a lot of flaws, but he loves his kids. Of course, maybe he just loves those two. Maybe he’ll want to ignore mine. Wouldn’t that be great.” Not having to deal with Chad would make things much easier. “I’m going to look online and find out what’s involved with a father letting go of his parental rights.”
“If he doesn’t want to do that, he’s going to have to pay child support,” Jen pointed out. “That might scare him into going away. If that’s what you really want.”
Zoe held up a hand. “I’m totally over him. I swear. I would like nothing more than to have him gone.” She would rather have to deal with her child on her own than have to work things out with Chad.
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed,” Jen promised. “Let me know how I can help. Lucas might know a good lawyer who can help, if it comes to that. Or some of my mom’s friends. She knows a lot of people.”
Jen hugged her again. “Poor you. What a mess. Just know that once you have your baby, it’s all worth it.”
Zoe hugged her back and hoped she was telling the truth.
* * *
Zoe left the POP and started for home. At the intersection by her house, she went left instead of right, then turned down another street and drove a mile into the older part of Mischief Bay. She parked outside her father’s house and called on her cell.
“Zoe! I was just thinking about you. How are you?”
She had planned on saying she was fine. Of course, she was fine. She was...
Unexpected tears burned in her eyes and her throat burned. “D-Dad,” was all she was able to get out.
“What’s wrong? Where are you? Zoe? Have you been in an accident?”
She shook her head, not that he could see. “I’m okay. I just... Can I come talk to you?”
“Of course. I’m home. Where are you? I’ll come to you.”
“I’m out front.”
She was going to say more, but there was a click and she knew he’d disconnected the call. Seconds later, the front door opened and her father barreled toward her, Mariposa at his heels. He ran to her car and pulled open the driver’s door.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he drew her to her feet. “Are you hurt?”
She gave in to the tears and hung on. Her dad was big and strong and he’d always been there for her. She trusted he would be now, although she was terrified to tell him what had happened. What if he was mad at her? What if he rejected her?
Her heart whispered that wouldn’t happen, but irrational fear was stronger than love and common sense.
Mariposa jumped up and down next to them, barking, as if also concerned. Zoe finally drew back enough to scoop up the little dog.
“Group hug,” she said, stepping close to her father again, the little dog tucked between them.
When she’d finally caught her breath, she sniffed, then wiped her face. Mariposa licked her cheek, as if offering her own kind of comfort.
“I’m okay,” Zoe said.
“Let’s go inside.”
They walked into the house. She sank onto the living room sofa, Mariposa settling next to her. Miguel pulled up an overstuffed chair. He sat with his forearms on his knees, his gaze intense.
“Tell me.”
For the third time she explained about Chad and the stupid sex and the failure of her birth control.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispered. “I’m pregnant.”
Her father groaned. “Is that all? I thought you were dying.”
“I’m perfectly healthy, but there’s going to be a baby.”
Miguel crossed to sit next to her. “A baby is a good thing. Look what you grew into.”
That made her laugh. She angled toward him and leaned back into the corner of the sofa. “I’m scared, Dad. And confused. I don’t want to deal with any of this, but I have to.”
“You’re feeling okay?”
“I feel fine. No morning sickness, nothing. I feel stupid, but that’s not the baby’s fault.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I had sex with Chad. I knew better. I knew it was over. But he’d been calling and I caved. This is a really high price to pay for a moment of weakness.”
“You’ll be fine. Who else knows?”
“Jen and Steven. I haven’t told Chad yet.”
“You’re going to have to.”
“I know. I just wish I didn’t have to. It’s one thing for me to have this baby on my own. It’s another to have to deal with him.” Forever, she thought grimly. No matter what—for the rest of their lives, they would have to deal with their child. It was a horrible thing to consider.
“You should marry him.”
Zoe stared at her father. “Excuse me?”
“He got you pregnant. It’s the right thing to do.”
“No way. You hate him. You said he was terrible for me and you were glad when we broke up.”
“That’s true, but now you’re pregnant. It’s different.”
“This isn’t 1880. I’m not marrying Chad.” She shuddered. “He was a horrible boyfriend. He would be a worse husband.” She narrowed her gaze. “Don’t you dare say that I should have thought of that before.”
“I wouldn’t. I only want you to be happy. Zoe, being a single mother is going to be hard.”
“Mom did it.”
“You weren’t an infant and I was there.”
“I have support, too. I’ll be fine.”
Marry Chad. As if. Jeez. “I liked it better when you thought I was dying.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. What can I do to help?”
“Stop telling me to marry Chad. Other than that, just be my dad. I’m confused and scared and I’m going to have a baby. That’s a lot.”
