She stares at me a moment like she's not sure what to say next. Then she narrows her eyes at me. "Just tell me what you want. I have things to do."
I stand in front of her. "I want to know who the father is. The REAL father."
"YOU'RE the father." She walks around me to the bed and starts folding sweaters. "Why are you even asking such a ridiculous question?"
Coming up beside her I say, "I know about you and Lars. I know you were with him when we were together."
"Lars?" She laughs. "Please. You seriously think I'd be with someone like Lars? He works a minimum wage job and doesn't even own a car, not to mention he's been with practically every woman in Boston."
"And yet you were sleeping with him for a year. Probably still are."
"We're not—" She clears her throat as she picks up another sweater. "I'm not even going to address such ludicrous accusations."
"They're not accusations. Lars told Star all about your relationship with him. In detail."
"You got this information from Star?" She turns to me, her hand on her hip. "The girl who stole you from me and would do anything to keep you?" She huffs. "Even you can't be stupid enough to not see her motive here. She's jealous I'm pregnant with your child, and threatened by it. She's afraid you'll leave her to be with me and our baby, not even considering it's the right thing to do."
"Star didn't steal me from you. I broke up with you before I even met Star. And she doesn't have a motive. She doesn't need one. I'm not leaving her, even if this baby IS mine. But I don't think it is. I think you're just saying it's mine because you don't want it to be Lars'."
She says nothing as she picks up another sweater and folds it.
I grab it from her. "Lauren, stop lying to me. And stop lying to yourself. You know this baby isn't mine. Just admit it. You can't hide it forever. I'm getting that paternity test even if I have to take legal action to get it."
She whips her head up and glares at me. "Why are you doing this? Can't you see I'm already under enough stress with the baby and the move and a new job?"
"Yes, and trying to cover up who the father is only adds to your stress. So just end this, Lauren. Get the test and find out who the father is."
"It's you!" Her lips quiver and she collapses down on the bed. "It has to be you," she whispers.
For the first time ever I'm finally seeing her walls crumble. The walls she puts up to hide all her insecurities, like the one that says she's not good enough. That's something I've always known about her but she'd never admit it to me. She wouldn't share anything personal with me, which is another reason our relationship failed.
Shoving her clothes aside I sit beside her. "Lauren, I know this is hard and I know you're panicking right now because this baby wasn't part of your plan. But the plan changed and you need to accept that, just like you need to accept the fact that Lars might be the father."
"It can't be Lars," she says, wiping a tear from her eye. "It just can't. What will people think? My mother? My friends? People at work?"
"That's always been your problem, Lauren. You care too much about what people think instead of doing what makes you happy. Like us. Our relationship. You never really loved me. You were with me because it made sense. Because people approved of us. To everyone else we were the perfect couple and that's what you wanted. Perfection. Even if meant not being happy."
She looks down. "I wanted to love you."
"But you didn't. The two of us just were meant to be. And you can't keep chasing that dream by trying to break up my relationship with Star. Or making me move to New York. Or saying I'm the father of your child."
Her eyes go to mine. "I can't do this on my own."
"You can. And you will. And if it's mine I'll help raise him. It won't just be you."
"And if it's Lars'?" She sighs. "I'm screwed. He can't even take care of himself, let alone a child."
"You don't know that. Maybe he'll step up and be a man when he finds out. Having a child can change a person. Lars might surprise you."
She shakes her head. "Maybe someday but not now. Right now, he's too young. Too immature." Her eyes lift back to mine. "I need it to be yours. You're mature and responsible and you'll be a good father. And if it's yours, people will never know I was with Lars. I can't have anyone knowing that. My mother..." She rolls her eyes. "She'll kill me. I'll never hear the end of it."
"She'll just have to accept it. Lauren, you can't keep worrying about stuff like that. Your focus needs to be on the baby now. Nothing else matters."
She gets up, her back to me. "Could you leave now?"
"Not before you agree to the test."
She sighs. "Fine. I'll call tomorrow and set it up. Now go. Please."
I get up and leave and she shuts the door behind me. On my way out I pass Eve in the living room but keep walking, not saying anything to her and she says nothing to me.
Back at my apartment Star is waiting for me on the couch with Lucky at her side. They both jump up when they see me walk in.
"What happened?" Star asks, running up to me.
"She admitted Lars might be the father."
"She actually told you?"
"Not really," I say, dropping my keys in the bowl. I put my arm around her. "Let's go sit down." When we're on the couch I say, "She didn't come out and tell me she'd slept with Lars but she said enough to confirm it was true."
"And what did you say?"
"Not much. When I got there I was ready to blow up at her for cheating on me and lying about it, but then I just felt sorry for her."
"You felt sorry for her?" Star huffs. "So she's manipulating you again."
"It's not that. I felt sorry for her because she's so focused on what other people expect of her that she can't let herself be happy. I told her that but I don't think it sunk in. Maybe once she has this baby she'll finally realize what's important in life."
"Did she tell you anything about Lars? About their relationship?"
