Chapter Thirteen
Amanda
Three days after giving birth, Amanda called Craig and asked if he’d like to come see the baby. He’d already returned to his Palos Verdes home for the weekend and had to wait until Monday. He told Marsha there was a problem at the Monterey office, so on Monday morning, he headed to Malibu to see his son.
And when he took the baby boy out of Amanda’s arms and held him close, love poured out of him. He’d never known what he’d been missing out on until this moment.
“He’s beautiful,” Craig said, smiling widely. “He has your eyes,” he told Amanda.
Amanda laughed. “His eyes will change. I think he looks a lot like you.”
“Imagine that,” he said. “Having a mini-me running around. I like the thought of it.”
Amanda laughed.
“How are you feeling?” he asked her.
“I’m fine. I’m glad I can stay home for a while, though. The baby only sleeps about three hours at a time, so I’m tired.” Amanda laughed. “My mom said she’d take off of work for a month and stay with me, but I pleaded with her not to. I’m enjoying my time alone with the baby. And this gives you a chance to be around the baby, too, without any questions.”
“Thank you,” Craig said warmly. He rocked the baby side to side in his arms. “Thank you for sharing him with me.”
Amanda smiled. “I’m happy you can be a part of his life. It might be an awkward situation, and it’s a shame we have to hide that he’s yours, but we’ll work it out as we go along.”
He carried the baby over to the sofa and sat, watching the baby sleep. He’d bought new furniture for Amanda when she’d moved into the condo. And he’d helped her buy the furniture for the baby’s room as well. He didn’t care how much everything cost. His baby meant more to him than anything else in the world.
“I forgot,” Craig said. “I haven’t even asked you what you named him.”
Amanda smiled. “Remember that one evening we were the only ones left at work, and we talked about names?”
Craig nodded.
“I decided to name the baby Maximilian after my grandfather. And his middle name is Michael.”
Craig beamed. “My middle name! Thank you. That makes me so happy.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “Of course, we’ll just call him Max for short. Maximilian is a big name for a little baby.”
“I love it,” Craig said.
As the weeks, then months, went by, Craig tried to see the baby whenever he could. He gave Amanda money each month to help with the baby’s care. She protested at first, but when she saw the enormous price of formula and diapers, she agreed.
Amanda worked from home the first three months after Max was born, then hired a babysitter to come to her home on weekdays to care for Max. Craig helped her with that expense, too. He told her it was the least he could do.
Every time Craig was in Malibu, he stopped by to see the baby. Amanda finally told him he should stay in the guest room so he could spend more time with Max. “After all, you pay for this place. Why not enjoy it?”
Craig hesitated at first but then gave in. “It would be nice to spend more time with Max,” he said. “But any time you need me to stay at the hotel, just say so.”
Amanda had no idea before having Max how much work it was to have a baby. But she also had never felt so much love for anyone else in her life. After only a few months, she couldn’t imagine herself without the baby in her life.
A year after Max was born, Craig told Amanda he had a surprise for her. They both took Friday off from work, and he drove her and the baby up into the hills above Malibu. He pulled the car into a quiet neighborhood with nice homes that looked like they’d been built in the 1960s and 70s.
“Where exactly are we going?” Amanda asked, growing nervous. She trusted Craig completely, but she was afraid he was going to introduce them to friends and blow their cover.
“Hopefully, home,” Craig said, giving her a sideways glance, then smiling.
He pulled up into the driveway of a nice-looking ranch-style house with a large lawn in front and a double garage.
“Come on,” he said, getting out of the car. He ran around to the other side and opened Amanda’s door—always the gentleman—and then unhooked the baby from the car seat in the back.
“Why are we here?” Amanda asked, glancing around.
“Just look at that view,” Craig said, turning toward the street. The houses on the opposite side of the street were built lower so as not to block the view.
“Oh, my goodness. It’s beautiful!” Amanda said. Spread out in front of her was the Pacific Ocean.
Craig smiled. “Wouldn’t that be nice to wake up to every day?”
“Dream on,” Amanda said.
Craig waved for her to follow him, and they walked up the path to the front door. Balancing Max in his right arm, he pulled a key out of his pants pocket and unlocked the door.
“What are you doing?” Amanda asked. She looked around, wondering if they were going to get in trouble for entering someone else’s house.
“Come on in,” Craig said excitedly. He walked ahead of her, and Amanda had no other option but to follow.
