8. Eight
8
EIGHT
I was a world class shopper. Really, nobody did it better than me. Not even my sisters. It was one of the few things I was not only allowed but encouraged to do under my father’s rule. He wanted us to appear girly and frivolous for potential husbands. No deep thoughts to be found in our pretty heads. Thankfully, I enjoyed shopping. Despite Dad’s machinations, however, things never worked out how he envisioned them.
“So … do you want a theme?” Pearl looked around the high-end baby boutique and took in all the offerings. “There are a lot of themes here.”
My sisters had offered to take me shopping so I had an idea of what I wanted to do with the nursery. We weren’t necessarily buying anything today. We were just looking for ideas.
“I don’t know,” I replied, giving it some serious thought. “What sort of theme might I like?”
“You could do baby’s first strip show,” Opal suggested as she held up what looked to be a disco ball mobile.
I burst out laughing. It had been a few days since I dropped the bomb on my sisters. Just as anticipated, they’d hopped on the auntie express fairly quickly. My mother was still making squawking noises. Pearl and Opal were suddenly excited, however.
“That’s actually kind of cute,” I said after a beat.
“I think it’s adorable too.” Opal bobbed her head. “I’ve been reading up, though, and that might be too much stimulation for a newborn.” She put the mobile back. “Some people say simple black and white designs are best at the start.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You’ve been reading up?” Leave it to my sister to go that route. Of course, I’d gone that route too. It was expected of me, though.
She shrugged. “What can I say? I like to know things.”
“Of course you do.” I shook my head and wandered over to the cribs. “These things are expensive.”
“They are,” Pearl agreed. “I didn’t realize they were this expensive.” She lifted her chin. “Doesn’t this price sound outrageous for something they only sleep in for a short period of time?”
“Yes, but what are the other options? You can’t make the baby sleep on the floor.”
“Can’t you? We’ll get a fluffy bed and put some blankets on it. Then we’ll shove it in the corner.”
“Like a cat bed?” I prodded when she smiled, assuming she’d made a smart suggestion.
Her smile disappeared in an instant. “Huh. Have you considered that maybe it would’ve been smarter to get a cat? It definitely would’ve been easier.”
I pinned her with a dark look. “I don’t need the judgment.”
“I’m not judging you. I’m just saying that a baby is a big deal.”
“And you’re intent on doing it alone,” Opal said as she joined the fray. “Don’t you think that’s just a little bit—I don’t know—crazy?”
“Was this shopping trip just a ruse to give me a hard time?” Suddenly, I was tired. I’d spent the better part of the morning puking but had bounced back relatively quickly. Now I just wanted to go back to bed.
“No.” Opal was solemn as she regarded me. “Not even a little. I just … it’s just … your life is never going to be the same, Ruby.”
Did she think I didn’t know that? “I’m well aware.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
I shrugged. “I knew I was looking for something else before I found out about the baby. When I took the home pregnancy tests—all four of them—I was freaking out. By the time the doctor confirmed what I already knew, I’d already come to accept it.”
“You’ve yet to say this is what you want,” Pearl pointed out. “You still have time to change your mind if it’s not what you want.”
Opal pinned her with a dark look. “We agreed to softly ease into this discussion. Why do you always have to be like a bull in a China shop?”
Pearl shrugged. “It’s my way. I can’t help it.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Opal waved her off before focusing on me. “We’re not telling you what to do. We’re not even lodging an opinion on what we think is the right thing to do.”
“Um … I didn’t agree to that,” Pearl argued.
Opal murdered her with a glare. “Shut your hole for once.” Her expression was kind when she turned back to me. “We just want you to have all of your options.”
“I appreciate it.” I meant it. “The thing is, I want this baby.” It was the first time I’d said it out loud. Or, well, phrased it this exact way. What a relief it was to get that off my chest, though.
“For real?” Opal cocked her head. “I thought for sure you were keeping it out of guilt.”
“No.” I held out my hands. “I’ve been at loose ends for what feels like a really long time. When Dad was in charge, having a family seemed like a bad idea. Since he’s been ousted, the possibilities are limitless.
“When I think about it—I mean really think about it—this is exactly what I want,” I continued. “You don’t have to worry that I’m doing something I don’t want to do. That’s not the case.”
“Okay … but how are you going to do this?” Opal planted her hands on her hips. “Like … are you going to stay in the casino?”
“A casino doesn’t seem like a good home for a kid,” Pearl offered helpfully.
“I’ve considered that.” It wasn’t a lie. I’d been making lists and doing research for days at this point. “I think I’m going to stay in my suite at the casino for at least two years. I know it’s not ideal, but it will allow me to save up for a place outside the city.”
Genuine horror washed over Opal’s features. “You’re not moving to the suburbs, are you?”
Her disdain wasn’t unexpected. Still, it left me feeling defensive. “Summerlin South isn’t too bad. Or Lake Las Vegas.”
