Chapter 16 #2
Panic makes me still, and I glower at him.
“I’m not moving, so it’s irrelevant, Finn.
I know you’re the father, but my entire family lives here, and I’m going to need their support since you live thousands of miles away.
But to answer your question, Buzz Wheel doesn’t report the goings-on of minors. ”
He raises both hands in front of him. “I wasn’t asking because I was going to demand you move.”
“Good.” I nod.
“And about that other thing…”
I frown. “What other thing?”
“The part where you said I live thousands of miles away.” He clears his throat. “I won’t be that far. In fact, I won’t be far at all. I’m moving to Alaska.”
It takes a moment for the words to form in my head, and when they do, my mouth drops open. “You and Tamra are moving here?”
He palms the back of his neck and cringes. “Yeah, about Tamra and me. There’s something you should know.”
Why do I get the distinct feeling I’m not going to like whatever he’s about to say?
“Okay…” I shift in my seat.
“Our engagement was fake.”
His words land between us like a grenade with the pin pulled. I blink at him several times.
“I wasn’t lying when I said I had no intentions of getting back together with her.
But when I got back from Hudson’s wedding, she approached me about getting married, pretending we’d gotten back together so that she could have access to her trust from her grandfather.
It was a stipulation in his will that she be happily married before she received the funds. ”
“So, you were marrying her for money? Was she paying you or something?”
“Yes, but not how you think. I mean yes, I was doing it for money. But I was doing it to save my parents’ ski hill.
They could’ve used the influx of cash to make repairs and upgrades to the place that would bring in the skiers and snowboarders.
There’s a chance they could lose the business, so when Tamra suggested what she did, I was receptive.
Believe me when I say I didn’t think we’d ever see each other again, and I was as shocked as you were when I found out that Tamra had hired you. ”
I look at my hands in my lap and take in everything he’s saying, remembering being around them when I was helping them with their wedding. How I used to think that Finn looked at me with need every so often, then figuring I was crazy because he was happily engaged.
“Say something. Please.”
I look up at him, and guilt coats his features. “It sounds like something I would do.”
He bursts out laughing.
“You think I’m kidding.” I grin.
“You don’t think I’m the biggest piece of shit you’ve ever met?”
I shake my head. “Not at all. You were doing something to try to help the people you love, and you weren’t hurting anyone.”
Finn holds my gaze. “I was hurting you. God, Harper, if I’d known you were pregnant, I never would have been holding Tamra’s hand and acting that way with her. Not that I’m saying you cared, but I wouldn’t have made it even more awkward than it was.”
He’s clearly telling the truth. I’m not sure that Finn has a dishonest bone in his body.
“I believe you. But you had no way of knowing.” I give him a small smile. “So Tamra agreed to move here so that you can be near the baby, and she can still get her money?”
He shakes his head. “No. I called the wedding off. You’re my priority now.” My eyes widen, and he hurries to correct himself. “I mean the baby. The baby is my priority.”
“Yeah. Of course, I didn’t think otherwise.” Neither of us says anything, and I don’t love silence, so I ask another question, “But your parents? The business?”
Finn’s gaze dips to my flat stomach. “I know. I’ll have to try to figure something else out, but one thing I know is that I’d never forgive myself if I wasn’t a part of my child’s life.”
The warm feeling flowing throughout my entire body should probably sound the alarm bells for me, but instead, I lean into the feeling. I’m not going to have to be a single mom. My eyes get watery. “Thank you, Finn. That makes me really happy.”
He doesn’t say anything, just swallows hard and nods.
“Where are you staying in the meantime until you find a place?”
He sighs. “Honestly, I’m not sure yet. I was going to look for something more budget-friendly than Glacier Point Resort, seeing as I have a child on the way, and I’m about to be unemployed.”
My brain spins with possibilities of how I can help fix either one or both of those situations. It’s the least I can do when this man is leaving behind everything and hasn’t even asked me for a paternity test. Then it comes to me. “I might be able to help.”
He rolls his eyes playfully. “Let me guess, you have a relative who can pull some strings for me to either get a job or lodging.”
“Well… kind of. My uncle Kingston has worked at the Anchorage Fire Department forever, and he could definitely put in a good word for you. There and at the local station.”
Finn chuckles. “Is there no end to the Bailey clan?”
“Not really.” I pat my stomach. “And it’s about to get bigger between Palmer and myself.”
He shakes his head. “So which family member owns a cheap motel for me to stay in?”
“I can do better than that.” I smile broadly. “You can live with me.”