Chapter 29
BLAIR
I’d insisted my mother sit down when she came to visit me this morning. After the intense Saturday at Tate’s rental, I needed to talk to her more than ever.
Nicholas was still sleeping, so I served her coffee and recounted the entire story of how I’d figured out Tate was Taylor’s father. Needless to say, she was shocked.
“What the hell are you going to do, Blair?”
“That’s a fair question.” I shrugged, stirring my coffee. “Basically, I’m screwed.”
Her mouth hung open. “I can’t believe this.”
“I know. I’m still absorbing it myself.”
“It was shocking enough when you came home from that trip four years ago and three months later announced that you’d gotten pregnant by an older man you met at the resort. I’d come to terms with the fact that we’d never find or know Nicholas’s father. But this? I don’t know how to process this.”
I sighed. “Aside from the fact that Tate is Taylor’s father, I still don’t regret anything. I told you a lot about Tate—what I remembered of him, what a good man I felt he was—before we knew his identity. None of that’s changed.”
My mother rubbed her temples. “Do you have a photo of him?”
Reaching for my phone, I smiled. “Yes. Finally, I do after the nightmare of having all my photos stolen from the trip. I took a couple of pictures this past weekend.”
I pulled up a photo of Tate and Nicholas in the yard at the rental house. They were both smiling for the camera, and the resemblance was uncanny. And Tate looked gorgeous, of course.
Her jaw dropped all over again. “Wow. Okay. Uh...” She shook her head. “Well, I can see why you got wrapped up in him. He’s an extremely handsome man.”
I couldn’t help but laugh because I knew she’d react that way once she got a look at him—the way anyone would. “Doesn’t Nicholas look just like him?”
“I absolutely see that, yes.” She nodded. “Tate also looks young for his age. A little different than I’d imagined.” After a moment, her expression changed.
“What are you thinking, Mom?”
She looked up at me. “I just feel badly for Taylor. He’s been such a good friend to you. This situation isn’t fair to anyone involved.”
I sighed. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it. This is going to crush him, and our friendship may not survive. But I’m more scared about ruining what he’s built with his dad.”
My mother let out a long breath. “I don’t know how to feel, because I’m so thrilled that Nicholas will get to have his father in his life.”
I nodded. “I know. It’s bittersweet.”
“I’m also a little concerned for you,” she added.
“Me?” I blinked. “Why?”
“Well, it’s clear you still have feelings for this man. But I don’t know that I trust him. He may be Nicholas’s father, but he’s much older than you—my age, for Christ’s sake. And obviously, Taylor’s had a rocky relationship with him.”
“Tate’s worked a long time to repair his relationship with Taylor.
He understands where he went wrong, and it wasn’t all his fault.
Taylor’s mom made things tough for him when they were younger.
His relationship with her is better now, too.
” I sighed. “Anyway, he and I have decided we can’t be together romantically. So, you don’t need to worry about me.”
She arched a brow. “Really, Blair? The look on your face a few moments ago when you were showing me the photo? The way you used to talk about the man you met on the trip? You’re absolutely smitten.”
I tried to shake it off, though I knew she was right. “It doesn’t matter, Mom.”
“Sure, it does. Why don’t your feelings matter?”
Sitting up straighter, I announced, “I’m actually going on a date with someone else.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes. I made the decision earlier this morning. Tate encouraged it. He offered to babysit. Apparently, he’s already trying to pawn me off on someone else. See? There you go. Nothing to worry about.”
“I find that a bit strange.” My mother drew in her brows. “Who’s the date with?”
“It’s that guy Taylor surprised me with when we all went out to Bianco’s the other night.”
“Do you like him? You didn’t seem all that sure when you came home from that dinner.”
I shrugged. “I like him enough…”
“That’s promising.” She rolled her eyes. “Sounds to me like you’re forcing yourself to go out with him as a distraction from your feelings for Tate.”
I didn’t even try to deny it. “Well, I can’t pine over someone who’s determined not to be with me—and rightfully so. I agree with his stance, all things considered. It wouldn’t be fair to Taylor.”
My mother offered a sympathetic smile. “I don’t mean to antagonize you.
Please never stop being honest with me. I so appreciate that you talk to me.
And in return, I’ll always give you my honest opinion.
I want what’s best for you. You were just getting your life back on track when this came about. ”
“None of this changes me finishing nursing school. If anything, I’ll have more help with Nicholas now that he has another parent in the picture.” I paused. “Tate also wants to help financially. He’s insistent on it.”
“Well, financial help should be a given.”
“I told him I didn’t need his money.”
“Why not?” She glared. “Of course you do.”
“I really don’t. We get by just fine.”
“You’ve been living off your savings, Blair. You should start putting money away for Nicholas’s college now, and most definitely his father should be contributing.”
Once again, she was right. I suppose I’d been in denial about my finances.
“Do you think Nicholas senses anything about Tate?” she asked.
“I don’t know. He really likes him. But that’s because Tate’s been bending over backward to spoil him.”
“Well, that gets old fast. It remains to be seen what kind of a father he will be.”
I knew Tate had learned from his past mistakes and would be the best father to Nicholas. But it wasn’t going to be easy to convince my mom. Time would just have to prove it.
“Well…” she added. “I’m glad Taylor chose to get married when he did. Because this situation would only be more complicated ten years down the line.”