"No, and I didn't ask. I didn't want to know. Knowing she cheated is bad enough. I don't want details."
"What about the test? Did she agree to it?"
"She said she'd set it up tomorrow."
Star leans over and hugs me. "I'm sorry you're having to go through this. Hopefully, we'll have answers soon so we can figure out what to do next."
I pull back and look at her. "You've been amazing through all this. I'd be even more of a mess if it weren't for you."
"I love you. You know I'll always support you." She smiles. "And I owe you. You gave me a place to stay when I lost my apartment. You even bought me clothes."
"You keep forgetting I'm the reason all that stuff happened to you. If it hadn't been for me you'd be—-"
"Living in some crappy apartment with crazy roommates, working that horrible job with the mean boss, and dating losers I met on the internet."
I laugh. "You were going to try online dating?"
"Maybe. Who knows? The point is, you saved me from all that."
"By almost killing you," I remind her.
She shrugs. "It all worked out."
I pull her into my arms and kiss her. "Let's go to bed."
"It's only nine."
"I said bed, not sleep."
She gives me that smile I love and we go to our room.
That night I actually sleep, which I haven't done since finding out about the pregnancy. But I'm feeling better about it now. Seeing Lauren tonight, seeing her show actual emotion, made me think maybe she's starting to change. If so, maybe dealing with her won't be such a nightmare going forward. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking.
The next morning Lauren calls to tell me she arranged for the paternity test for both Lars and me. She says she called Lars after I left last night and told him he might be the father. I was shocked she called him that fast, and even more shocked she actually set up the test. Part of me was sure she was just agreeing to it to get rid of me last night, but maybe she, too, is tired of wondering who the father is and j
ust wants to find out.
Over the weekend Star and I are a nervous wreck as we wait for the results. They aren't due to come in until the middle of next week. Friday was Lauren's last day at the hospital and she'll have a week off to move before starting her new job. Lars actually offered to help her move, which isn't like him at all, according to Star. I really don't know him that well but Star does and said he'd rather be playing video games or skateboarding than doing actual work. So maybe he really will step up and be a man if this baby turns out to be his.
By Monday my nervousness has eased and I'm back to telling myself everything will work out, even if I end up being the father. Worrying about it isn't productive and I need to focus on my patients.
"Dr. Sterling," my nurse says as I'm leaving an exam room. "You have a phone call."
"It'll have to wait. I have a patient in room four."
"Dr. Kellins took room four. She was done early with her previous patient so she took room four so they wouldn't have to wait. The call is on line two."
"I'll take it in my office." I go to my desk and pick up the phone. "Hello, this is Dr. Sterling."
"Corbin, it's Lauren."
"Lauren? Why did you call the office phone?"
"I didn't want you answering your phone with a patient there, especially given why I'm calling."
"This is about the test," I say, sitting down.
"Yes. The results arrived early."
"And?" I ask, my heart beating out of my chest.
There's a long pause and then I hear her sigh. "It's not yours."
I collapse back in my chair, letting out the breath I was holding.
"I haven't told Lars yet," she says.
"Isn't he in New York with you?"
"Yes. He's staying with me. Some things in the apartment needed to be fixed and the landlord said it'd be weeks before he could send the handyman over so Lars is taking care of it."
"Lars knows how to fix things?"
"Surprisingly, he can fix most anything. He said his stepfather taught him when he was younger. Anyway, he's fixing the sink right now."
"Lauren, you need to tell him. I'm sure he's as anxious as I was about the results."
"Yes, but not in the same way."
"Meaning what?"
"He wants this. He wants it to be his."
"He does?"
"He's so excited he even bought a book with baby names. He's been listing off possible names for days. He's driving me crazy."
I smile. "Lauren, that's great. It means he really wants this. He wants to be a dad. And the fact that he helped you move and is fixing up your place shows he's ready for this. He's not as immature and irresponsible as you thought."
"He really has changed since I told him he might be the father. I didn't even know he had this side of him. But I still don't know if there's a future for us. We're so completely different. He didn't even go to college."
"That doesn't mean he won't be a good father. Or a good husband someday."
She laughs. "Husband? My parents would kill me if I married Lars. They'd definitely disown me."
"Stop worrying about them. If you love him, marry him. Star and I are nothing alike but I'm still marrying her."
"You and Star are getting married?" Lauren asks.
"Not yet. I haven't even asked. But I plan to, and if she says yes, I'll marry her without an ounce of hesitation, despite my parents' objections. I don't even care if they come to the wedding. It isn't about them. Same with your parents. You need to do what's right for you, not them, and if Lars is the guy, then go for it."
"I'm really not sure how I feel about him. It's always been casual between us but now...now it feels different. More serious. I'm not used to that."
"Give it some time. Get to know each other. See how things go."
"I guess I could." She pauses. "It's really strange having my ex encourage me to be with the man I was cheating on him with."
"It's all in the past. And right now, the last thing you need is someone telling you what you did wrong. I'm sure your mother's doing plenty of that."
"She is, along with my father."
