by Selena Kitt
“Sure thing mama.” She says and winks at me.
“Mama?” I say and shake my head. Now that would be a nightmare right now.
Once my stomach is settled, I drift off to sleep. The same flight attendant wakes me up when we land, and I’m fortunate that I only have a short layover between my flights.
I check my phone while I’m waiting for takeoff. The flight to Paris is going to be much longer, but I’m completely wiped out. The entire trip is a blur of napping and reading books for as long as I can before I fall asleep again. I must be wiped out from the vacation.
When I get home to my apartment, I call the restaurant in Paris that offered me a job and tell them that I accept. My next call is to my dad to tell him.
“I know you wanted me to move back to the U.S. daddy, but this is a huge opportunity for me.”
“Don’t be sorry honey. You have to do what’s best for you. I know you love Paris, and I can’t ask you to leave if that’s your home now.”
“Maybe I’ll just do it for a couple of years. I want to open my own restaurant someday, and I’ll definitely do that back in the States.” I say and hope that softens the blow.
“You know I’m here for you, and I’m ready to invest financially in any venture you start. I believe in you baby. Whatever you need, you just call me.”
“Thanks, daddy. I love you.”
“I love you too pumpkin.”
Hunter
“She’s what?” I say into the phone.
“She told Will that she’s going to stay in Paris and take the job at the restaurant there. She mentioned something about moving back here in a couple of years to start her restaurant, but sweetie, Will thinks she was just saying that to make it easier on him.” My mom says and I can hear how badly she feels for me.
“This can’t be happening.”
“I’m sure things will work out for the best.” She says with a heavy sigh.
“Mom, can you do me a favor? Can you keep all of this between us? I know you don’t like keeping things from Will, but if it’s over, there’s no point in telling him. At least, not right away.” I say and try to choke back my sadness.
“Sure honey. I’ll probably have to tell him someday, but right now it’s our secret.”
“Thanks mom.”
I get off the phone and decide to send Allison a text. I won’t call her, but I want to talk to her. If it’s too soon, she can just ignore me.
Please call me. I love you.
She doesn’t call me.
I get updates from my mom about how she’s doing in Paris for the first couple of weeks, but then my football career starts in earnest. I don’t want to lose track of her, but it’s hard for me to keep up with the team and spend my mental energy on Allison. At least being busy numbs the pain some.
Chapter 10
Allison
The first week at the restaurant is a smashing success. The kitchen staff and I click, and the restaurant starts to book out completely every night of the week. The owners and management are so happy that they pay me a generous bonus and feature me on the front page of the restaurant’s website.
A couple more weeks and I’m the talk of the town, and Paris is a big town. I’m on top of the world, and I’m completely miserable. I pour my longing and my heartache into my cooking, and it’s making me famous. I would trade it all to be the kind of person who burns every grilled cheese sandwich I make if I could open myself up to Hunter.
My one-month anniversary at the restaurant is the day it all goes to hell. I’m in the kitchen sautéing vegetables when the dizziness hits me. The room feels hot and starts to spin. I grasp the handle of the oven to steady myself, but it does not good. The darkness rolls into my eyes like a wave and I feel like I’m falling.
I can hear pans clanking and shouting all around me, but I can’t focus on anything. I’m in and out for a while. I feel hands shaking me and voices calling my name, but I cannot answer them. Soon, it all melts into a deep, calm blackness.
I wake up in a hospital bed with an IV in my hand. I push the button to call for a nurse, and a few minutes later a woman my age with bright red hair and even brighter green eyes walks into my room.
“Hi honey. How are you feeling?” She says and walks over to check my vitals.
“You speak English.” I say and sit up so she can adjust my pillow.
“I do. That’s why they assigned me to you. My husband and I are from Wisconsin. We moved to Paris for his work. I’m Emily.”
“Nice to meet you Emily. So, what am I doing here?” I say and try to remember how I ended up in the hospital. I’m feeling a bit foggy.
“You don’t remember? You passed out at work yesterday.” She takes a look at my chart. “Says here it’s probably a combination of the hormones from your pregnancy and dehydration. You really should make sure you’re drinking enough water in your condition. Your body has to double it’s blood volume in the first months of the prenatal period.”
“But, I’m not pregnant.” I say and shake my head no at her.
“Oh, honey. You didn’t know. That’s probably how you went and got yourself dehydrated. It happens a lot. But, I assure you you’re as pregnant as the sky is blue.” She says and pats my arm.
“Can I get something to eat? I’m starving.”
“You could, but you’re about to be discharged. I’m sure there are better places to eat than here.”
