Catching Cooper (Red Maple Falls, #4)

by Theresa Paolo

  “Talk to me. Why are you crying?”

  She looked up into his eyes and took a deep breath, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. “I’m pregnant.”

  Chapter 21

  The declaration was like a smack across the face sending him spiraling into reality. Pregnant? How was that even possible? She was on the pill and most of the time he’d worn a condom.

  “Are you sure?” he asked and instantly regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth.

  Her eyes widened like he physically slapped her, and she stepped out of his embrace. He remembered the conversation they had about when she told Tommy’s biological father about the pregnancy and how he’d reacted.

  “I didn’t mean that,” he said, taking her back into his arms, hoping he could repair the damage before it was too late.

  She shoved against him. “I knew you wouldn’t be happy.”

  “It’s not that I’m not happy. I’m just surprised. Weren’t you?”

  “Yes!” she cried. “I never meant for this to happen. And I understand if you don’t want this. You didn’t sign up for it, and I get it. I’ve raised a baby on my own before, and I can do it again so don’t feel obligated to stick around.”

  He couldn’t believe what she was saying, but he knew it wasn’t her speaking; it was her fear. She had already assumed he’d walk away from her, and it annoyed him that she didn’t give him more credit.

  Her flipping out over the texts made perfect sense now. She was just waiting for him to do what he does best. She was waiting for him to ditch her. Well, she had another thing coming because that was the last damn thing he wanted to do. Baby or not he was in this for the long run.

  “Stop trying to make me leave,” he said.

  “I just don’t want you to feel trapped or like you have to stay. I want you to do what makes you happy.”

  He walked to her, taking her back in his arms and resting his forehead against hers. “Baby, don’t you get it? You make me happy.”

  “But we didn’t plan a baby.”

  “One thing I learned in all my travels—some of the best things are the things you don’t plan for.”

  “You’re not mad at me?”

  “Why the hell would I be mad at you?”

  “I didn’t know antibiotics can counteract the pill. If I did I would’ve made sure…”

  “Shh,” he said, resting a finger on her lips. “No one is to blame here, especially not you.”

  “I’m scared,” she admitted.

  A smile tipped his lips. “I’m not.”

  Her eyebrows knitted together as she looked up at him. “You aren’t?”

  He shook his head. “I’m excited.”

  “Seriously?”

  He loved the look of shock on her face. He kissed her nose and then her forehead.

  “I always get excited before a new adventure, and I have a feeling this is going to be the best one yet.”

  ***

  “Mom, do you think it’s a boy or a girl?” Tommy asked as they were driving to Sunday night dinner. They had just shared the news with him before leaving the house, afraid he wouldn’t be able to keep the secret for too long.

  Sarah shrugged. “I don’t know. As long as she or he is healthy, I’ll be happy.”

  Cooper turned to her, and even though she couldn’t see his blue eyes behind his aviator sunglasses she knew they were filled with warmth and love. He rested his hand on her stomach that was only just starting to show and smiled.

  Cooper gave a quick glance over his shoulder. “What do you hope it is, buddy?”

  “A girl.”

  “What?” Sarah and Cooper both exclaimed.

  “Then she won’t play with my toys.”

  Sarah let out a laugh but not nearly as loud as Cooper’s.

  “Trust me, girl or boy you’re not getting out of sharing your toys. My sisters stole mine all the time.”

  “Man!” Tommy crossed his arms and slouched into the seat.

  Cooper pulled up to his parents’ farmhouse and put the car in park. He glanced up at the house then back to Tommy. “But don’t worry. I have a feeling you’ll have plenty of toys and sharing won’t be a problem.”

  Tommy’s face lit up, and Sarah cut Cooper a look. “Don’t go promising him these things,” she said, still having to remind Cooper that seven-year-old boy’s minds were like steel traps. Once you insinuated something they held you to it, just like the dog scenario that Tommy was still begging for. She hadn’t caved yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time before she did or Cooper just came home with a newly adopted puppy. She definitely wouldn’t put it past him, and that was okay because his impulsiveness was one of the things she loved about him.

  “With my family, I think that’s a promise I can keep.”

  Sarah imagined Tommy and the new generation of Hayes children running around the open field, cousins by blood and friends by choice, getting dirty and getting into trouble. Cooper would join the fun and teach them how to climb trees while she watched from the porch with his sisters.

  It was a welcoming sight and so far from anything she had ever imagined before Cooper had come into her life. He was a major curveball that made her forget about her plans and act on instinct. Made her realize that the best things in life can’t be planned.

  “What are you three still doing out here?” Betty Hayes called from the front porch, waving her hands for them to come to her already.

  Sarah rested her hand on top of her stomach, smiling down at the new life growing inside her then up at her two favorite boys. “You ready to do this?” she asked.

  “Oh yeah,” Cooper said. “Once Grandma finds out you’re pregnant, I’ll be the golden child again.”

  Sarah laughed. “Was that your evil plan this whole time?”

  He gave her that adorable smirk that made her insides melt. “You know it.”

  He leaned across his seat, cupping her cheek and pressing a long, loving kiss to her lips.

