Chapter Eighteen
Maci felt like her life was falling apart on every possible level.
She was still reeling from yesterday’s panic attack, then discovered she was the target of a stalker, and now had to stay with her not-boyfriend’s parents who didn’t know she was having his baby.
She wasn’t sure which terrified her most.
Sheila and Clinton Patterson had always been kind to her. They’d often invited her over for holiday dinners and brought coffee for her on the rare occasion that they stopped into the office to visit their sons. They were good people.
But being nice to Maci as one of San Antonio Security’s employees was much different than accepting her as the mother of Chance’s child.
This was definitely something she’d need to keep hidden.
“You planning to stay in the car until you blend into the seats?”
Maci startled at Chance’s voice. She’d been so stuck in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed him park. He stood next to her open door, waiting.
He held out his hand to help her out. “You ready?”
Not even remotely. But she nodded and got out of the car. At the door, Sheila Patterson stood with a smile on her face and her arms open wide. Even from feet away, Maci could see how much love she had for Chance.
She had that much love for all of her family.
“Chance, honey, good to have you home. Maci, welcome. You’re looking well.” Sheila wrapped them each in quick hugs before grinning. “There’s someone here to see you both.”
Chance smiled at his mom and took off for the living room, scooping the young boy from the carpet. Walker, Brax and Tessa’s son, was babbling his uncle’s ear off in unintelligible toddler language, but Chance didn’t seem to mind. He gave the boy his full attention, nodding and adding to the conversation as much as he could.
Maci’s heart turned to mush. What an amazing father Chance was going to be. She wished she could say the same about being a mother.
Walker continued to coo as Chance handed him over to Clinton. “Thank you for letting us stay for a while. We just need to get off-grid.”
Sheila smiled. “At this point we’re used to it. And you boys know this is your home too. You’re always welcome. You can stay in your room, and I’ve made up the guest room for Maci.”
“I have to get back to the office. There are some things that need to be handled immediately, but I’ll be back later.” He kissed his mother’s cheek and waved at his dad, who was getting an earful from Walker.
Then to Maci’s surprise, he wrapped her in a hug, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Get some rest.”
Well, it was obvious she wasn’t just an employee anymore.
The tension felt thick, despite baby Walker’s jabbering and giggling as Maci stood there with Sheila and Clinton.
“Why don’t I show you up to the room where you’ll be staying?”
Maci grabbed her small bag and followed Sheila. She showed Maci to a simple guest room, and Maci dropped off her stuff. The bed wasn’t very big, but it looked inviting. She wished she could crawl into it and pull the covers over her head.
“Bathroom is just down the hall.” Sheila turned and smiled as she opened a door to another bedroom. “And lest you think I’m completely old-fashioned or disapprove of you in any way, this is Chance’s room.”
Maci had to smile as she saw the twin bed and small desk. Sports posters all over the wall. There definitely wasn’t room for a second person. “Oh.”
“I know, I should redecorate. But I haven’t touched any of the boys’ rooms. They came in and made the space their own. For all of them it was the first bedroom that was truly only theirs.”
“That’s wonderful.”
Sheila shrugged and led her back downstairs. “I guess these rooms are a reminder that sometimes families are formed in nontraditional ways, but that doesn’t make them any less of a family.”
Families definitely weren’t Maci’s area of expertise.
Sheila walked back downstairs, blowing kisses at Clinton and Walker still playing in the living room before leading Maci into the kitchen. “It’s been a stressful day for you. How about some coffee? The boys got me one of the fancy espresso machines for Christmas last year. You like cappuccinos, right?”
“I, uh, I switched over to tea recently.”
Shelia spun to look at her. “You’re pregnant.”
Maci wasn’t sure what to say. “You got that from tea?”
“More that I knew the boys weren’t telling us something. I thought maybe it had to do with a case. But Chance’s protective hug clarified it all for me.” She smiled gently. “Although it was the tea that clinched it. You love cappuccinos.”
“I do miss cappuccinos.” Maci chose a tea bag from the tin Sheila held out. “Are you mad?”
“Why would I be mad?”
Maci shrugged. “I don’t think anyone in the family even knew Chance and I were...together. Maybe you think I’m trying to trap him or something.”
It’s what Evelyn had done to Maci’s father... Gotten pregnant to force him to marry her.
Sheila gave a little laugh. “Honey, have you met Chance? Nobody forces him to do anything he doesn’t want to do.”
She relaxed and let out a little laugh herself. “Yeah. That’s pretty true.”
“We already considered you part of this family. You and that baby are Pattersons, and we’ll have your back no matter what. Even if it doesn’t work out between you and Chance.”
“That means a lot to me.”
They fell into a comfortable silence as Maci sipped her tea and they listened to Walker and Clinton play. She thought of Chance’s interaction with his nephew.
“Chance will be such a good dad,” Maci whispered.
“You’ll both be great parents.”
“I’m not so sure about me.”
“I am.” Sheila reached over and patted her hand. “Parenthood is more about instincts than anything else. I’ve seen you with Walker and you’re great with him. I’m not worried one bit.”
Sheila thought she knew Maci, but she really didn’t. Maci frowned into her cup until a hand on her shoulder lifted her gaze again.
“I know my son. He’s been enamored with you since the day you met. All the fighting? Everybody knew that was you and Chance’s way of flirting with each other. Like kids on a playground.”
Maci gave a half smile. “Yeah, we definitely have a tug-on-the-pigtails vibe.”
“There for a bit a few months ago, Chance was happier. Smiling more and laughing. Then it was gone.”
Because Maci had come to her senses and left him sleeping in his own bed. She didn’t want to explain any of this to Sheila.
When Maci didn’t say anything, Sheila eventually nodded and leaned back. “Regardless of what happened, I think you two can make it work.”
“I don’t,” Maci blurted. She was not in line to be the next Mrs. Patterson. Chance needed someone better. “I wish we could, but regardless of everything that’s happened, there’s a lot he doesn’t know about me. I’m not who he needs.”
“I’m not so sure that’s your choice, but if there are things he needs to know, tell him.”
“You say it like it’s easy.”
“I don’t mean to,” Sheila admitted. “Baring your soul to someone you care about is the hardest thing you can do, but I will say that it’s usually worth the pain. My son isn’t a weak man. He’s not going to run at the first sign of trouble with you. He hasn’t yet, has he?”
No, he hadn’t. Chance had been right there at Maci’s side every day. He’d given her space when she needed it, yet still pushed her to talk to him whenever he could. He wanted answers, but he hadn’t been cruel or malicious.
He’d been gentle. Not a word anyone would normally associate with Chance.
As if she heard Maci’s thoughts running wild, Sheila grabbed her hand and smiled. “Chance is a born caretaker. It’s how he shows his love. Trust him to take care of you and the baby. He’s always going to do right by his family, and you can be the heart of that if you just tell him what you need and what scares you most.”
Maci bit her lip, processing the words.
“Trust that what’s in his heart for you is enough to keep him at your side,” Sheila continued. “It may not be easy to fight your natural skepticism, but the battle will be worth it. I promise.”
Maci had nothing to say to that, but Sheila didn’t seem to need her words. This woman seemed to understand more about Maci than her own mother ever had.
Emotion urged Maci forward and she drew Sheila into a hug. “Thank you.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for.” She ran a hand down Maci’s hair, and for a moment, she knew exactly what a mother’s love felt like. It was beautiful.
“Now, give me your cup and go take a nap,” Sheila said with a playful smile and nudge toward the stairs. “Growing my grandbaby is hard—but very important—work.”
Feeling lighter than she had in ages, Maci went upstairs to rest.