by Mary Smith
“The nurses are cleaning her up,” Janan tells me. “They’ll bring her back.”
I lay my head back, closing my eyes and everything goes black.
I JOLY MYSELF awake and frantically look around the hospital room. “Janan.” I reach for my cousin. “Where is she?”
“Hey.” Janan smiles, sitting on the side of my bed. “She’s right there.” She points to my left and holding my baby girl is Hamilton.
“She’s still asleep.” He stands and places her in my arms.
“Oh my God.” I breathe, looking at her stunning face. “She looks like Teo.” It’s the first time I’ve said his name in months. My daughter has his heart shaped face and chunky cheeks. She has a head full of brown hair, a shade lighter than mine. “Does she have his eyes?” I glance up at Janan.
She nods. “The doctor said they may change, but she has pale blue eyes right now.”
I smile. It’s the one thing I wished for the most. Sure, I shouldn’t have because Teo is an ass, but I love his eyes.
“Has Uncle Tad or Uncle Oliver come yet?” I ask, stroking my baby’s cheek.
“They’re actually down the hall,” Hamilton tells me.
“Why?”
“Shade Wooten’s wife Jenessa had their baby boy last night.” Hamilton sounds sad telling me something is wrong. Shade is a teammate of Hamilton’s.
“What happened?”
“The cord was around his little neck and he didn’t make it.” Janan chokes up.
I gasp, holding my baby tighter. “How horrible.”
“Listen.” Hamilton sits behind Janan on my bed. “Teo is there now.”
My heart stops. “He can’t come in here.” If he saw her he would know instantly.
“He won’t. I promise.” Hamilton swears.
“If you would please pass on my condolences to Shade and his wife.”
“I will. I’m heading over there in a moment when your uncles come over.”
Just as he finishes Uncle Tad and Uncle Oliver come in, grinning when they see me and the baby.
“Let me see my great niece.” Uncle Tad holds out his arms and I hand her over. “Have you decided on a name yet?”
“I’m thinking of two different ones.” I decided to stay with traditional Swedish names or at least popular ones. My daughter is half Swedish and even though I don’t know all the traditions, I’ll try my best to keep up what I do know. As long as Google doesn’t steer me wrong.
“Nova.” Uncle Oliver sits where Janan had been since she and Hamilton headed over to Shade and Jenessa’s room. “I’m so very proud of you, but Teo is in the next room.”
“Please.” I beg. “I can’t because he threatened to take her. I can’t lose her.”
He takes a deep breath. “I will support you in whatever you pick, but as a man, I would want to know my daughter.”
I nod. “I can’t lose her.” I repeat and tears fill my eyes.
“I know.” He hugs me. “Just be strong, but someone will figure this out. He will come back to ask you about her. Plus you need to think of your baby. She will want to know him and she will ask about him. Nova, think about all the times you asked about your father.”
“You’re right.” I wipe the falling tears from my cheeks.
“I’m not saying these things to be mean to you. I love you and I will protect you and the baby for as long as I breathe. But just think about what I’m saying.”
“I will. I promise. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
After a little bit, Hamilton and Janan come back and my family stays, passing my baby girl around. I love having this support system. Time seems to fly and they have to leave since the Bears have a playoff game tonight.
One of the nurses came in and helped me with the breastfeeding. I read all the books about the health benefits for my baby girl and myself. Thankfully, she latches right on, and it’s the strangest sensation but rewarding. I burp her, change her, swaddle her, and love her more than anything ever.
Once I’m alone I stare down at her beautiful face. “Oh, baby girl, I promise to love you and be there for you. I will always put you first. I won’t always be right because I have no clue what I’m doing, but I’ll try my best every single moment. But right now, we need to figure out your name.” Her eyes are closed and even though she has opened them a few times. She’s so much like Teo already. “Well, I picked two names out, and I can’t make this choice on my own. See, you’re part Swedish and I found two popular names on this site. I know, it’s sad Google is going to be my partner in this, but it’s the best I got. So, let’s pick a name.”
