The Baby Arrangement

by Lisa Dyson

  His mom surprised him by coming over and hugging him tightly. She had tears in her eyes as she sat down next to him on the sofa. “Tell me about Bree. My goodness. I don’t even know her last name.”

  “Tucker. Her dad is Cal Tucker.”

  “The multimillionaire?”

  “More like billionaire, I think.”

  “You’ve made plans to get married?”

  Nick’s mouth went dry. “No.”

  His mother’s eyebrows rose. “Why not?”

  “Mom, we met on vacation.” How did you tell your mother that her grandchild was conceived because of a vacation fling? Probably better than calling it a one-night stand. “She’d never agree to it anyway.”

  “Have you asked her?”

  He sighed. “She wasn’t even going to tell me about the baby. I found out by accident.”

  “Sounds familiar.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You haven’t asked how I knew about the pregnancy. I found out by accident.”

  The only ones who knew about the pregnancy were Bree and her friends and Pete. He’d told no one else.

  “I overheard Pete and one of Bree’s friends—Roxie, I think—talking. The one in charge of the bartending class.” She rubbed her temple. “When I confronted Pete, he wouldn’t confirm or deny it. And when he told me to talk to you, that confirmed my suspicions.”

  “It’s not the way I wanted you to find out. I just needed time to figure things out first.”

  She nodded. “I understand. But you know you can come to me with anything. You’re an adult and can make your own decisions. I’m not going to judge you.”

  He was relieved that she was taking this so well. Although he should have known she would.

  “So tell me what the plan is now that you’ve decided not to get married.” She smoothed her hair back from her face. “Shared custody?”

  He shook his head. “That’s probably not going to happen. Everything is still up in the air. The only definite thing I know is that Bree has no plan to end the pregnancy.” He hesitated. “Actually, there are two things decided. Bree doesn’t want to raise the baby and wants to put it up for adoption.”

  “Adoption!” His mom jumped up from her seat. “You can’t let her do that.”

  “Calm down, Mom.” He gently pulled on her arm until she sat down again. “She can’t just put the baby up for adoption without my approval, and I already told her I wouldn’t give it.”

  His mother brushed a tear from her cheek. “So now what?”

  He nodded. “She told me that if I wouldn’t agree to adoption, then I can raise the baby on my own.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really? She’d do that? Just give her baby to you with no looking back?” She got up again, pacing over to the single chair across from the sofa and turning to him. “She’s got plenty of family money to hire enough help. What’s keeping her from being part of her child’s life?”

  “I think it has to do with the way she was raised. Her father never married her mother, and he even paid her mother to stay out of Bree’s life until she was twenty-one. With her father off making money, she was essentially raised by nannies.”

  “So she doesn’t think she knows how to be a mother?”

  “I’m not sure if it’s that or if she’s just following in her father’s footsteps and putting her child’s welfare in someone else’s hands.” He held up one finger. “But I’m not sure she even realizes that’s what she’s doing. From the way she talks about her dad, I don’t think they’re close.”

  “And she wouldn’t like being compared to him?”

  He nodded. “Correct.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “I’m not sure. I’d love to hear any advice you have for me.”

  She gave him a hint of a smile. “You know I’m always full of advice.” She pursed her lips. “I think that first you need to make sure you go to every doctor appointment she has. If she’s going to give you this child to raise, then you need to be there throughout the pregnancy.”

  “That’s a good point.” He stood and walked over to her. He took one of his mom’s hands in both of his. “I’ve been going over and over this situation. One minute I know I can deal with anything that comes along, and the next minute I have no confidence when it comes to being a single parent. None.”

  She smiled and patted his cheek with her free hand. “Don’t worry, dear, it’ll work out. You have me in your corner and there’s no way I’ll let anything happen to my grandchild.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Once again, he was extremely relieved that she was taking the news so well.

  She patted his hands. “Now the first thing to do is to invite that girl over to dinner. I’d like a proper introduction to the mother of my grandchild. Meeting while holding her hair while she vomits into the toilet just won’t cut it.”

  * * *

  “BREE, I’M SO SORRY,” Roxie said over the phone after she’d confessed that she and Pete had inadvertently given away Bree’s secret. “I had no idea Nick’s mother was even in the building.”

  “That’s okay, Rox.” She leaned back in her office chair. “I’m sure Nick was going to tell her soon anyway.”

  “But that’s a terrible way to find out about your first grandchild.”

  “It was an accident. She seemed nice when I met her, and I’m sure she’ll realize that there was no malicious intent at play.” Bree really wasn’t that concerned.

  After Bree assured Roxie several times that all would be okay, they disconnected. Not a minute went by before Bree’s phone rang again. “Bree Tucker.”

  “Hello, Bree, this is Emily Harmon. Nick’s mother.”

  Uh-oh.

  “Hello, Mrs. Harmon. How are you?”

  “I’m doing well, and please call me Emily or just Em. There’s no need for formality, is there?”

