Chapter 49
CHAPTER 49
DIXIE
I was scrolling through Instagram, mindlessly tapping through stories, when I saw it. Frankie’s location tag popped up at a café downtown, accompanied by a selfie of her and her friends laughing over what looked like mimosas. My stomach twisted. She hadn’t answered any of my texts last night or this morning, and here she was, out with her friends like everything was fine. Like I was fine.
I didn’t think. I just grabbed my keys and headed out the door.
She thought she could just drop a bomb on my life and carry on like nothing happened?
Bullshit.
The café was only a ten-minute drive, but it felt like an eternity. My hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. I kept replaying the conversation with my mother in my head, her words cutting deeper with each repetition.
You can’t do this on your own. You’re not ready to be a mother. This will break you. The child deserves better.
By the time I pulled into the parking lot, I was shaking. I spotted Frankie immediately. She was sitting at a table near the window, her dark hair pulled into a messy bun, her signature leather jacket slung over the back of her chair. She was mid-laugh when I walked in, but the smile faded the second she saw me.
“Dixie,” she said, her voice cautious. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. A few heads turned in our direction, but I didn’t care. “You told Mom, didn’t you?”
Frankie’s eyes widened. “What? No! I didn’t tell her anything.”
“Bullshit,” I shot back, my voice rising. “Who else would’ve told her? You’re the only one who knew!”
Frankie stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. “I didn’t tell her, Dixie. I swear. Yes, I’m pissed at you, but I wouldn’t do that. Take it from them.” She gestured to her friends, who were watching the exchange with wide eyes. “Was I not just talking about calling you and burying the hatchet?”
Her friends nodded in unison, one of them chiming in, “She was, like, five minutes ago.”
I stared at Frankie, my chest heaving. I believed her. If she hadn’t told Mom, then who had?
“Who?” I asked. “I’ve told no one. You’re the only person that knows. Besides Mom now. There’s no way she figured it out at dinner. I don’t look pregnant and I certainly didn’t act pregnant.”
Frankie looked just as confused as I was. That was reassuring.
“Simon,” Frankie said suddenly. “It had to be him. Who else would’ve spilled the beans?”
“Simon? Why? Why would he want to blow up my life?”
Frankie turned to her friends. “Can you guys give us a minute? Actually, I think I better ask for a raincheck.”
They didn’t argue, gathering their things and leaving the table with murmured goodbyes. Frankie gestured for me to sit, but I hesitated, my anger still simmering just beneath the surface.
“Dixie, sit down. Please. I did not tell Mom or Dad anything. I told you I wouldn’t.”
I sank into the chair across from her. I felt like I was coming unraveled, like all the emotions I’d been holding back were spilling out at once.
“She came to my apartment last night,” I said. “She said… she said I can’t do this on my own. That I’m not ready to be a mother. That this will break me. That the child deserves better. She told me Hayes would never want to be with someone like me. I have never felt so small in my life.”
Frankie’s eyes flashed with anger. “She’s wrong.”
“She told Dad,” I continued, tears welling in my eyes. “He won’t even speak to me, Frankie. I tried to talk to him, but he didn’t want anything to do with me. Like I should have some big scarlet letter on my forehead. They’re acting like I’m a teenager getting knocked up.”
Frankie reached across the table, grabbing my hands. “Fuck ‘em, Dixie. You have me. You’ll always have me. I’m sorry. I was angry. And hurt. And?—”
“I’m sorry too,” I whispered, the tears spilling over.
Frankie inhaled deeply, her own eyes glistening. “Thank you.”
“I truly did not know he was the guy you were seeing back then. And I didn’t tell you who he really was because I knew you would know his name. You would think he was using me. Or that I was nuts for messing around with him. I had no idea you knew him. It was killing me not to tell you. I tell you everything.”
Frankie squeezed my hands tighter, her voice softening. “I know you do. And I trust you, Dixie. I was just hurt, okay? But that’s no excuse for how I acted. You don’t deserve that. And you definitely don’t deserve the way Mom and Dad are treating you.”
I wiped at my tears with the back of my hand, trying to pull myself together. “I just don’t understand why Simon would tell them. What does he get out of this?”
Frankie leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowed in thought. “Simon’s a snake. Maybe he thinks he’s doing Hayes a favor by ‘protecting’ him from you. Or maybe he’s just stirring the pot because he can. Either way, it’s not his place. He’s throwing a fit because I’m not interested.”
“Hayes doesn’t even know,” I said. “And when I do tell him, I know he wouldn’t just walk away from his child. He may not be ready for fatherhood, but I’ve seen him with his nieces and nephews. He will be a good dad if he allows himself to be.”
Frankie nodded slowly. “You’re right. Hayes isn’t the type to run from this. But you need to tell him, Dixie. Sooner rather than later. He deserves to know, and you deserve to stop carrying this alone.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “I know. I’ve been trying to figure out how. Every time I think about it, I just freeze. What if he hates me? What if he thinks I’m trying to trap him or something?”