I adjust her in my arms and grab my phone.
“First choice is Mara. Mara Long. How does that sound?” I mull it over a few times, but it doesn’t sit right with me. “How about Klara? Klara Long.” Just then, she opens her eyes and stares right into mine. “Klara? You like it.” I stroke her cheek softly. “All right then, you’re now Klara Long, daughter of Nova Long and…” I feel the tears coming. “Just Nova Long. You’re all mine.”
The tears fall as Klara closes her eyes. The night it all changed comes rushing back to my memory. I had taken all those pregnancy tests and was a wreck. I had rushed to his house after I finished throwing up and changed my outfit three times. I wanted it all to be perfect when I told him the truth. When I walked into their townhouse, I was greeted by Alden Brockman and he told me Teo and Nathan were out on their back porch.
It’s out there I heard the conversation.
“I didn’t know she was coming over tonight. She texted me like an hour ago.” I overhear Teo state.
He invited me to come, right?
“She said she needed to talk to me.” He sighs.
“What do you think she wants?” Nathan asks.
“Fuck if I know. She’s nothing but a clingy whiny baby, but her family is wealthy. That’s why I dated her. Of course the sex sucked. She just laid there like a dead fish.”
I covered my mouth to hold back the sob and quietly raced away from Teo and never looked back.
Chapter One
Nova
September
“UNCLE TAD, I’M a wreck. What am I going to do? The doctor told me it was okay to do a little bit, but what if she starts choking? I can’t remember the steps to give Klara the Heimlich maneuver.” I push my hands through my hair and bounce Klara on my hip, pacing the kitchen.
My uncle chuckles as he sits at the kitchen table. “Let me have her.” Klara easily goes to her great uncle and he kisses her cheeks. “Sit and we’ll go through this again.”
I sit down as he puts Klara into her high chair. He stirs the contents in the bowl. Klara’s doctor told me since she was on the bigger side for a four month old, I was to begin giving her some food and gave me a list to try in the mornings. Uncle Tad puts a small amount of baby cereal on the baby spoon and feeds it to my daughter.
“See.” He beams. “Just a small amount.” He shows me again.
Klara is happily eating and having a good time. She doesn’t seem to be choking or not liking it. Her big pale blue eyes shine. The doctor said they should get darker, but they are lighter and brighter. Like Teo’s.
“You try.” Uncle Tad switches places with me.
My hands are shaking, but I manage to feed her almost all the cereal before she starts turning her head away. I know she’s full. Uncle Tad talks about his day. I try not to ask about Teo even though I want to know. I may have even Googled him once or twice. I know, deep down, I shouldn’t be hung up on him, but I can’t let it go.
“I’m heading out, Nova.” He kisses Klara’s and my forehead before leaving.
“All right, my little monkey,” I pick her up, “let’s get you changed and then off to daycare so Mama can go to work.”
Until I had Klara, I never knew how much one tiny person needed to have with her at all times. It’s like moving out every single day, but I love it.
The very first day I dropped her off at the daycare, I sobbed a
nd Klara was fine. I have to work though. Between the medical bills, and time off, my trust fund is gone. Uncle Oliver begged and begged to give me money. I refused because he gave me a job. Right now, I’m living in a house he just happened to have and claimed he needed someone to housesit. I’ve been here since July. Everything is in Uncle Oliver’s name, so I receive no bills. When I try to give him a check for bills, he’ll take it, but it never comes out of my checking account. The couple times I asked him he said he’ll cash it later. Still hasn’t happened.
After dropping Klara off, I rush over to the New Hampshire Bears arena where my office is located. I am working for Joshua Carmichael, one of the attorneys for the Bears. Mostly he handles the players’ contracts. He works closely with Connor Phillips the general manager of the Bears.
Joshua is a great boss. He’s in his mid-forties, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and tall. He’s almost as tall as Hamilton. I’m a simple five foot four girl and have to look up at everyone. I’m hoping Klara is taller than average.