  Bree swallowed thickly. “I guess not.” She paused. “You’ve spoken to Nick?”

  “Yes, I have,” she said. “I know all about the baby and that’s why I’m calling.”

  “Nick explained our plans?” Bree could only hope that Mrs. Harmon—Emily—wouldn’t try to influence Nick or Bree about their decisions. So far, she seemed warm and friendly, but things could turn on a dime.

  “Oh, yes, that’s why I’m calling. I’d like to invite you to dinner with Nick and me, maybe Thursday night? I thought you’d probably want to get to know me since I’ll be part of your baby’s life.”

  She didn’t know what to say. “Um, sure. Dinner? Thursday?” She quickly checked her schedule. “I think that works for me.”

  “Great! Why don’t you come by my house around five.” She recited her address. “That’ll give us plenty of time to get to know each other better.”

  “Five is fine, Mrs.—I mean Emily.” From the little Bree knew about Nick’s mother, she was petite, looked younger than her age, and now Bree could see that she was a woman who got what she wanted.

  Perhaps Emily was a woman much like herself.

  “I hope you won’t be disappointed,” Emily said. “We’re a little more casual than what you’re probably used to.”

  This woman said exactly what she meant. Bree liked her already. Besides the fact that Emily had helped her when she was puking her guts out at that pop-up. Not everyone would be that hands-on.

  “I’m sure everything will be wonderful,” Bree told her. “Can I bring anything?”

  “Oh, how sweet! I’m going to say no this time since it’s our first dinner together. But maybe next time you can bring your favorite side dish or dessert. How does that sound?”

  “That’s great. If you’re sure.” Bree hadn’t expected that response. When she and the girls got together and each brought something, hers was always store-bought
. Wine, dessert or bread from the bakery. Never anything she’d cooked herself. She didn’t even have any favorite recipes. Growing up, their cook had prepared meals, and she had never shared cooking tips or recipes. Unlike Nick, who not only cooked, but prepared food from recipes handed down in his family.

  No sooner had their call ended than Bree’s phone rang yet again. She wasn’t going to get any more work done at this rate. “Bree Tucker.”

  “Hey there, Bree.” Her father seemed chipper and had actually called her the correct name.

  “Hi, Dad. Are you in Aruba?”

  “We are,” he said. “We’re having a wonderful time.”

  Not that she’d asked.

  “I got your message,” he continued. “You wanted to talk to me about something?”

  She drew in a deep breath. “Yes, I’ve decided that I’d like to find my mother.”

  There was silence on the other end.

  “Dad?”

  “I’m here. Why do you want to find her? Can’t you leave things the way they are now?”

  “I’m not looking to have a relationship with her. I only want to talk to her about her medical history. I know nothing about her or her side of the family.” Bree had decided to tell her father that it was for her own benefit that she wanted the information.

  “I can’t say I’m happy about it. What do you want from me? I haven’t seen her since shortly after you were born.”

  Bree didn’t need a reminder of that. “I was hoping you have some idea where she might be.” Saying it aloud, she was reminded that it had been thirty-three years since her father had seen her mother.

  “Not a clue. What about a PI?”

  “I already hired one. He’s come up empty.”

  “Hmm. I think I have an address for her parents. It might be a dead end—”

  “That’s okay. It’s worth a try.” She waited anxiously for him to get his laptop and find the address. She copied it down, not surprised that he would keep the information within reach. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll give this to my PI, and maybe he can talk to some of their neighbors if they don’t live there anymore.” She felt her excitement grow. This was the first piece of good news she’d had in quite a while. “If you think of anything else, please let me know.”

  * * *

  BREE WASN’T SURE what to expect at the Thursday-evening dinner. Emily lived in a modest home in Fairfax. A three-bedroom split-level that was built in the sixties according to the website Bree had found when she’d mapped the address.

  When she arrived at Emily’s front door, it swung open before she could knock. “Come in, come in,” Emily greeted her, followed by a warm hug after she closed the door. “How are you feeling?” She gestured to the living room. “Come, sit, make yourself comfortable.”

  The room made it easy for Bree to do just that. The colors Emily had chosen were warm and inviting. A neutral tan on the walls and dark hardwood floors were a great backdrop to the different shades of green in the area rug, sofa and coordinating pillows.

  “These are for you,” Bree said, holding out a bunch of flowers to Emily.

  “Oh, they’re beautiful,” Emily exclaimed as she sniffed them. “I’ll go put them in water.”

  Just then, Nick joined them. “Hey, Bree.” He’d come from the back of the house, presumably the kitchen since he handed her a glass of ice water. “I can get you something else if you don’t want water.”

  Her mouth went dry when she saw him in his jeans and plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. “No, this is fine. I’m drinking water almost exclusively these days.” She emptied half of her glass before setting it on the coaster in front of her.

  “There we go,” Emily said when she returned with the flowers. She set them on the coffee table and took a seat across from Bree. “You’re feeling good, I hope? No more trips to the hospital?”