I nodded. “That’s for damn sure. As things stand, I think Nicholas is the winner in all this. That’s why I’m okay with how things have played out. If it was a choice between dealing with this situation or Nicholas never knowing his dad, I’d choose this over the alternative.”
“He’s not only gained a dad but a brother,” she pointed out.
Chills ran through me. “As long as Taylor can accept the situation.” I frowned.
“Well, he already loves Nicholas,” she said. “That can only help.”
“That’s gonna be another thing I have to explain to my son someday. How Uncle Taylor is suddenly his brother.”
“Taylor has one other sibling, right?”
“His mom and stepdad have a daughter. So a half-sister, Katy.”
My mother leaned over to hug me. Even if she was a bit critical of Tate, talking to her had made me feel better.
“I think the important thing to remember here is that no one did anything wrong,” she said.
“And while Taylor is going to be distraught for a while after he finds out, it’s not the same as you knowingly getting involved with his father.
If he chooses never to speak to you again or to disown Tate, the punishment certainly won’t fit the crime. ”
***
Ironically, that afternoon Taylor stopped by as he sometimes did on his way home from work. It rattled me a little this time.
“This is a surprise,” I said as I let him in.
“Actually, don’t get too excited. I have to take a piss so bad, and I know your bathroom is cleaner than the gas station.”
“I feel honored.”
Taylor was wearing his work clothes, a collared shirt and khakis, and he carried a small bag.
“But I haven’t seen Nicholas in a while…” he added. “I got him a little something from the trip and wanted to give it to him in person. Be right back, though,” he said, placing the bag on an end table and escaping to the bathroom.
I could hear him tinkling behind the door.
Nicholas had been playing in his room, and I went to get him.
“Nicholas, Uncle Taylor is here!” I announced, desperate for the distraction of my son. I feared Taylor might sense that something was wrong. This was the first time he’d come by since the wedding.
My son’s eyes brightened, and he ran out of his room just as Taylor exited the bathroom.
“Hey, buddy!” Taylor opened his arms.
“Hi, Uncle Taylor,” Nicholas said in his cute little voice.
“I missed you.” Taylor knelt and hugged him. “I have a surprise.” Taylor reached for the bag and took out a rubber iguana “I got this when I went to Aruba. I saw it, and all I could think was how much you would like it. There are lots of these iguanas there.” He handed it to Nicholas.
My son took it into his palm, looking down at it intently.
“What do you say, Nicholas?” I smiled.
“Thank you, Uncle Taylor.”
“You’re very welcome. And know what the best part is?” Taylor took it back for a moment and squeezed the iguana, prompting a rubber tongue to pop out. “Check out that tongue.”
Nicholas giggled and repeated the motion.
Taylor laughed. “Do you like it?”
Nicholas nodded.
He ruffled my son’s hair. “Well, good. I love you, little buddy.”
That squeezed my heart. Oh, Taylor, I hope you love him even more when you find out he’s your brother.
As Nicholas skipped away to play with the iguana, Taylor turned to me. He placed his hands on his hips. “So…”
I blew some air up into my hair. “So?”
He smirked. “Adam told me you agreed to go out with him Saturday night.”
I exhaled. “I did.”
He chuckled. “You don’t have to marry the guy, B. Just have some fun. You spend your days taking care of Nicholas, which is obviously the priority, but you need to get out more. You’re too damn young to be cooped up the way you are.”
He made himself at home, grabbing a bottled water from the fridge. “On that note, I meant to tell you Juliana and I can babysit whenever you need us. She said to make sure you knew. And that includes this Saturday night.”
“She’s looking for practice, huh?” I teased.
If Taylor and Juliana had a kid, Tate would be a grandfather. That was wild.
“She might be.” He laughed. “But we both agreed it won’t be happening anytime soon.”
“Unless you get lucky, like me.” I winked.
“Anyway, we’re serious about the babysitting thing.”
“I appreciate that, but I have it covered.” Your father is watching him.
I was relieved that he didn’t ask who so I didn’t have to lie.
“Well, I was glad to hear you agreed to go,” he continued after a moment. “I felt like you two were vibing the other night.”
I cleared my throat. “He’s a nice guy.”
“He’s very into you. I probably shouldn’t be ratting him out like that, but he won’t stop talking about how hot you are during our lunch breaks at work. It’s fucking annoying.”
I forced a smile, but couldn’t exactly return the sentiment. Adam was a good-looking guy. When it came to looks and sexual attraction, though, nothing compared to the way I felt about Tate.
Every second Taylor stayed to chat made me more and more nervous.
There was no reason Tate would show up here, but I’d been on edge about that possibility since the first time he dropped by unannounced.
I reminded myself that Taylor had been away then, and Tate was smart enough not to risk dropping by now.
“The thing is, even though you shouldn’t be taking anything too seriously right now, I wouldn’t set you up with someone who had no potential for the future,” Taylor explained.
“Like, if things were to work out between you guys, I do think he’d be father material.
It’s important that you don’t waste time with someone who doesn’t like kids. ”
“Yeah, you’re definitely getting ahead of yourself, my friend.”
“I know. I know. Just saying, even for a casual thing, it’s not worth your time if the guy’s an asshole or doesn’t want children. Because ultimately, you’re a package deal, whether you like it or not.”
“Thanks for likening me to this week’s special at the supermarket.”
“You know what I mean.” He laughed.
“I do. I’m just kidding, and I know you mean well.”
Except Nicholas already has a father and won’t ever need a replacement.