I finish typing my fingers away on several memos Joshua needs and then grab him another cup of coffee. If I know, or learned, anything the man loves coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
“Joshua.” I knock on the door. When I first started, I constantly called him Mr. Carmichael, until he finally told me to stop.
“Come in, Nova.”
I push the door open and try not to look at the unorganized mess he has. There are papers, files, and everything in between around him, on the chairs, and even on the floor. “I brought the memos for review and a cup of coffee.”
“Thank you.”
I hand him the cup first and then the memos. “Do you need anything else?”
“No, not right now.” He smiles at me.
“I’m going to run the files upstairs and I’ll be right back.”
He nods and goes back to the memos as I head to Uncle Oliver’s office. Peggy smiles as I pass her and knock on his door. As he calls me to enter I push the door open and falter on my heels but catch myself really fast. Uncle Oliver is sitting at his table with Alden Brockman, Nathan Paxton, Hamilton, Cabel Dirks, and...Teo.
“I apologize. I can come back.” I start walking backward trying not to look at Teo.
“No. Come in,” Uncle Oliver says. “This is an informal meeting. You’re much more important.”
Damn. “I have the contracts you need.” I hold my head up and walk over to him. Still trying not to look at Teo.
“Nova, you got hot.” Everyone knows Alden Brockman is the bluntest man-slut of the Bears and has a hidden good heart. “You look like you lost weight too.” He blatantly looks me up and down.
He’s not wrong. Right before I became pregnant, I was close to a size ten. After Klara, and eating healthier since I’m breastfeeding, I’m down to a size four, closer to a size two. Plus, I chopped off my long brown hair and went with an A-line haircut and darkened it up a bit.
“You work here now?” Alden continues to stare at my chest.
“Yes,” I answer. “I work with Mr. Carmichael.” Don’t look at Teo. Don’t look at Teo.
“I heard you had your baby, Nova. Congrats.” Nathan Paxton smiles.
I always liked Nathan. He’s a sweet guy. Really an All-American guy, even though he’s Swedish. When Teo and I dated, Nathan was his roommate and always so kind to me.
He wouldn’t say hurtful things about his girlfriend and then threaten her.
“What did you have, Nova?” Cabel asks.
Like Nathan, Cabel is very kind. He’s the oldest member of the team and more like a father figure for the younger ones. I glance at Hamilton, and he gives me an encouraging smile. I can’t be rude to him–it’s a simple question. Teo won’t be able to figure out she’s his from the information.
“I had a girl. She’s four months old.” I smile thinking of my baby girl.
“She’s teething, isn’t she?” Cabel has two daughters of his own and has been through this already.
“Yes, she’s beginning to.” I know from the constant drooling and swollen bottom gums the first one is soon to break through. “The doctor is even more impressed that she’s sitting on her own and up on her knees. She told me it’s very rare for a four month old to crawl, but my daughter is ready to take off.” I giggle thinking of the last doctor visit when I showed how Klara progressed.
“Wow. Leia was around six months old. Bria just rolled around everywhere until she stood up one day.” Cabel chuckles.
“Tell us, Nova, what’s it like to have a baby and living with Hamilton?” Alden grins. “He’s an asshole, right?”
I smile. “Hamilton’s great and I don’t live with him and Janan anymore.”
“You don’t?” Teo speaks up for the first time, and I give him a quick glance.
“No, I’m housesitting one of Uncle Oliver’s properties until it sells.” I explain looking down at my feet.
“I’d figured you and the baby daddy would be all cozy together.” Alden jokes.
“No, no. He’s not in the picture.” I turn more to Alden and away from Teo.
“What did you name her?” Cabel asks.
“Nova.” Uncle Oliver brings the attention back to him. Perfect timing.
Klara’s name, according to Google, is a popular Swedish name, and I didn’t want to be questioned about it. Especially by Teo. I can feel his eyes are on me–burning into my skin.
“Take these back to Joshua.” He hands back the folders.
