Chapter 19
Nineteen
The plans for Trident II were up on Hawk’s laptop, but his mind was a million miles away.
It had already been three weeks since the family dinner from hell, and Jessie was struggling.
She’d given up working at the diner. She wasn’t talking to her mom or dad, or half of her brothers.
The only time she wanted to leave the apartment was on the days she still helped out at Lachlan’s shop.
Colt and Lach had dropped off her things in just a couple of cardboard boxes a week after the dinner.
She’d smiled until her brothers left… Then the tears came.
And he didn’t know how to make it better.
So, he’d given her his credit card to get things that would make the apartment feel like her space.
And he hadn’t said a single word as she rearranged everything in some sort of rage nesting that now meant his shirts were where his shorts normally were and the coffee was kept in the place where he’d always put his cereal.
He could adapt. But nothing seemed to settle her.
Even his sister and his friends hadn’t been able to get her to come out of the apartment. So now, there was only one thing he could think to do, and he’d put it off long enough.
It was time to call his mom.
Hawk’s cheeks ballooned as he pushed all the air out of his lungs.
His mom picked up on the second ring.
“Hawk, sweetheart. I wasn’t expecting a call from you today. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, Mom. Everything’s good here.”
“Well, don’t leave an old woman waiting. It’s not my birthday, or your dad’s. And it’s not a major holiday, so—”
“I call more than that.”
“What. You’re mom can’t tease you?”
“You can. But you’re right. I’m calling for a reason.”
“Oh my god. It’s finally happened. You met someone!”
Hawk stood from behind his desk, walking to the window as he ran his hand over his jaw. “Yeah. I have.”
“And it sounds like it’s serious?”
“Very. She’s my person, Mom. I think I’ve known it from the day I met her, I was just scared to let myself act on it.”
“Why would you be scared, honey?”
“She’s fourteen years younger than me.”
He waited for a gasp from his mother, but it never came. Instead, a soft chuckle filled the silence.
“Why are you laughing?”
“That means she’s what? Twenty-six, Hawk? I’d already been married to your father for three years by the time I was that age. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.” She gasped. “Is that what you’re calling to tell me, then? That you’re going to ask her to marry you?”
“I’ve tried to ask her about a dozen times already. She just keeps telling me not to.”
“Why would she say that?”
“Probably because she wants to make sure I’m not just feeling tied to her because of the baby.”
“Hawk Elijah Morgan. What baby?!”
“She’s pregnant, Mom. Surprise! You’re going to be a Grandma.”
“Oh lord, I need to sit down. I’m so happy I’m fixin’ to faint!”
“Where’s Dad? Do you need me to call him?”
“Hush, I’m fine! I’m just over here about to pee my pants! What on Earth do you mean I’m gonna be a Mimi!! How far along is she? How is she feeling? When can we come out and meet her? You better tell me her name right now before I hop on my laptop and buy my ticket out there!”
“Her name is Jessie and—”
“Jessie Ford! Oh my god… does your sister know?”
Hawk’s mind spun. “Uh, yeah. Mae was the first person I told. I didn’t know how she would take the news with what happened last year, but I knew I couldn’t hide it from her. How… How do you know about Jessie?”
“Mae and I talked while she was home. She was holding out hope for the two of you, and it sounds like she was spot on about everything! Oh, I can’t wait to call her!” He pulled the phone away from his ear as his mother squealed. “Tell me everything. Please.”
“She’s almost twenty weeks. We don’t know if the baby is a boy or a girl yet, but I think we’re going to find out in a few weeks at her next scan.”
“Oh, twenty weeks. She’s almost halfway!”
Guilt punched him right in the gut at the sadness in his mother’s voice.
“I’m sorry for not telling you before now.
It’s just that Jessie was really sick at first. She asked me to not tell anyone until she was out of her first trimester, and then we were waiting to tell her family,” Hawks' voice deepened as he thought about how disastrous that meal had been.
“Why do you sound upset?”
“Her dad was less than thrilled about the baby. Jess… she’s been struggling with his reaction.
I’m trying to get her settled into the apartment, but I just don’t know how to make things better.
I made it clear to him where I stood with Jessie and the baby.
They are my family, Mom. Forever. I’ll protect them from everything, including him if I need to. ”
“Oh, honey.”
“I just need to know what else I can be doing. I’ve joined every due date group I can find online.
