15. Chapter 15
Chapter fifteen
Aiden
Cal
I don’t know what to say
That’s on brand
Theo
We’re here for you, A
Thanks. I got to go
Cal
Don’t shut us out
I’m not. I’m texting you in front of Everly’s office. I’m late to meet her
Theo
You can go to the ultrasound as long as you don’t talk to Lauren
How?
Theo
Poppy
I smiled and shoved my phone in my pocket. Hell Cat had used her claws for me. As much as I wanted to know what she’d done to get me an invite to the ultrasound, I really was late to meet Everly.
I grabbed the drink carrier from my passenger seat and headed toward the law firm with a bounce in my step. If Lauren gave into Poppy, maybe she’d listen to me and ditch her stupid adoption plan. The receptionist smiled when I entered the lobby. “You can go right back, Aiden.”
“Thanks, Hattie,” I said, handing her a chai latte.
She wrapped her fingers around it and sighed. “You’re the best. It’s been a week.”
“It’s been a month,” I said with a wave before I tromped down the hallway to Everly’s office. I probably should have changed out of my dirty boots, but I’d been so strapped for time, things like looking presentable in a lawyer’s office had fallen away.
I still made my tri-weekly trips to Karma. As soon as I saw Rowan behind the counter this morning, I knew Lauren had filled her in. The texts from the guys confirmed it. I’d called Everly while I was in line at the café and asked to see her ASAP. By the time I got to the counter, I had an appointment and her drink order.
The door to Everly’s office was open, but I gave it a knock, so I didn’t startle her. Like Logan, Everly hyper focused when she worked. I’d lost track of the times I’d scared the shit out of Logan just by saying his name when he was studying. His reaction was so intense, it became my favorite prank to sneak into his house when I knew he’d be doing homework. As funny as it was to make a 220-pound linebacker squeal like a girl, I stopped doing it after I unintentionally gave Everly a jump scare as well, and she kicked me in the nuts.
Everly looked up from her computer and scanned my face. “Come in,” she said, her expression blank.
I set the coffee holder on her desk and closed the door behind me. When I turned back to face her, I almost laughed. “Breathe, Ev. I’m not in trouble.”
She reached for her drink but stopped when I added. “Well, not really.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” she said, pulling her flat white from the carrier.
I grabbed my coffee and settled in the seat across the desk from her. “This isn’t about work,” I said, hoping to prepare her a little for what I was about to say.
She nodded. I’d known her long enough to know she’d already shifted her mind from property line disputes and zoning variances to the unexpected.
“No one in the family knows this yet.”
“You’re in my office, Aiden. Anything you say here is confidential.”
“I know,” I said, smiling at her irritated tone. “But what I’m about to tell you changes everything for me.”
She nodded, keeping her expression stoic.
“I’m going to be a dad. At least, I hope I am.”
“OK,” she said, fighting to keep the calm on her face. Her eyes lit with joy, but she kept the rest of her expression neutral. “Who’s the mom?”
“Lauren Arnauld.”
“You knocked up Lauren at Karma?” she shrieked, but then remembered we were meeting in a professional capacity. “Sorry.”
I waved my hand. “I get it. Shocked the hell out of me too. I’m scared, Ev.”
Her eyes softened. “You’ll be an amazing dad.”
“Yeah, I hope so,” I said, blowing out a breath. “But first, I have to convince Lauren to let me raise the kid. She wants to put the baby up for adoption.”
Everly morphed into lawyer mode and grabbed a notepad. “You’re sure you’re the father?”
“We’re not together or anything, but she seemed certain.”
Everly nodded and scribbled something on the notepad. “We can easily confirm that.”
“No need. I trust her. If for no other reason than it’d be easier for her if I wasn’t the dad. Plus, the dates add up.”
“How far along is she?”
“Almost eight weeks.”
Everly looked up from the notepad. “You need to be careful.”
“I know. I’m doing everything I can to make things easier for her while trying not to annoy her. She’s got HG like Ciara had, and I’m worried she’ll—”
I couldn’t bring myself to say it, but Everly nodded. “There’s nothing you can do to prevent that, Aiden.”