“It is.” He sighed. “I can’t even offer you a margarita.”
“Tell me about it. I had to give up coffee, as well. It’s horrible.”
He chuckled, then looked at her. “A baby. I’m going to be a grandfather.”
She grinned. “So much for the younger women.”
He waved his hand. “I gave them up years ago. Still, a grandfather.” He laughed. “I like it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Pam tossed her phone on the sofa. She hadn’t heard from Miguel in three days. They’d been texting regularly and suddenly he’d gone quiet. She didn’t know what to do with that information. Was he sick? Had he met someone else? Not that they were actually dating-dating, so she shouldn’t care who he was seeing. Although she had to admit she had been enjoying his company. More than she thought she would.
Worse, she felt funny. Unsettled. Confused. She hadn’t felt this way since she’d been sixteen and had a mad cru
sh on a boy who never noticed her. She was far too old to have those kinds of feelings. Maybe it was the flu.
She got up and walked into the kitchen to check on the spinach dip she had heating in the oven. Steven had called to say he wanted to stop by. Company business, she thought as she put tortilla chips on a plate. She’d invited him to dinner, but he’d told her he couldn’t stay. Still, she’d made snacks.
She set out the chips, along with some cut-up fruit. She knew that Steven worked out and she was sure he tried to eat right, but she doubted he got any fruit at all.
She buzzed him in shortly before five and met him at the door.
“Hi,” she said, surprised he didn’t have his briefcase with him. “Aren’t I signing papers?”
“What? No. This isn’t about work.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Why not?”
He kissed her cheek. “Because everything at the office is fine.”
“Oh.” Then why was he here?
He picked up a barking, dancing Lulu and rubbed the side of her face. “How’s my rocker chick girl?” he asked. “Feeling good? I like the shirt.”
It was a lavender one proclaiming Lulu as a Hot Babe. Probably not politically correct, Pam thought, but she liked it.
They walked into the kitchen. Pam got Steven a beer and poured a glass of white wine for herself. She pointed to the table.
“You must be hungry.”
He eyed the food. “You didn’t have to go to any trouble.”
“I don’t mind. It’s nice to cook for someone.”
Her son hesitated a second before sitting down. When she was settled across from him, she sipped her wine. “So what’s up?”
Time and practice allowed her to read her children fairly well. She could tell whatever Steven wanted to talk about, it wasn’t horrible, but he was nervous. If not work then...
Zoe, she thought, doing her best not to smile. Of course. They’d fallen in love. It was serious and he wanted her to know.
While it seemed a little quick, she wasn’t surprised. They were great for each other. She’d guessed that from the start. Now that Zoe was over horrible Chad, she could get involved with Steven. Maybe he wanted to get engaged! She would like another wedding in the family. Plus, with no mother of the bride, she could help. She’d loved being a part of planning Jen’s wedding.
“It’s about Zoe,” Steven began.
Pam did her best to wait patiently. “Uh-huh?”
“I like her a lot.”
“I’m glad. She’s lovely. Smart, kind. She and Jen have been friends for years.”
“I know.” He looked at her.
For a second, she was reminded of how much he looked like John at that age. If only her husband was still with them, she thought with a combination of love and pain. He would be enjoying all of this.
“I see a lot of potential with her,” he continued. “I think she might be the one.”
“It’s a little soon for that, isn’t it?” she said before she could stop herself. “How well do you know her? I like her and she’s been Jen’s friend forever, but you have to be sure before you jump in.”
Steven grinned. “Oh, Mom, it’s nice to know that some things never change.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m sure you do. How you love to assume the worst about any situation. At least we all know where Jen gets her crazy from.”
“I’m not crazy.”
“I know, I know.” He held up both hands. “I’m simply pointing out you go right for the worst-case scenario. And you know what? Sometimes things work out for the best.”
She pressed her lips together but didn’t speak.
His smile faded. “For what it’s worth, I’m going to take it slow with Zoe. I just want you to know, she’s important to me.”
She liked all that he was saying, but there was still something. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He paused for a second, and then said, “She’s pregnant.”
“What?” She nearly came out of her chair. Lulu looked up from her bed, as if concerned there was a crisis. “That’s not possible. Did you do it the first day? What—aren’t you wearing a condom?”
“Mom. Stop. You’re not listening.”
“Pregnant? Are you sure?” Pam felt her stomach drop. No. That wasn’t possible. Zoe being pregnant so quickly would ruin everything.
“It’s not my baby.”
Pam blinked. Not his? No... “It’s Chad’s baby? She had sex with Chad? When? They were supposed to have broken up? Did she cheat on you?”