“Well, Lake Las Vegas isn’t bad,” Opal conceded. “It’s really expensive, though.”
“That’s why I need to save up.”
“But … a baby in a casino?” Opal cringed. “How is that even going to work?”
“It’s not as if my area of the casino is loud,” I reminded them. “It’s quiet. The rooms are soundproofed fairly well. The baby won’t know he or she is living in a casino. I can take him or her to parks until I find a house. I mean … it’s not so bad.”
“I don’t know.” Opal wasn’t conceding the point. “There are naked people everywhere. What if the baby decides it likes the showgirls’ boobs better than yours? That’s a whole different sort of judgment.”
I frowned. “Why did you have to put that idea into my head?”
She shrugged. “I was just thinking about things last night. I couldn’t turn my brain off.”
Since I hadn’t been able to turn my brain off, I understood where she was coming from. “I’m still figuring things out. For the first year, it’s definitely fine. I can take the back exit so the baby won’t be on the casino floor.”
“Yes, but you’ll still be on the Strip.”
“Baby’s first contact buzz,” Pearl said with a laugh.
She wasn’t wrong. Even though nobody was supposed to smoke pot on the Strip, you could smell it in every direction. “I’ll figure it out.” That was the only response I could come up with.
“But … you’re excited?” Opal’s gaze was seeking as it roamed my face.
I didn’t have to think on it long. “Yeah. I’m excited.”
“Well, then we’re excited for you.”
“We’ll help with whatever you need,” Pearl promised. “Honestly, I’m a little excited too.”
Things inside me unclenched. “I’m glad. When do you think Mom is going to be excited?”
“Three more days,” Opal replied without missing a beat. “The only thing you’re going to have to worry about with her is the Grandma thing.”
“Right.” I grinned. “I was thinking it might be fun to teach the baby to call her Granny.”
My sisters burst out laughing.
“Oh, I think that’s definitely the way to go,” Pearl said. “I’m onboard for that.”
I ONLY BOUGHT A FEW THINGS. There was an adorable baby blanket that showed the Las Vegas skyline, and I couldn’t pass it up. I also bought four books. I knew nothing about being a mother. It was time I learned.
I hummed to myself as I cut through the casino, my bag clutched tightly in my hand. I was lost in thought—there was so much to wrap my head around—that I didn’t realize I was about to collide with a solid wall of muscle until it was too late.
I smacked into the man’s wide chest and immediately started falling backwards. Two strong hands gripped my shoulders before I could drop too far.
“I’m so sorry,” I blurted automatically. When I looked up, I realized it was Rex. My cheeks immediately started burning with embarrassment. “I didn’t see you there.”
“It’s okay.” He smiled, but it didn’t touch his eyes. He appeared awkward when he released my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
That felt like a loaded question. “I’m good.” I forced my voice to be more chipper than it would normally be. “I’m great in fact. I’ve never been better.”
He cocked his head but didn’t say anything.
“Okay, that was a bit of a hard sell,” I said after a beat. “I’m good, though.” I glanced around to make sure nobody we knew was watching us. This was Vegas, though, so we were hardly interesting compared to the other stuff going on. “Is that guy carrying a hobby horse?” I asked out of nowhere when my gaze fell on a forty-something man strolling through the casino carrying a very ornate looking stuffed horse head on a stick.
“Hmm?” Rex followed my gaze, then he nodded. “Yes, we have a hobby horse convention starting tomorrow.”
Nothing he said computed. “What is there to convene about regarding hobby horses?”
“Oh, it’s a whole community.” His voice warmed at the subject. “They do races and stuff. They have jumping competitions.”
“With hobby horses?”
“It’s totally a thing.” He laughed at my confusion. “You would be surprised at the conventions we get. Last week was the mullets and mustaches convention. That wasn’t the official name, but nobody called it anything else.”
“Huh.” I didn’t know what to make of that. “Well … I guess as long as they’re having fun and not hurting anybody, it’s up to them what they want to do.”
“Yes, well…” He trailed off, his eyes going to the bag in my hand. “What’s that?”
“I went shopping.” Because I didn’t know what else to do, I pulled out the blanket and showed it to him. “Cute, huh?”
He swallowed hard. “It’s really cute. It’s … tiny.”
“Well, babies are tiny. Although, from what my doctor told me, nothing is going to feel tiny when I’m in labor. I have to come up with a birthing plan.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It means that I have to decide if I want drugs.”
He looked horrified. “Who wouldn’t want the drugs?”
“People giving birth at home with a midwife.”
“You’re not doing that, are you?”
His tone told me exactly what he thought about the possibility. “Probably not. I can’t see myself getting inside an inflatable pool in front of five people and pushing out a human being. I see myself as going more traditional. You know, a hospital and whatever drugs they can pump me full of.”
“Right.” He inclined his chin toward the bag. “What else is in there?”
Why did he want to know? Did this mean he wanted to be involved? I decided not to push him on an answer. I was understandably curious. I had a feeling how things would go, though. It was better to wait it out.