Frankie leaned forward again. “He might be shocked at first—hell, he’ll probably freak out—but Hayes isn’t a stranger. You two have history, even if it’s complicated. Give him a chance to step up. And if he doesn’t?” She shrugged, though her jaw tightened. “Then you don’t need him. You’ve got me.”
“I’m so glad you said that,” I said with a sigh of relief. “I hate fighting with you.”
“I’m kind of a spoiled brat, in case you didn’t know.”
We both laughed. “Sometimes, but I know it was a surprise.”
“So, Hayes Bancroft,” she said with a smile. “So, he’s good in bed? I never got that far, but I do remember he was a good kisser.”
I felt my cheeks burning. “Frankie!” I hissed, glancing around the café to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “I’m not going to answer that.”
She smirked, leaning back in her chair with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Come on, Dixie. You can’t drop a bomb like that and not give me something. I mean, he’s Hayes Bancroft. He’s practically a legend. I need details.”
I shook my head, my face still flushed. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“And you’re avoiding the question,” she shot back, grinning. “Fine, fine. You don’t have to spill all the tea. When are you going to tell him?”
I sighed, picking at the edge of the napkin on the table. “I don’t know how to tell him.”
“You sit him down and say, ‘I’m pregnant’ and then wait to see his reaction.”
“Just like that?” I asked. “Isn’t that kind of harsh?”
“You got the message on a stick,” she said with a shrug. “No matter how the message is delivered, it’s going to be a shock.”
She was right, of course. There was no gentle way to drop this kind of news. It was going to be messy and raw, no matter how I approached it.
“You’re going to have to take a leap of faith,” Frankie said.
I nodded slowly, trying to muster up some courage. “Okay. Okay, I’ll do it. But when I do decide to do it, you’re going to need to be on call. I’ll fall apart if he runs away.”
“Of course I will. I’ll be your backup, your cheerleader, whatever you need. I’ll chase him down and kick his ass if he hurts you. You just say the word and I’ll buy the shovel.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Thanks.”
“When is your first doctor appointment?”
“Wednesday,” I said, wiping my cheeks. “Damn hormones. I’m so weepy.”
“I’ll drive you,” Frankie said without hesitation. “I’ll hold your hand. I’ll do whatever you need.”
“Thank you.”
“Mom is wrong about you and always has been,” she said. “You have the makings of a great mother. You have the biggest heart I know. You’re infinitely patient. You believe in the good of people. You speak the truth. You’re independent and you have no problem choosing what’s right. Your kid is going to be very lucky. Even luckier because I’m the aunt.”
She pulled me back from the edge. I needed this. I needed her.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Frankie stood up and came around the table, pulling me into a tight hug. I buried my face in her shoulder, letting the tears flow freely. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe.
When we finally pulled apart, Frankie wiped her own tears and gave me a small smile.
She sat back down. “Okay, now Hayes. Obviously, you know him better, but tell me what’s holding you back. I’ll be Hayes. We’ll game out this conversation. When I’m going to give a pitch, I practice it in the mirror. Let’s pitch.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I guess the best way is to just tell him like you said. I just keep picturing his reaction.”
“Dixie, if he’s the kind of guy who would bail because of this, then he’s not the guy for you. But from what I’ve seen, Hayes isn’t that kind of guy. He cares about you. A lot.”
I nodded, though the fear still lingered. “I know. I just… I need to tell him. Soon.”
“Do it,” Frankie said firmly. “Don’t wait. The longer you put it off, the harder it’s going to be.”
She was right. I knew she was right.
“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll tell him. Tonight.”
Frankie smiled. “Good. Rip that band-aid off.”
For the first time since I found out I was pregnant, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I could do this.
As long as Hayes didn’t lose his shit.
“Since you’re here, let’s order breakfast,” she said. “You look pale.”
I laughed. “I was told my skin looked radiant.”
“Well now you look pale.”
“Thanks. So glad I can count on you to be painfully honest.”
“Someone has to be,” she said. “Now, let’s order. I’m starving.”
We flagged down the waitress and ordered, but my mind was already racing ahead to tonight. To Hayes. To the words I’d been dreading saying out loud.
When the food arrived, I picked at it, my stomach in knots. Frankie, on the other hand, dug in with her usual enthusiasm.
“Hey,” she said, noticing my lack of appetite. “Relax. You’ll be okay.”
I nodded, but inside, I wasn’t so sure. I couldn’t shake the image of Hayes’s face when I told him. Would he be angry? Hurt? Would he walk away?
There was only one way to find out.
And I wasn’t ready. But I had to be.
“I’ll be okay,” I said, more to myself than to Frankie. “I have to be.”