I nod with a smile. “Bye, guys.” I glance at Teo once more. Man, Klara looks identical to him. I quickly turn and rush away from his stunning pale blue eyes.
I SIT ON the floor next to Klara as she plays, rolls, and rocks on her knees. Amazed. Since the doctor said it’s very rare for this to happen at four months old, I thought this meant she’s a genius, however, the doctor said that’s not the case.
“Alright, little monkey, I think it’s time for a bath and bedtime.”
Klara glances over at me and smiles.
“No, young lady, you’re not going to bat those pale blue eyes and think you’ll be staying up late tonight.” I kiss her chubby cheek and pick her up.
I’m lucky with Klara. She’s a good baby. She only cries when she’s hungry or overly tired. Even then her cries are more like whimpers. Right now, since she’s beginning to teeth, she’s a little bit louder, but I know it’s because she’s in pain.
I give her a warm bath, a bottle with breast milk, and then rock her to sleep. I place her gently in the crib and then my night begins. I clean up the toys, do some laundry, and grab a snack since I really didn’t eat a lot at dinner. I thought about reading a book, but my brain isn’t functioning on that level right now. Instead, I take a hot shower, put on some warm pajamas, and curl up on the couch to watch mindless TV. I flip through my VUDU but skip The Big Bang Theory. I’ve not watched it since Teo and I dated. I’m about to fall asleep when a knock on my door jolts me awake.
“Uncle Oliver?” I glance through the peephole and open the door. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He smiles and walks in. “I need to talk to you for a moment. I hope it’s not too late.”
“No.” Actually, it isn’t late at all as I glance at the clock. It’s barely ten o’clock. “Do you want something to drink or eat?”
“No, I’m here to talk business.” He sits down on the couch.
“Did you sell the house?” I sit next to him.
He smirks, and I know he hasn’t because I’m still here. “No. However, Peggy has put in her notice.”
“Oh no.” I gasp. Peggy has been with him for years.
Uncle Oliver rubs his belly. His silver hair is beginning to thin more and more over the years. I think the past year or so he’s put on more weight. He calls it his bourbon barrel.
“I’m a little heartbroken. She’s picking her husband over me.” He jokes.
“Peggy loves her husband.” I giggle. I think they love each other a little over the top, but they�
��re cute.
“Anyway, he’s been transferred and she gave me her notice today.” He sighs.
“I’m sorry. I know she’s your right hand.” I pat his shoulder.
“I talked to Joshua and he said you’re doing great.” He beams proudly.
“I try. I mainly get coffee.”
“Nova, you know I love you as if we were blood, even Janan.”
“I know.”
“I have no children or family besides you girls, Klara and Taden.”
I sit up straighter. “You’re making me nervous, Uncle Oliver.”
“I’m not dying.” He chuckles. “I want you to take Peggy’s place.”
My mouth drops. “What?”
“I want you to be my assistant. I know it’ll require some traveling so I’ll hire you the best nanny to watch Klara. I’ll sign the house over to you as a bonus. I’ll pay you a good salary and all the benefits you need.” Uncle Oliver’s voice is smooth and even toned.
My heart is racing. This could be a lot of money for me. “Why me? I’m not that good of an assistant.”
“Taden is the only one who knows this. I haven’t even told Janan yet.” Now his tone is slightly stern and he means business.
I nod, unable to speak because my mouth suddenly went dry.
“When I retire and/or die, Janan will get the Cats, you will get the Rams, and together you both will share the Bears. Klara will get the Tigers. My other businesses and dealings will be shared between you and Janan. I want you to start working by my side and start learning the business. You have no real excuse because I know you’re not in school.”
My heart stops and I’m not sure I’m breathing at this point. Is he serious? There’s no way he’s telling the truth. He used to joke about Janan and me getting the business, but it was joking. Right? “Uncle Oliver, I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say. I want you to work next to me. I’ll be talking to Janan as well and hope when she’s done with college she’ll want to work with us too.”
He seems to have it all planned out. “She may not. You know she’s changed her major to teaching, and she really likes it.”
