39. CHRIS
39
CHRIS
P ulling up in front of Bella’s parents’ house two days after she agreed to give us another shot felt surreal.
And I was nervous as fuck.
The modest two-story house sat nestled in a quiet neighborhood, with neatly trimmed hedges and a perfectly manicured lawn. It was the kind of house that screamed “controlled environment,” and judging by Bella’s tight grip on my hand, she wasn’t exactly thrilled to be back here.
After what I knew about her past, I couldn’t blame her. Especially since today was going to be the day we told them about the baby, too.
“You okay?” I glanced at her as I killed the engine.
She gave me a small, tense smile. “I’m fine. It’s just… my dad. He can be a lot. I’m worried about what he’s going to do to you.”
“A lot, huh? I’ve handled investors with egos the size of yachts. How bad can it be?” I tried to inject some levity, but the look she gave me told me to tread lightly.
“Just don’t let him intimidate you, okay? And don’t take it personally if he’s harsh. That’s just how he is.”
“Got it,” I said, squeezing her hand. “Ready?”
She nodded, but I could see she would rather be anywhere but here. Still, we were going to do this. I wanted to do it right, make sure that we faced everything as a team.
Together, we walked up to the front door, and Bella knocked. Moments later, the door swung open to reveal her mother, Donna, a petite woman with kind eyes and a hesitant smile.
“Bella! Oh, sweetheart, it’s good to see you.” Her mother pulled her into a hug before turning her attention to me. “And you must be Chris. Come in, come in.”
Bella had mentioned a few things to her mom over the phone so that at least they knew what to expect when we arrived. After all, this was the first time they’d heard anything about me, even though Bella and I had a history that spanned more than a decade.
The interior of the house was exactly what I expected—neat, orderly, and somehow… restrained. As we stepped inside, a faint smell of furniture polish and brewed coffee wafted through the air.
Bella’s father, Paul, appeared in the doorway to what I assumed was the living room. His expression was unreadable, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Dad,” Bella said, cautious. “This is Chris.”
“Chris,” Paul echoed, his tone flat. He stepped forward, extending a hand. His grip was firm, bordering on crushing, but I met it with equal force. I wouldn’t let him make me feel small. I knew who I was now.
More than I ever had.
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
“We’ll see,” he replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Come on, let’s sit.”
We moved to the living room, where Bella’s mother had already set out coffee and a plate of cookies. The tension in the air was thick as Paul took a seat across from me, his gaze sharp and assessing. Bella sat beside me, her shoulders stiff, while her mother flitted around nervously, offering coffee.
Paul was like the center of the universe and everything and everyone seemed to spiral and twirl and flutter around him.
“So, Bella tells us you’re… involved,” Paul began, his words carefully chosen as he looked at me with gray eyes that held no warmth. I knew right away why Bella had run away. She wasn’t someone who could be caged, and Paul was someone who looked rigid as fuck.
“That’s right,” I said, keeping my tone steady. “I care about your daughter very much. We’re going to make it work, the two of us.”
“Well…” Bella swallowed hard, glancing at me. “There’s a little more to it.” She hesitated only a beat. “I’m pregnant.”
Donna gasped, and Paul scowled.
“So, that’s what this is about?” Paul barked. “You knock a girl up and suddenly you’re building a life together?”
“It’s not suddenly, Dad,” Bella cried out. “Chris and I have known each other for years. The baby is unexpected but I love him. I want to have a life with him. A family.”
Paul only snorted, and Donna looked shell-shocked.
“A baby?” Donna whispered.
Bella nodded. “Yeah. We’re having a baby. You’re going to be a grandma.”
Paul snorted again. “And you think you’re going to be able to handle this?”
“Yes, sir,” I said firmly. “I want you to know that I’ll be there for her every step of the way.”
“A baby’s a big responsibility,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “It’s not just about saying the right things. It’s about doing them.”
“I understand that,” I replied. “I’m ready to do whatever it takes to support Bella and the baby. This isn’t just words for me. It’s my commitment.”