I rubbed my forehead. “I know. I think she’s committed to the adoption route, but I can’t let that happen either.”
“It won’t,” she said with so much conviction the knot in my stomach that’d been keeping me company for the past week and a half eased. “Virginia has a Birth Father Registry. Basically, you add your name as the presumptive father, and you’ll be notified if she puts the baby up for adoption, so you can assert your rights.”
“Will she know when I add my name?”
Everly shook her head. “Not unless she requests to check the registry or you claim your rights. We have until ten days after the baby is born to file.”
“Fuck that,” I said, hitting her desk. “I don’t want some other family taking my kid home from the hospital.”
Everly reached across the desk and put her hand on my fist. “We’ll file after 27 weeks. Once you’re in the registry, the child typically can’t be adopted without your consent.”
“Typically?”
“You’ll be notified if she signs adoption papers, which can only happen after the birth, but it could get messy. She could argue you’re unfit, and you’d have to prove your ability to care for the child.”
“No judge in the state would find me unfit. I’m financially stable and have three sisters willing to testify they’d trust me to raise their kids.”
“I agree,” she said. “But as your lawyer and your friend, I’m advising you to do everything you can to convince Lauren to relinquish her parental rights to you.”
“I couldn’t even convince her to let me go to the twelve-week ultrasound.”
“You have no right to attend her doctor’s appointments.”
“I know. Lucky for me, Poppy went into attack mode. I can go as long as I don’t talk.”
Everly blew out a breath. “I’d advise against doing that again. I get you want to be part of the pregnancy but keep your eye on the long game.”
“So, you’re saying I shouldn’t go to the ultrasound?” I asked, the disappointment slamming into my chest like a brick.
“No, go. Just be on your best behavior and don’t pressure her for anything else.” She looked at the to-go cup in her hand and frowned. “Maybe cut back on the Karma trips. Send one of your guys if you’re using them as an excuse to see how she’s doing.”
“I have people for that.”
“I don’t want to know,” she said, trying not to laugh. “But for real, don’t do anything that could be considered antagonistic. If she’s granted a restraining order against you, it would really help her case to deny your paternal rights.”
“Seriously, Ev?”
She nodded. “Seriously, Aiden. It’s my job to think of the worst-case scenario. It’s your job to prevent it.”
“OK”
“Now, can I talk to you as a friend?”
“Sure.”
Her face broke into a huge smile. “I’m so freaking excited!” She ran around the desk and wrapped her arms around me.
I laughed and returned the hug. “I like your friend reaction a hell of a lot better than your lawyer one.”
“I promise to only bring out lawyer me when necessary,” she said standing. “When are you telling everyone?”
“I’m not sure. Normally I’d wait until after the ultrasound, but she needed to tell people because she’s been so sick.”
“Your mom is going to flip out.”
“Mom is going to tell me to make an honest woman out of Lauren.”
Everly frowned. “You’re right. You need to explain the situation.”
“Or you could,” I said, tugging a napkin from the drink holder and tearing it. “They’ll have a hard time understanding why Lauren doesn’t want the baby. When they find out she doesn’t want me to have it—”
“They’ll make Poppy look like a kitten.”
“Yeah,” I said, gathering the pieces of napkin and shoving them in the drink holder.
“Let’s wait a bit and tell them together. I’ll explain what you’re up against and why they have to be on their best behavior.”
“Thanks, Everly. I hate to drop this bomb on you and run, but I got three crews working at different sites and they’re all behind.”
“Of course,” she said as I stood. She wrapped her arms around my middle and gave me another squeeze. “It’ll be ok, Aiden.”
I hugged her back but didn’t say anything. On my way to the truck, I texted Poppy.
Thank you
I should tell Poppy to stop fighting for me, but if I had to keep my distance from Lauren, I wanted someone near her who had my back.
May 27th 2pm Dr. Phillips. Don’t be an asshole.
I won’t say a word