The house was beautiful. A big picture window in the living room looked out to the view of the ocean. There was a Spanish-style fireplace in the corner and a beautiful sofa on the opposite wall. Past the entryway, Amanda saw a dining room with a large table and chairs and the kitchen beyond.
“This house has two bedrooms and two bathrooms,” Craig said, setting Max down on the living room floor. Max wasn’t walking quite yet but still managed to get around quickly so they always had to keep an eye on him. “And the backyard is to die for. Come look.”
Amanda closed the front door so Max wouldn’t escape and followed Craig into the dining room. Out the back window was a huge backyard that was surrounded by trees and tall bushes, making it very private.
“A person could easily add a pool and still have a lot of yard left. We could even put a swing set and jungle gym right over there for Max,” Craig said.
“We?” Amanda turned and stared at Craig. “Did you buy this house?”
Craig nodded. “I did. Please hear me out before you say no.”
“No,” Amanda said, turning back to the living room.
“Amanda. Please.” Craig followed her. “Max is growing so fast. He needs a yard and a nice neighborhood to grow up in. Wouldn’t it be nice in a couple of years to be able to stand at the kitchen window and watch him play safely in his own yard?”
Amanda spun on her heel and faced Craig. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Max was walking with the aid of the coffee table. He was growing up fast. “I can’t take a house from you, Craig,” she said. “You’ve been generous enough to pay my rent at the condo. At some point, I need to take care of myself and Max, and I certainly can’t afford to take care of this house.”
“You don’t have to pay for the house,” Craig said. “I own it. You can live here as long as you like. And it’s not charity. I bought this house for investment purposes. It was run down and needed fixing up, so I got a good price on it and had it remodeled. That’s why everything looks new.”
“But it’s still your house, Craig,” Amanda said. “I can’t keep taking things from you.”
“You’d be doing me a favor,” Craig said. “Honestly. If I keep this house, let’s say, for ten years, its value will skyrocket like everything else in Malibu. You and Max can live here rent-free until I decide I need to sell it. Think about it, Amanda. It’s better than wasting money on rent.”
Amanda walked over to the sofa near Max and scooped him up into her lap. She appreciated everything Craig had done for her, but this seemed too extravagant. They weren’t in any kind of physical relationship. They were just friends who happened to have a baby together. Wouldn’t it be wrong of her to live in a house he owned?
Craig came to sit beside them. “Please use the house,” he said. “It’s a great place for Max to grow up. You have a short walk or drive down to the beach below, where he can play. I want you and Max to have the best of everything.”
Amanda looked up and saw the gorgeous view out the window. This was a dream house. She’d never be able to buy something like this on her own. “I don’t know, Craig,” she said. “Yes, it’s a beautiful home in a lovely area. And yes, I want the best for Max. But it feels wrong.”
Craig sat back and chuckled. “Everything we’re doing is all new territory for both of us. But if you put it down to the basics, you’re Max’s mother, and I’m his father. If I can give you two a good life, why shouldn’t I?”
Yes. Their situation wasn’t easy in any way. But it had worked so far. And Amanda had to admit paying for a house made more sense than paying rent.
“If I say yes and live here, then you have to at least let me pay the utility bills,” Amanda said, feeling herself giving in.
“I’ll be happy to let you pay the utility bills,” Craig said.
“And what if, at some point, I start dating someone seriously? How does that work if you own the house?” Amanda asked.
Craig smiled. “I may own the house, but I don’t own you. Of course, you’ll start dating again. I’m not going to try to stop you from having a life. As long as I can have some kind of relationship with Max, that’s all I ask.”
Max was squirming in her lap, so Amanda put him down. He grabbed ahold of Craig’s knee and smiled up at his father. Craig smiled back as the little boy moved slowly along the couch to the end table.
Amanda sighed. Max definitely needed his father. There was no doubt in her mind that Craig adored Max and would always make sure he was taken care of.
“Okay. I give in,” Amanda said, lifting her arms in a sign of surrender. “But I’m not sure how I’ll explain owning a house in Malibu to everyone at work.”
Craig grinned. “Just tell them you’re renting it from a friend. They won’t even question it.”
Amanda stood and walked through the dining room to the kitchen. Everything from the cabinets to the appliances here was brand new. It was the perfect house.
“Hey, big guy. Let’s go see your room,” Craig said, lifting Max up in the air and spinning him around. The little boy squealed with delight as Craig carried him to the back bedroom.
Amanda stared out the kitchen window to the backyard. Yes, a sandbox, a jungle gym, and a swing set would look great out there. She smiled. Despite what she’d said to Craig, she couldn’t help but be excited about moving into this house.