"I'm just trying to be a friend, Lauren. We were friends long before we dated and probably should have kept it that way."
"Probably," she mutters.
"As your friend, I want you to be happy, and maybe Lars is the guy who'll make you happy."
"Lauren?" I hear a guy say.
"That's Lars. I should go."
"Tell him the results. Don't put it off. Just tell him."
"I will. Goodbye, Corbin."
"Bye."
That might have been the most mature, civilized conversation the two of us have ever had. Maybe she's starting to change because of this baby. A baby she never expected to come into her life but who I have a feeling will change her for the better.
It makes me think of Star and how she came into my life, unexpectedly, and made my life better. I'm so much happier with her. I'm not so serious. I have a more open mind. I'm more positive. I'm just a better person with her.
Leaving my office I see Maya, or Dr. Kellins as she's known around here, going down the hall.
"Hey, Maya."
She turns. "Yes?"
I walk up to her. "Would you mind covering for me for a half hour or so?"
"Sure. Is everything okay?"
I smile. "Better than okay. Everything's great. I'll be back soon. I promise."
I race outside to my car and drive to the coffee shop where Star is working. Walking in, I see her behind the counter. Alexis is there too.
"Hey!" Star goes around the counter and hugs me. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
Star looks back at Alexis. "Can I take a minute?"
"Go ahead," she says with a smile, almost like she already knows the news. Maybe Lauren told her.
"Let's go over here," I say, taking Star to a table near the back. But I don't sit down. I'm too excited about the news.
"What is it?" Star asks. "You're making me nervous."
I smile. "It's not mine."
"The baby?" she asks, hesitantly. "It's not yours? Are you sure?"
"Positive. The test results came back early and it is definitely not mine."
She hugs me. "Corbin, that's great!"
"I wanted to tell you in person. I knew you'd be happy."
She lets me go. "What about you? Are you happy? I know part of you was excited about having a baby."
"But not with Lauren. I'd love to have a baby someday but only with the right person. Hopefully, that person will be you."
She smiles. "I'm hoping that too."
I bring her into my arms. "It's over, and we can finally move forward. Lauren is gone. The baby isn't mine. We can live our lives, just the two of us."
"Don't forget Lucky."
"Yes." I laugh. "And Lucky, our dog-child."
Feelings of relief and happiness wash over me as I hold Star in my arms. Just like our time living apart, this whole thing with Lauren was just another test to see if my relationship with Star was real or just something we both rushed into during a bad time in our lives. And it proved, once again, that it's real. If we made it through this, we can make it through anything.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
One Year Later
Star
"So we'll meet tomorrow at ten?" Brielle asks. She's my lab partner in biology and we have to meet tomorrow to finish up our report.
"Yeah," I tell her. "At the coffee shop."
"See you then!" She walks off as I continue along the path that winds through campus.
I'm back in school now at a four year college. It's summer and I'm only taking one class. In the fall I'll take more. I kept my job at the coffee shop but cut back on my hours now that I'm going to school.
Corbin is still working at the clinic but he's thinking about opening his own practice or maybe partnering with another doctor. He's in no hurry to decide. He likes what he's doing a
nd likes the regular hours, so for now he'll stay where he's at.
We're both really happy, not just with our jobs and school but with each other. Every day together seems better than the last. And every day I wake up wondering if this is real. I used to have the absolute worst luck and now here I am, living with a hot doctor who is also my best friend and the man of my dreams. How is that possible?
My head is so far in the clouds thinking about Corbin that I run into some guy.
"Sorry, I wasn't—" I stop when I look up and see that the guy I slammed into is Corbin. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you." He rubs his wrist. "I think you broke it."
"Seriously?" I ask, reaching for it. "Let me see it."
"I'm kidding." He laughs. "Didn't you see me coming?"
"No. I wasn't paying attention."
"You need to be careful. If you're not paying attention you might run someone over. Believe me, I know this firsthand."
I smile. "But running someone over could lead to love."
He smiles back. "Only if you're lucky."
"Which I'm usually not."
He takes my hand and starts walking. "How was class?"
"Good. Corbin, why are you here?"
"Because I couldn't wait any longer."
"For what?"
He keeps walking, heading toward a park that's next to the campus. It's a gorgeous day. Warm and sunny and not too windy.
"Corbin, are you going to explain what's going on here?" I ask as we cross the road that takes us to the park.
"I was sitting in my office thinking about you, and about us, and I just couldn't wait."
"Couldn't wait for what? I don't get it."
I hear a dog barking, a familiar bark. I turn to my right and see Lucky running toward me, along with Alexis. She's got his leash but he's pulling on her, making her run to catch up.
"Lucky!" I lean down and rub his head as he licks my cheek, his version of hello. "What are you doing with Alexis?"
"I'm the dog walker today," she says with a laugh. "More like runner with this one."
"Sorry about that," Corbin says. "He takes off when he's excited."
"Here you go." She hands him the leash and smiles. "See ya later."
"You're leaving?" I ask, standing up.
Lucky Star Page 25