Paul studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he said, “Bella, let me talk to Chris alone for a minute?”
Bella’s eyes widened, and she glanced at me nervously. “Dad—”
“It’s fine,” I interrupted, giving her a reassuring nod. “I’ll be fine.”
She hesitated before standing and leaving the room, her mother following her. Once they were gone, Paul watched me again, his glance measured, his thoughts impossible to read. I glanced around the living room. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with neatly arranged volumes around the television stand, and the recliner Paul sat in was worn on the armrests where he always fiddled with his hands.
“Let’s cut to the chase,” Paul said. “Bella’s a handful. Always has been. She’s stubborn, headstrong, and doesn’t always make the best decisions. Are you prepared for that?”
“I am,” I said without hesitation. “And I wouldn’t change a thing about her. She’s strong and independent, and that’s part of what I love about her.”
Paul raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that response. “A baby changes everything. It’s not going to be easy.”
“I know that,” I said. “But nothing worth having ever is. I’m not backing down from this. From her.”
For a moment, he said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slight nod, he said, “All right. Just remember what you’re getting into.”
“I will,” I promised, taking the blessing for what it was. He hadn’t said it outright, but he wasn’t against it, either. Maybe it was because I wasn’t backing down. Or maybe it was because he knew Bella would do whatever she wanted, anyway.
Whatever it was, it was good enough for me. I’d done the right thing, and I wanted Bella to feel like she didn’t have to hide anything, or run from anything.
I’d done more than enough of that in my life to know that I didn’t want that for her.
We joined Bella and her mother in the kitchen, and the atmosphere, while still tense, felt slightly less hostile. Bella looked at me questioningly, and I gave her a small smile.
Later that afternoon, we packed Bella’s things into the car. As we drove away, she let out a long sigh of relief.
“I’m glad to be gone. Again.”
“I can imagine,” I said. “It’s quite the household.”
She chuckled. “Yeah. That went better than I expected.”
I grinned at her. “Told you I could handle it.”
She laughed softly. “Thank you, Chris. It means a lot to me that we could do that.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” I said. “I’m just getting started.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a surprise for you.” I turned down a few different quiet streets and finally parked the car in a parking space.
“Where are we?” Bella asked.
“At your new home, if you like it,” I said, and we climbed out of the car.
The apartment I’d found for Bella was in a quiet neighborhood with tree-lined streets and a charming, older building with ivy climbing the brick exterior. The inside was modest but warm, with hardwood floors and large windows that let in plenty of natural light.
“What do you think?” I asked as I showed her around. “It’s not too far from town, and it’s in a good area. The landlord seems nice, too.”
Bella looked around, her eyes wide. “Chris, it’s perfect.”
“Good,” I said, relief washing over me. “Because I’ve already talked to the landlord, and it’s yours if you want it. You can move in whenever you like and I’ll make sure it’s furnished. If you want, of course. You can do that yourself, too. Anything that works for you.”
She turned to me and slid her arms around my waist. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
“Yes, I did,” I said and planted a kiss on her lips. “You deserve a place where you can feel safe and happy. Even if this is just where we start off, I want it to be a good start, you know? And besides, this is close to me—just a short drive. Speaking of which…there’s one more thing.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “What?”
I led her outside to where a sleek, silver car was parked. “I figured you’d need a way to get around. You know, when you come to visit me, or go to work, or whatever.”
Her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes welling up. “Chris, I can’t… This is too much.”
“It’s not too much,” I said. “It’s what you deserve. I know you want to be independent, but you don’t have to do it all alone. This is just a starting point. You get to go in any direction from here. I just want to make sure you don’t start completely from scratch.
She leaned into me. “I don’t even know what to say. Thank you.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” I murmured, holding her tightly.
It was enough she was in my arms, that I could look after her. She’d done so much for me in the time we’d been together, I wanted to be able to do something for her. I would spend my whole life trying to show her how much she deserved. And it still wouldn’t be enough.
“I can’t wait for the rest of our lives together,” Bella whispered, and my heart soared.