I’ve registered us for some new age birthing class that she wants to take.
I’ve stocked the kitchen with all her safe foods and removed everything that she even slightly frowns at, and I’m trying to sneak onto her shopping account to see what books she has saved away because she loves to read.
But she’s stopped working, and isn’t speaking to half of her family, and I can see how much it’s hurting her. ”
“You know, there are just some things that you can’t fix or protect her from.
It sounds like you are doing everything you can to make sure she’s taken care of.
And that’s all you can do. If her dad approaches you to talk things out, go into it with an open heart.
And encourage Jessie to do the same. But if not, you’ve already said it.
You’re her family now. And you’ll make sure she knows how much you love her and how precious she is to you, because she’s the mother of your child, but also because you love her for who she is deep down inside, and that will be enough.
You’re enough, Hawk. God, I’m so proud of you I could cry. ”
A knock on the door frame to his office had Hawk clearing his throat and spinning to see who needed him. Nash.
“Hey, Mom, I have to run, but thank you for the advice. And for being excited.”
“You let me know when we can come out for a visit and I’ll be there in a heartbeat, honey. And you give Jessie and my grand-baby a kiss from me, you hear?”
“Yes, ma’am. I promise I will.”
“Good boy. Now, I’m off to find out what the heck your father is up to. I’m about to make his whole year telling him he’s gonna be a Papaw!”
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, sweetheart.”
Hawk ended the call with his mom, blowing out a breath as he made his way back to his desk. Nash walked in with a package in his hands, sliding it onto the desk before sitting in the chair across from Hawk.
“What’s this?” Hawk asked.
“Dunno. It’s addressed to Jessie. Just figured she probably ordered something and forgot to put the apartment info in.”
“Oh, yeah. I told her to order whatever she needed to feel more settled. This is probably something for that.”
Hawk took the package, puzzled at how light it was, but set it down next to his phone and keys so he wouldn’t forget to take it up when he left for the day.
“You know, Lacy mentioned to me something about having you two over soon so Jessie could borrow some maternity clothes. I think Lace actually borrowed a bunch of it from Lily to begin with.”
“That sounds great. She’s being stubborn about letting me pay for her to get new clothes.”
“Lacy mentioned the girls were thinking of maybe taking her shopping one day. Trying to get her out of the apartment.”
Hawk shook his head. “It’s fucking killing me to see her so sad. I’m just thankful you guys have embraced Jessie with open arms.”
Nash’s brows pulled together. “Of course we would. She’s your person, isn’t she?”
“Yeah.”
“And we’re your family. So, we love her. And we protect her. And we include her. That’s what families do.”
“I wish her family felt that way about me.”
Nash nodded. They’d all talked the subject to death by that point. “I think Dolly’s having a really hard time.”
“Then she should reach out to Jess.”
“What if she’s waiting for Jess to say it’s okay? Maybe she doesn’t want to hurt her daughter more.”
“I don’t know how to handle this situation, but I do know that it’s not Jessie’s thing to have to fix.
She’s not the one who needs to apologize and I won’t entertain anything that puts that thought in her head.
” Hawk closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I think I’m just gonna have to man up and have a one on one with her dad, but I’m not really sure what more there is to say to him. ”
“You ready to get the ol’ shotgun in the face?” Nash laughed. “I feel like Danny would break that out in a heartbeat.”
“He almost did the first time around.” Hawk smirked. “But I told him the truth. I love Jessie. I love our baby. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them.”
Nash nodded. “As a girl dad now, I would hope if one of the girls fell in love and got pregnant unexpectedly, I’d be patient enough to hear them out.”
“You would be. You’re a great dad.”
His buddy smiled. “Thanks, Phoenix. I have no doubt, however you decide to handle this, that you’ll be there for Jessie in the exact way she needs. And in case you’re sitting there worried about it, all of us know you’re going to be a great dad, too.”
“Jess? Do you know where all my black t-shirts went?” Hawk yelled as he held back his laughter. Jessie was apparently on round three.. or, shit… was it round four… of moving his shirts around. He was able to find shorts—thank God—for after his shower, but had no luck with a shirt.
Hawk scanned the room again, piles of clothes left on the small chair in the corner, out in front of the closet, there was even a drawer left open on his dresser, but no clothes were inside.
“Hawk!!” Jessie’s cry rang through the apartment. He went running to find her in the next breath.