  “Ew. Come on,” Tommy whined from the backseat. “I’m out of here.” He opened the car and jumped out, greeting Betty at the top of the stairs just as Carol and Jonathon Hayes stepped out.

  Tears filled Sarah’s eyes—damn pregnancy hormones—as she watched Tommy get engulfed by people who already treated him like their own, who had accepted her and her son with open arms.

  Cooper kissed beneath her eyelids. “Don’t cry, baby.”

  “They’re happy tears. Nothing to be alarmed about.”

  “After you started crying over a puppy video the other day, not much alarms me.”

  “It was so cute,” she said with a laugh and felt the tears welling up again.

  He rested his forehead on hers, running his thumbs beneath her lids. “Man, I love you.”

  “Why? I’m an emotional mess who is about to blow up like a blimp.”

  “You’re a beautiful mess. My beautiful mess and you’re not going to blow up like a blimp just a balloon. Like the big one’s at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Maybe we’ll tie a string to you and…”

  She smacked his chest. “Stop talking or I will hurt you.”

  With a laugh, he wrapped his arms around her. She loved how he could lighten a mood up so easily and make her laugh effortlessly. For so long, she took everything seriously, too seriously, and Cooper brought out the carefree girl who was hiding inside of her.

  “Do we have to go inside,” he asked as he trailed a finger down the length of her neck, sending goosebumps exploding across her body.

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  “Why don’t we leave Tommy with my family for a few minutes, and I’ll take you back home and show you all the dirty thoughts I’ve been having since you walked out in this dress this morning.”

  “Only a few minutes?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

  He cupped her cheek, and she nuzzled into the warmth of his hand.

  “Baby, with the thoughts I’ve been having, I’d be lucky to last a min
ute.”

  She kissed his cheek then leaned close to his ear. “With all the thoughts I’ve been having, I’d need longer than a minute.”

  He hissed through his teeth, and she nipped at his earlobe before pulling away. “Too bad I’m hungry,” she said and jumped out of the car before he could grab her.

  “You’re evil!” he yelled as she walked away with a huge smile on her face.

  She greeted everyone as she made her way up the porch steps and was instantly embraced.

  “My grandson behaving himself?” Betty asked.

  Sarah turned to the car where Cooper still hadn’t exited, probably waiting for things to settle. “What do you think?”

  “That’s my boy!” she said, throwing Cooper a thumbs up.

  “Oh, good you’re here,” Kate said, hooking her arm through Sarah’s and pulling her inside, a glass of red wine in her hand. “I need a buffer.”

  “For what?”

  “Who do you think? My insufferable grandmother who would probably artificially inseminate me if she could.” Kate took a generous sip of her wine and Sarah bit back a laugh.

  She patted Kate’s hand. “Don’t worry, I have you covered.”

  “Unless you’re pregnant there’s no…” Kate turned to Sarah, eyes wide, mouth dropping in a perfect O. “Oh my god. Are you...?”

  Sarah lifted her finger to her lips then nodded.

  “Holy shit.”

  Sarah hushed her. “You’re the first person I’ve told other than my parents.” They took a trip to Connecticut last weekend for Cooper to meet her parents and of course, like with everyone, he won them over almost as soon as he walked in the door. “We’re going to announce it at dinner.”

  Kate grabbed her and yanked her against her chest. “I’m so happy.”

  “Me too,” Sarah said.

  “Cooper as a dad. Oh man, if his kid turns out anything like him you’re in for some trouble.”

  Cooper walked in the door then, looking devilishly handsome with his signature smirk as he joined his brothers, Caleb, and Sam. “Don’t I know it.”

  “What are you guys talking about?” Hadley asked as she approached, Lady at her feet.

  Kate tilted her head toward Sarah. “Sarah’s pregnant.”

  “What?” Hadley exclaimed, and Sarah shot Kate a look.

  Kate held her hands up. “Sorry! I’m just so excited and Hads and I come as a unit. You can’t tell one without telling the other.”

  “Okay, just don’t tell anyone else.”

  “My lips are sealed,” Kate said as Hadley took Sarah in a hug.

  “What’d I miss?” Shay asked, approaching with a growing Matthew in her arms.

  “Sarah’s pregnant,” Hadley said.

  Shay’s mouth dropped. “What?”

  “You guys are the worst!” Sarah said with a laugh.

  “Sorry.” Hadley shrugged. “But that unit Kate was talking about includes Shay. Cassie, too, but she’s currently cornered by Grandma, and now it includes you, too.”

  Those damn pregnancy tears started to press at the back of her eyes. “Really?”

  “Hell yeah,” Kate said. “We girls have to stick together. Plus, it helps that you’re practically famous now and that’s one step closer to me meeting Leonardo DiCaprio.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “This girl used to have her entire bedroom wall covered with his face. I swear I felt like I was being watched every time I went in there,” Hadley said.

  “It’s not my fault your crush wasn’t a celebrity. I bet if he was, his mug would’ve been all over the walls.”

  Sarah was about to ask who Hadley’s crush was when she saw the look Hadley shot Kate. Clearly, it was something she didn’t want to discuss. Hadley’s eyes quickly darted to Sam. If Sarah had blinked she would have missed it, but in that flash of a moment Sarah’s question was answered.