“Stop talking,” he said gently. “Let me finish before you start jumping to conclusions.”
“How can I not jump?” She pressed her lips together. “Fine. Talk.”
“A couple of months ago, Zoe and Chad hooked up. It was a onetime thing.”
He kept talking, explaining about a birth control shot gone wrong and an unexpected pregnancy. Pam listened, as he’d requested, but every new statement hit her like a slap.
Zoe had told her that she’d had sex with her ex, but at the time, Pam hadn’t cared. Things were different now. Zoe was dating her son. And pregnant with another man’s child. It was totally unacceptable.
“Is she keeping the baby?”
A ridiculous question, she thought the second she asked it. Of course she was. Otherwise, why would anyone need to know?
“She is.”
Of all the... Pam drew in a breath as a more horrifying thought occurred to her. “Why did you tell me you liked her? You’re not staying with her, are you? You can’t keep seeing her.”
“Mom,” he began.
“No. Listen to me, Steven. You don’t need this kind of trouble. You don’t want to have to deal with someone else’s kid. Do you know how difficult that will be? Chad will be in your life every single day. You won’t be able to escape him. You won’t even be the baby’s father. Chad will get his say and you’ll have to do whatever he wants. Plus, she slept with him once. How do you know she won’t do it again?”
“Mom!”
“I’m simply pointing out she’s obviously not as over him as we all thought. Who’s to say she won’t go back to him?”
“She won’t.”
“So she says now. I don’t like this, Steven. It’s not right. You deserve better.” There was so much danger, she thought frantically. How could he not see that? He could be hurt—desperately hurt. Zoe and Chad would have all the power and Steven would have nothing.
He stared at her. “I thought you liked Zoe.”
“I do, but this is different. You’re my son.” She sensed he wasn’t listening. Or if he was, he wasn’t understanding. “I’m serious. You don’t need this kind of hassle. No one does. Walk away while you still can. Let her go. You’ll find someone else. There are lots of attractive, smart women out there who would be thrilled with you.”
Her son’s expression hardened. “Stop it. I mean it. I appreciate that you want to take my side in this, but you really need to stop talking before you say something we’ll both regret.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not giving up Zoe. I meant what I said. I think we have something special and I want to see it through.”
“Even though she’s pregnant with someone else’s child? Even though you’ll never really be that baby’s father? Even with Chad and their past?”
“Yes.”
“You’re wrong. I can’t believe you don’t see that. Steven, listen to me. I know people who have divorced and remarried. It’s never easy. There are always adjustment issues. Why would you sign up for that? You have to reconsider.”
“I don’t.” He stood. “Mom, I knew you’d take it badly. I hoped I was wrong, but I see t
hat I wasn’t at all. Even so, I hoped for something else. Something supportive. I guess that was my mistake.”
“Steven!”
He put down his beer and walked out. Before she could go after him, she heard the door close and he was gone.
* * *
Jen shook the pills out onto her hand and paused before shrugging and downing them all with a big gulp of water. She’d been to see the specialist Lucas had recommended. She’d met with Alana, who had listened sympathetically then arranged for blood work. While that was being processed, she’d started Jen on a mild antianxiety medication and some general supplements. Nothing scary. Just normal, friendly sounding vitamins with a few other things—all available at her neighborhood health food store—along with the single prescription.
She’d also insisted that Jen drink at least sixty-four ounces of water a day, write down five things for which she was grateful and spend fifteen minutes sitting in a quiet room. Not meditation, Alana had insisted when Jen had rolled her eyes. Just quiet. So she could start to remember what it was like to listen to herself.
None of the instructions were especially onerous or even surprising, yet after only a few days, Jen already felt different. Slightly more in control and less panicky. She knew that the medication would take a few weeks to reach the proper dosage in her body, but she was happy to experience the placebo effect. Whatever worked.
She put the orange juice container back in the refrigerator, then began clearing the kitchen table. Breakfast had become a bigger deal. Lucas could go all day without eating, but he did enjoy a big breakfast. Kirk would happily eat any kind of egg dish put in front of him, and Jack seemed to thrive on the extra male attention.
With Lucas in the house, Jen no longer fed her son at his small table for breakfast and lunch. Instead she used the high chair at the kitchen table. Lucas was happy to keep Jack company. Like now. The two of them were hanging out in the sunroom. Lucas reading the paper while Jack played with one of his toy trucks. Jen could keep an eye on both of them from the kitchen.
Kirk came in, dressed for work. “I gotta go,” he said. “Court this morning, then casework this afternoon.”
A Million Little Things--A Novel Page 21