  Nick must have filled her in on everything. “I’ve been doing fine. Still a little nauseous at times, but it’s getting better.”

  “Glad to hear it.” She turned to Nick, who stood at the other end of the sofa. “Don’t you have something for us to nibble on while we wait for dinner?”

  He nodded. “Right.” He disappeared into the kitchen.

  Bree didn’t think it was her imagination that Nick seemed a little unlike himself tonight. Nerves, maybe?

  “I hope you’ll be able to enjoy dinner,” Emily said. “We tried to choose things that you can eat.”

  “It’s been difficult between what I can’t eat and what makes my stomach turn,” Bree told her. “But I’m sure dinner will be fine.” She searched for a neutral subject. “You have a wonderful home. Is this where you raised your family?”

  Emily nodded. “It is.” She rose and went to the fireplace, where she picked up one of several framed pictures in different sizes. She came back to the sofa to show Bree. “This is our last family picture.” She pointed to the tall man whom Nick resembled. “This is Nick’s dad, and of course you recognize Nick and Pete.”

  The picture was of them sitting on the front porch of a beach house, all wearing white shirts and blue denim jeans. “Looks like a happy time.”

  Emily smiled, her eyes glassy. “It was. Every summer we went to the beach. After they grew up, the boys always tried to make sure they came, but some years were impossible. So Joe and I—Nick’s dad—would have the place all to ourselves. At least until extended family descended.”

  “It wasn’t just the four of you?” Bree asked.

  “Oh, no! We always rented a large house, and extended family would come for a day or two here and there. We never knew how many would be there at the same time.”

  “Sounds like chaos.” Bree couldn’t even imagine trying to plan for something like that.

  “It was, but well worth it.”

  Nick returned with a plate of cheese and crackers, as well as some grapes and melon balls.

  “Your mother was just telling me about your beach vacations.” Bree turned to Emily. “You must be looking forward already to going this year.”

  Nick stiffened. “We stopped when my dad passed away.” He sat down on the other end of the sofa from her.

  Bree felt awful. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I didn’t mean to bring up a painful subject.”

  Emily patted Bree’s hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’m the one who brought up the vacations at the beach.” She rose from her seat. “Excuse me a minute while I check on something.”

  As soon as Emily was out of the room, Bree said to Nick, “I feel terrible. I hope she’s okay.”

  “I’m sure she’s fine. She just used that as an excuse to leave us alone.”

  “She did?”

  He nodded. “We need to talk about what’s going to happen.”

  Bree narrowed her eyes. “Are you saying I was tricked into coming to dinner tonight so you could blindside me?”

  “No, no, nothing like that. My mom really did want to have you over for dinner to get to know you. It’s just that since you’re here, I thought it would be a good time to broach the subject.”

  “What exactly are you trying to say?” She could feel her heart beating faster and faster.

  “I want to be part of this pregnancy.”

  “What do you mean? I think you were a major part already if I remember correctly.” The images that floated through her head weren’t helping her keep up her defenses.

  He smiled. “True, but I’m talking about from here on out. I’d like to be part of the journey. I want to be involved by going to doctor appointments with you.”

  She thought about it a moment. “I guess that’ll be okay.”

  “Good. I want to know everything that’s going on, so my other suggestion is that we get together for dinner or lunch once a week to catch up.”
<
br />   “Now that’s a little too much. Once a week?” She had a company to run.

  “How else will I know what’s happening?”

  “I can send you an email or we can talk on the phone. One meal a week is out of the question.”

  “I disagree.”

  “Convince me, then.”

  “Fine,” he said. “If you want me to be able to raise this child, then it needs to hear my voice so it recognizes me when it’s born.”

  She’d done her homework thoroughly and, obviously, he had, too. He also had his mom to advise him.

  And as soon as he’d said it, she knew he was right.

  “Then I have one caveat,” she said. “We get the details in writing so there are no misunderstandings.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  NICK WAS SURPRISED that Bree had agreed so easily to his requests. Shocked, in fact. “That was much too easy,” he joked. “You’re not usually that agreeable. At least not with me.”

  She shrugged. “What can I say? I’ve done a lot of research on pregnancy, and you brought up good points. It wouldn’t be right for me to deny you prenatal access if you’re determined to raise this baby on your own.”

  Raise this baby on your own. Hearing the words aloud was a shocking revelation he hadn’t quite gotten used to yet. “I’m glad we can work together, then.”

  “Besides, I have to eat anyway,” Bree said. “So having a meal together won’t cut into my work time.”

  He wasn’t sure how to take that.

  “But I’m serious about drawing up a legal contract,” she said.

  He nodded. “That’s not a problem.”

  His mother returned then, almost as if she’d been listening from around the corner. “I hope you two are having a nice chat.”

  Nick exchanged glances with his mom, and she nodded in understanding. “Let me go check on dinner,” he said as he rose.

  “Can I do anything to help?” Bree asked.

  He decided that keeping their friendship moving along would be a good plan. “Sure. How good are you at chopping vegetables for the salad?”