“You’re right, I’ll wait.”
“Your clothes are there.” She says and points to a side table. “You should get dressed. We’ll have you out of here in about twenty minutes.” Emily takes out my IV and leaves the room.
When I get home, I just sit down on my sofa and stare out my window at the city for a few hours. My life just changed in the blink of an eye, and I needed some time to let it sink in.
It’s not that I can’t be a mother and a chef, but I don’t want to live that life. I lost my mother, and I’m not going to pursue a career that keeps me away from my baby as much as running a kitchen would. I can’t stay here, my father would never forgive me for raising his grandchild half a world away. I need to call him. He raised me on his own, and I know he’ll help me figure this out.
“Hi honey. It’s good to hear from you. How are you?” He says cheerfully into the phone.
“Hi daddy. I’m doing okay. I passed out at work yesterday and had to spend the night in the hospital. I’m okay now, though. So, don’t worry.” I say quietly.
“Oh, pumpkin. Are you sure you’re alright? What’s wrong? Why did you pass out?” His voice is nervous and frenzied.
“Don’t worry, daddy. I’m healthy. It’s just that… It’s just that I’m pregnant.”
Silence.
“Daddy say something.”
“Am I happy or am I sad?” He says, but I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Oh, daddy. You’re happy. I’m happy. I am. I just don’t know what I’m going to do.” I say and try to hold back terrified tears.
“How were your grades in pastry?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I know you, and you’re probably thinking about how you can’t possibly run a kitchen and raise a child. But, can you run a bakery?”
“I think I could do that. I could hire some help.” I say and feel a rush of relief and then excitement wash over me.
“Then it’s time to come home.”
I pack up my things and my father gives the landlord notice that I’m leaving. It takes me about a week to get my apartment packed and arrange for my things to be transported overseas.
My friends in Paris throw one last party for me before I depart. It’s at the restaurant where I was chef for a brief stint. The owners and managers are disappointed that I’m leaving, but they understand completely. I’ve given the restaurant enough of a boost that they were able to recruit another exceptional chef to keep the momentum going.
After the party, I spend the night in a hotel since I’m leaving in the morning and m
y apartment is vacant. I stay awake most of the night looking out the window and watching the city lights sparkle for the last time. I put my hand on my belly, and for the first time, I let myself get excited about the life growing inside of me.
Hunter
The first few weeks of the season go terribly. I can’t get my head in the game no matter what I do. At one point the coach pulls me aside and tells me that if I don’t get my shit together, I’m going to end up getting cut from the team.
I can’t lose everything, so I have to fight through the pain. Every day that I fight, it gets a little easier to ignore the pain. It doesn’t go away, but I get better at ignoring it while I work.
Things start to turn around, and I settle in with the team. The long hours keep me occupied, but when I go home at night, I think about Allison. I wonder how she’s doing, but my mother says she doesn’t have anything new to report.
I’m living in a hotel because I can’t stand the thought of buying a house without her yet. Women throw themselves at me regularly. It’s even worse now that it was before I joined the Falcons, but I can’t stomach the thought of being with anyone but Allison.
I think she left me so that I would move on, but I’m failing her again. I’ve tried to call her a few times, but she never picks up. She’s responded to a few of my text messages, but it’s never anything more than to tell me she’s doing fine.
When I can’t stand it anymore, I call my mother and demand that she tell me how Allison is doing.
“I’m tired of this, mom. I’m tired of her ignoring me. I just don’t understand how she could write me out of her life so completely.”
“You need to talk to her, Hunter. I agree with that completely. She’s going to need you, and there has to be a way for you to make her see that.” She says with an urgency I wasn’t expecting.
“What do you mean she’s going to need me?”
“I think that’s something the two of you need to discuss. It’s not my place to tell you. She’s moving back here, and once she’s settled, maybe the two of you can sit down and have a discussion.”
“Is she alright? Is she sick?” I’m trying prevent panic from taking over.
“She’s not sick. She’s as healthy as they come, but the two of you are going to need to have a very serious talk about the future.”
“Okay, mom. Please let me know when she’s in town and settled.”
“I will sweetie. But, you need to keep your head in the game. You’re going to need the money to do right by your family very soon.”
I had no idea what was in store for me.
Allison
My first week back in town dad and I find a great location for my bakery. We get the kitchen equipment ordered and I hire a designer for the décor. Once I’ve got an office to work in, I get started ordering supplies. I want to have this place up and running as soon as possible.
The first few weeks go by so fast it makes my head spin. Dad and Angela help me when they can, but they’ve both got careers. That leaves me to handle the vendors, contractors, and suppliers, and there is a lot to be handled. I’m starting to get overwhelmed, and when you combine that with the morning sickness that hasn’t abated yet, sometimes I want to throw in the towel.