“Books,” I replied. “I know nothing about pregnancy or taking care of a baby. I don’t think the fact that I’ve watched movies with babies being born is going to cut it. Plus—no offense to my mother—but my parents aren’t exactly what I would call good role models on the subject.”
He just stared, and I felt the need to fill the uncomfortable silence. “Your parents would be good role models. I bet they would know exactly what I need to do. Your mom would probably make a great tutor.”
He reacted as if I’d smacked him across the face. “I … um…”
Instantly, I felt like an idiot. So much for not pressuring him, Ruby, I internally chided myself. What was wrong with me?
“I didn’t mean anything by it,” I said quickly, discomfort grabbing me by the stomach and twisting. So far, most of my bouts of morning sickness—something my doctor assured me should go away in a few weeks—had happened before ten o’clock. The only thing that could make this situation any worse was if I puked all over my baby daddy who didn’t want to be a baby daddy. “Don’t think I’m pressuring you, Rex. I just … I’m an idiot when I talk sometimes.”
He nodded. “I’m doing what you told me to do. I’m thinking.”
“That’s good.” I flashed a flat smile. “That’s what you should be doing.”
“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck, which was a mottled red color. Had that just happened? If so, why? I had no idea. “Um…”
I waited, but he didn’t say anything else. “I need to drop this stuff off in my suite.” I was giving him an out. “Then I have to get to work. I’ll get out of your way.”
“You’re not in my way.” His voice was low. “I just … I don’t know what to do.”
“It’s okay.” I meant it. “I can do this alone. I’m not pressuring you.”
“Yeah, but I don’t know if I want that.”
“Well … you have time. Just because I’m reading books and buying stuff, that doesn’t mean you have to do the same. I’m a planner. It’s who I am.”
“Yeah.” He made a growling sound. “I won’t leave you hanging for long.”
“Okay.” I refused to start crying even though, for some odd reason, that’s exactly what I wanted to do. “You know where to find me.” I kept my shoulders squared for the walk to the elevator. I could feel his eyes on me the entire time.
It wasn’t until I was in the elevator, the door safely shut, that I allowed my shoulders to slump. This was harder than I thought it was going to be. When I gave Rex time to think things through, it had been the correct thing to do. I just didn’t realize how torturous it was going to be for me.
I was still lost in thought when I let myself into my suite. That’s why I didn’t initially realize that the door hadn’t fallen shut behind me. It wasn’t until I heard footsteps on the floor, even though I wasn’t moving, that I understood I wasn’t alone.
My first reaction was fear. Vegas wasn’t known for being a safe city. We had security guards everywhere, but our crime statistics weren’t good. Theft was our biggest problem. Pickpockets mostly. That didn’t mean violent crimes weren’t something to fear, though.
When I turned, my first thought was to find a weapon. I didn’t keep much in the living room, but if I could get to the kitchen, there was a big block of knives on the counter. My plan fled when I realized it wasn’t some random robber coming toward me. No, it was something worse.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded of my father as he stalked to the middle of the living room. “Didn’t you read the ‘losers need not knock’ sign on the door?”
My father had never found my biting sarcasm funny. Obviously, that wasn’t going to change today. “I want to talk about your mother,” he replied. There wasn’t even a hint of a smile on his face. That wasn’t unusual in recent months. Sure, he faked a smile when he thought he could manipulate us. The real deal had been in hibernation ever since my mother ousted him from the company he got his ego boost from running, however.
“If you have a problem with Mom, then you should take it up with her.” I threw the shopping bag on the couch. “I have nothing to talk about with you.”
“Well, I believe otherwise.” He clenched his hands into fists at his side as he took a menacing step toward me. “You’re going to get with the program, Ruby. I’m sick of you guys stonewalling me. This is my company, and I’m taking it back.”
The laugh that ripped out of my throat was harsh. “You’re not taking anything back. In fact, you’re not welcome here. You need to get out of my room.”
Dad looked haughty. “Oh, and I suppose you’re going to make me, huh?”
I didn’t have time to respond. The door, which hadn’t latched properly behind him, flew open to reveal a seething Rex. My father, while fit for his age, was no match for Rex’s hulking form.
“I believe that falls under my job description,” Rex said dourly.
Dad almost came out of his skin when he saw Rex. “What do you think you’re doing here? Also … who even called you? I’m not doing anything. I’m just having a simple conversation with my daughter.”
“Right.” Rex wasn’t an idiot. There was fury coursing through him, and for some reason, it made him even hotter than normal. “Do you want him here?” he asked me.
I shook my head. “No. He wasn’t on the guest list for the day.”
“That means you’re going.” Rex glared down my father. “You can leave under your own power, or I can remove you from the premises. Those are your only options.”
Dad’s laugh was hollow. “I’d like to see you try.”
“Fine.” Rex was blasé. “Remember, though, you asked for it.”