Sometimes I feel more like I’m seventy than twenty-four, but since I get woken every morning around five, I need to get to bed early. At least, I’m back to sleeping through the night without interruption, so there is that. Thank goodness.
”So, is this your break week?”
“No.” Deirdre grins.
Is she skipping school in the middle of the week? Why else would she be in town? “It’s not until next week but the teachers are either sick or giving us a break, and I got out of there as soon as I could. I don’t have to be back until a week from Monday.”
I grin at her. If she’s going to be in town, my Spring Break may be better than I anticipated. Though I’d planned on spending it working to replace some of the pieces I’ve sold and to fill the empty spots on the shelves in the gallery, spending time with Deirdre would be a lot more fun.
What the hell am I thinking? She’s just out wandering around and wasn’t expecting to see me. She probably went into other shops on the square but I’m the only one who offered her coffee.
I open my mouth to see if she wants to get dinner tonight or maybe lunch tomorrow, since Larry is already working, when a cry comes from upstairs. I wince and all hope of seeing Deirdre again all but disappears.
Two
Did I just here a baby cry? It doesn’t exactly sound like an infant, but the child’s not very old either.
Larry pats Jesse on the shoulder as she comes through the back. “I’ll get him. You enjoy your visit.”
That girl creeps me out. She disappears up the stairs and I glance over at Jesse. He’s grimacing into his coffee and looks up at me rather sheepishly. “There’s something I didn’t mention last November.”
My stomach tightens. He’s married, has a kid and Larry is the babysitter. Shit!
“I have a son.”
“And his mother’s at work?” I am so fucking stupid.
“Not exactly.”
Oh God, it’s not Larry’s. It can’t be. But she’s possessive, and they’re comfortable together. I think I’m going to be sick.
“Actually, I don’t know where she is and don’t really care.”
Doesn’t know where she is? It takes a moment for his words to register and then I blow out a breath and relax. I really shouldn’t let my imagination run away with me.
“She didn’t want him. I did. We made a deal. She wouldn’t get an abortion and I’d take full responsibility.”
His blunt statement leaves me nearly speechless. “Wow!”
“I mean, it was a shock when she got pregnant, but her reaction had me rethinking why I was even with her.”
“Well, a lot of women respond differently to a surprise and unexpected pregnancy,” I say, a little bit in defense of this woman. I don’t know her, of course, but it’s ultimately the woman who has her life altered for nine months, and beyond if they keep the child. I’ve had friends who got pregnant when they least expected it. Some had tears of joy, over the moon with happiness, and others in near panic mode, wondering what the fuck they were going to do, and others with every emotion in between. Really, nothing can alter your life quicker than finding out you’re suddenly pregnant.
Jesse shakes his head. “It was more than that. Things hadn’t been good for a while, but that’s what did us in. We broke up before she was in her second trimester and she couldn’t wait to get that thing,” he lifts his hands, making the quote signs with his fingers, “out of her. That’s all I heard the entire time, making sure I didn’t go back on my promise after I made her carry the baby all that time.”
“Wow!” I say again. I guess it was more than shock at the situation. What woman feels that way about her own child?
Well, that’s a stupid question. Most of my siblings at one time had mothers that weren’t very mothering. Me included.
“I was there at the delivery and when they tried to give him to her, she just looked at me and said to just take him and leave her alone, and that I’d gotten what I wanted and I was never to contact her again.”
As horrible as it is for the baby’s mom to feel that way. At least he has a dad who loves him. One parent was better than none.
“It’s not like I was ready to be a dad, but it’s the hand I was dealt and I wouldn’t trade my son for anything in the world.”
This makes me smile. Parents who want their kids and love them. His green eyes are warm and there’s a small smile on his lips. This is a guy in love with his kid and my heart melts like ice cream over a warm brownie.
Larry returns a moment later, carrying a chubby little boy on her hip. He’s got the biggest green eyes, curly blonde hair and an adorable smile. My heart melts just a little more.
Jesse takes him and sits back on the stool, setting his son on his leg. “Deirdre, this is Cam.”
Cam grins