I’m much bigger than I thought I’d be at this point in the pregnancy, and I’m having more swelling and back pain than I expected. It’s like my body hasn’t had enough time to adjust because things are moving much faster than I expected. Then a miracle happens. One day while I’m cleaning some newly installed shelves, Terri walks through the front door of the shop.
“I heard you were back in town, so I thought I would drop by and see how you are doing.” She says with a big, bright smile.
“Oh my god. It’s so good to see you.” I say and rush over to hug her.
I didn’t realize how much I’d missed my old friend until that moment. I star to bawl like a baby as the weight of everything I have going on comes crashing down around me. Now that she’s standing here with me, it’s become apparent how much I need her. I made friends in Paris, but none of them were ever as close to me as Terri.
“Your dad says you need a partner. So, here I am. I’ll be a silent partner who puts in plenty of sweat equity. I’m sure I can help with my shiny new business degree.”
“Really!” I say and grab her into another bear hug again.
I was starting to feel overwhelmed, but now I’m excited about the whole process again. Having my best friend at my side is going to make all of this so much better. Terri was my rock so many times when we were younger, and even though we’re a few years older, I know that nobody understands me the way she does.
“So, when are you going to tell him?” She says and raises an eyebrow at me while we’re stocking the bakery’s pantry.
“Tell who what?” I say innocently.
“Don’t try to bullshit me Alley Cat. When are you going to tell Hunter about the baby?”
“Who says the baby is Hunter’s?”
“See, you’re trying to bullshit me. I know you, and I know that if that baby’s father were anybody besides Hunter Marks, you’d have already told me all about it. The timing seems spot on with the vacation your dad told me you guys took recently. Although, you look a lot more pregnant that I expected.”
“I stayed in Paris after the vacation because I wanted him to move on with his life. I wasn’t committing to him the way he wanted, and I figured he deserved better than that.” I say and smooth my shirt over my blossoming baby bump.
“Do you think he’s going to move on when he finds out about this?” Terri says and points at my belly. “He has a right to know.”
“I know he does. I’ve just got to figure out how to tell him.” I plead.
“Does your dad know Hunter is the baby’s daddy? He hasn’t asked who the father is, and I haven’t told him anything. I’m pretty sure it only matters to him if it matters to me.”
We finish up for the day, and Terri invites me over to her apartment for dinner. After the Chinese food is delivered, I dive in. She laughs at me as I eat straight from the boxes. I never knew it was possible to be this hungry. We watch some bad reality TV, and I’m startled by a message from Hunter.
How are you?
I’m doing okay Hunter. How are you? I’ve decided it’s time to start at least talking to him again.
Things are going okay here too. I miss you, Allison. Can we talk soon?
We do need to talk soon. I’m opening my bakery this week. Can we arrange a time to meet next week?
Yes. Yes, Allison. That would be great.
Thanks Hunter. I’ll see you soon. Good night.
Good night, Allison.
It hits me how much I miss him, and Terri holds my hand while I cry. She hands me tissues and tells me everything is going to be all right. I want to see him before next week, but I need to focus on getting the bakery open. Terri and my dad are counting on this business being a success, and I don’t want to let them down.
Hunter, are you still there? I text him without thinking.
Yeah sweetie. I’m here.
I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to see each other until next week, but can I call you?
My phone rings five seconds later. We stay up half the night talking, but I don’t mention the baby. He fills me in on football, and I tell him all about leaving Paris. When he asks why I changed my mind and came home, I tell him that I needed to be close to my family.
We talk on the phone every day, and Hunter texts me whenever he can. Terri and I get the bakery set up and ready to go in time for the grand opening. We have to hire a couple of part time people to help with baking and at the counter. I get lucky and find a young woman, Jen, who is in pastry school locally. She’s very talented, and she helps make the grand opening a smashing success.
Jen is also very good at making sure we have enough stock once the shop is open. Demand is much higher than I expected, and we have to bake our asses off on a daily basis. Sh
e comes in before her classes every morning and bakes muffins and cookies with me, and then comes back in the afternoon to bake more for the late coffee crowd.
The bakery is a hit in the neighborhood, and I couldn’t be more proud of my staff. Now that my business is squared away, there is just one more tiny thing I have to do.
I have to fix my personal life.
Chapter 11
Allison
It’s a warm Saturday morning a couple of weeks after we open shop. I’m still talking to Hunter every day on the phone, but he’s had to travel out of town with the team.