  “Dinner’s ready,” Carol Hayes announced.

  They all took their seats, and once the first course was finished, Cooper took Sarah’s hand under the table. He gave it a squeeze and she turned to him with a nod.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  “You know I was born ready.”

  “You did not just say that.”

  “I did and better yet, it totally turned you on.”

  “Okay, Casanova, focus.”

  Cooper cleared his throat. “I…We have something we’d like to share,” Cooper said, getting the entire family’s attention. All eyes turned to them and without even taking a breath Cooper blurted, “Sarah’s pregnant. We’re going to have a baby.”

  Betty dropped her fork, a loud clang slashing through the excited reactions, and everyone turned to look at her. Her hands covered her mouth and pure joy radiated off her face as her bright blue eyes landed on Sarah. “He knocked you up?” she asked.

  Sarah laughed and nodded. “He did.”

  “Cooper, I’m so proud of you!” Betty jumped up from her seat, dancing on her toes as she came at them with open arms, declaring Cooper the golden child... for now.

  The End

  Thank you for reading! I hope you loved Cooper and Sarah as much as I did.

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  ~Keep Reading for an excerpt from Hung Up on Hadley~

  Hung Up on Hadley

  For over twenty years she secretly loved her brother’s best friend, but now the secret is out.

  Chapter 1

  The stream of light from Sam’s flashlight was no match against the thick black smoke that greeted him at the door. His life was falling apart around him, but right now all that mattered was saving the victim trapped in the fire. He took a calming breath and let every thought disappear until all he could think, feel, and see was the task at hand.

  He reached for the lucky charm Hadley had given him, fishing around in his pocket, desperate to find the familiar keepsake. His heart sunk when he pulled his empty hand free. For the first time in fifteen years he would have to do without it.

  Sam could hear screaming outside and Matt’s voice offering comfort while still maintaining authority. He had fifteen minutes before he ran out of air. He needed to move quickly and efficiently, not only to save himself but the victim as well. Once they put water on the blaze it would become hotter, more uncomfortable, and any victim in the house would be unprotected against the scorching steam.

  He stepped farther into the unfamiliar house, the sounds from outside lost to the crackling flames. His eyes swept across the space, making sure he wasn’t putting himself in danger. If he went down, the victim had little to no chance and that simply wasn’t an option.

  There was no way Sam could walk out of this house and look into the eyes of a little boy and tell him he couldn’t save his father. Visions of a mid-morning visit to the firehouse that was filled with smiles and laughs popped into Sam’s head but he forced them away.

  Every life was connected in one way or another in the small town, and that was because Red Maple Falls wasn’t just a town; it was a community of people who were as much family to one another as their own blood. Which was why Sam couldn’t put a face on the victim because as soon as he did emotion would take control.

  Emotion made you react without thinking, made you forget everything you were trained for and opened you up to mistakes. He couldn’t allow any mistakes. Not when a good man’s life was on the line.

  In the twenty years since he became a junior firefighter at sixteen, not a single person had perished in a fire on his watch. He was willing to do whatever it took in order to guarantee everyone’s safety.

  Walls of heat surrounded him, and sweat dripped down his face as the bright orange flames came into view. He made a left away from the growing inferno, hoping t
he victim managed to evade the worst of the fire.

  His breaths were heavy and loud, and he was running out of time. His radio sounded in his ear, Chase’s voice coming over the speaker. “Is everything clear so far?”

  “Affirmative, but I have other rooms to search.”

  “It’s starting to spread to the east side. You need to pull back.”

  “I’m not pulling back until the victim is in my care.”

  “Chief, I don’t think—”

  “Exactly, I’m the chief. I’m not pulling back.”

  “All right.”

  “Make sure it doesn’t spread to the attic.” If the fire spread to the floor above him the chance of the ceiling collapsing increased.

  “We’re going to relieve pressure from the roof.”

  Sam hurried to the next room, knowing damn well that time was ticking, and if anyone was inside, their chances of survival diminished by the second.

  He narrowed his attention on the space in front of him, following the curve of a wall. His heartbeat picked up as he turned the corner. He flashed his light to the far side of the room and relief flooded through him as his eyes settled on the victim. The man’s hand covered his mouth with a wet rag and Sam immediately went to him. Sweat dripped down his forehead, leaving a trail through the black soot that coated his skin. Sam pulled an oxygen mask over the man’s face. “I’m going to get you out of here,” he assured him.

  The man nodded, but the fear in his eyes was palpable. His gaze shifted to the rising flames that licked at the far-right wall, and Sam watched as the fear turned to panic.

  “Look at me,” Sam said, pointing to his eyes. “I need you to stay calm. Can you do that for me?”

  The man nodded again.

  “Good. Now let’s get you out of here.”

  Sam surveyed the space and, within seconds, had them moving toward safety. Flames engulfed the room just as they made their way out. Intense heat surrounded them, the temperature rising with each step, and though Sam was protected, the victim wasn’t.

  He focused on the path to safety, envisioning the clear white mountain air. It had been less than five minutes since he’d entered the home, but time didn’t exist in a fire. Everything moved in slow motion.