Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Zander
“ L una Dove Abbott. Isn’t she beautiful?” Brittney gushes as Hawk holds their tiny newborn daughter in his arms.
I can’t help but smile as I watch this tough-as-nails guy cradle his little girl. I guess that song “Tough Little Boys” by Gary Allan is true. I never realized how much a baby can change things.
“Congratulations. I’m happy for all of you. She’s beautiful like her mom,” I say. Hawk glances up at me with a murderous expression. I hold my hands up in surrender. “I’m just saying you’re a lucky man. You have a beautiful wife and now daughter too,” I say while laughing.
He turns to Brittney and winks. “Trust me, I know I’m a blessed man.”
The little pink bundle he’s holding starts to cry and I take that as my cue to head out. “I’ll go and let you have some bonding time. I know your parents and Wren will be back anytime to steal more baby love. And I know Bree and Dean will probably be swinging by too,” I say to Hawk as he hands his daughter to Brittney. Bree is Brittney’s best friend and Dean Warren is her husband. Their daughter, Andie, is almost a year old.
Hawk walks over and shakes my hand. “Thanks, man. You know you’re family to her with how little she sees her own. And if you’re her family, you’re mine too. And you know she’ll hold you to that burger she wants tomorrow and the milkshake your dad makes her.”
I chuckle. “It’ll be here, I promise. And you’re all family to me too.”
“Are y’all being all mushy with your bromance you think I don’t know about again?” Brittney asks from the bed.
“You can have him back,” I tell her. “I’ll see you tomorrow with your goodies.”
I step into the hall and make my way to the elevators. I reach the ground floor and start to walk by the emergency room halls and notice two women come out of a room together. One looks familiar, just like…Scarlett.
I pick up my pace and catch up to them. I notice Scarlett must’ve been the patient because she’s wearing hospital bracelets. “Scarlett?” I say when I reach them.
She freezes mid-step and turns to face me. She’s pale, but otherwise she looks exactly how I remember her. I just painted those blue eyes earlier today. But instead of the vibrant look she had before, her eyes now reflect something else…fear maybe?
“Zander. How are you?” she asks tightly. Her friend is holding on to her arm and her eyes widen in recognition. I think she was a bridesmaid that day.
“I’m good. Are you okay? You’re wearing hospital bracelets,” I say, pointing out the obvious.
“I um, I got a bad case of food poisoning,” she says nervously, her eyes darting to her friend.
My brows slam together. “Here in Greendale Valley?” I ask suspiciously.
“Yep. I had a lunch meeting yesterday with some of my clients and decided to stay at the little B and B on Second Street. I planned on exploring a little, but then I got sick, so here I am.”
“Uh-huh. I’m sorry that happened. Can I help you to the car?” I ask, unsure what to say next.
“You go ahead. Anna’s got me. I appreciate it though,” she says quickly as if she can’t wait to get away from me.
I wondered how it would feel to see her again, but this is just plain weird. Maybe my little glimpse of sunshine with her was a front. This is exactly why I don’t trust women. Any broken piece that’s left of my cold heart is carefully guarded.
“Okay, then, I hope you feel better. You know where to find me if you ever want those pictures,” I add.
“I do.” She looks flustered and shakes her head before adding, “I mean, I will. I’ll be in touch soon.”
I simply nod and walk out of the exit feeling strange about the entire interaction. Oh well, it doesn’t matter anyway. Just like the sun set on our evening together, it’s set on any further exchanges too.
After she collects her pictures, we’ll have no need to speak again. And I’ll file her away in my memories. Good memories, but a memory, nonetheless.
Scarlett
I told Anna I didn’t want to talk about him until I ate. My time is up. We just finished eating and we’re both under the covers watching TV like we used to do in high school. I feel her staring at me.
“What, Anna?” I say after I huff out a breath.
“You should’ve told him. That was totally destiny. That was more than a wink, that was a full-on shove,” she says, exasperated.
“I think I’m gonna be sick again,” I tell her.
“Do you still have the garbage can over there?” she asks while lifting up to check on me.
“Yes. I don’t mean in the literal sense as in this moment. But the thought of telling Zander our one no-strings night turned into you’re kinda stuck with me forever…that makes me queasy. What if he blames me? What if he hates me? What if he really wants nothing to do with this baby?” I rush out all at once.
Anna sits up. “Breathe, Scarlett. Getting all worked up isn’t good for you or the baby. I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to push you or lay a guilt trip on you. I just can’t stand secrets. You know that.”
“I know. I don’t like them either. But standing there in the hospital while I’m still processing the news myself didn’t feel like the right time to tell him he’s going to be a dad,” I say.
“I get it. But I don’t think any time will be the ‘easy’ or ‘right’ time. And there’s no way he could hate you. No one could. And if he decides to be absent from your or this baby’s life, then it’s his catastrophic loss.”
“Catastrophic, huh?” I ask.
“Absolutely. But, hunny-bunny, what if you change his life, his outlook on love? You could have something beautiful together. You know I believe everything happens for a reason. What if the heartache the two of you experienced saved you both from missing each other? I’m telling you. This baby and that man are your destiny. I feel it in my bones,” she says.
“I’m going to tell him tomorrow, but I have no expectations.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” she asks. She’s always ready to back me up.
“I don’t want to scare him by ganging up on him, but I’d like you somewhere close, yes.”
A knock sounds on my door, and I glance at Anna, but she shrugs her shoulders.
I get out of my cozy cocoon of blankets and open my door. Dr. Leah stands there holding a bottle of ginger ale.
“How are you feeling? I was on my way home and wanted to check in on you.”
“I’m feeling some better, but I don’t think my puking will go away for a while,” I tell her.
She furrows her brows. “Why? Is something else wrong?”
I laugh, still in shock. “It turns out it wasn’t salad; I’m pregnant.”
“Oh! Congratulations!” She hands over the ginger ale.
“That should help a bit with nausea.” She peers over my shoulder to where Anna sits on the bed. Anna waves and Leah waves back.
“I won’t keep you since you have company, I just wanted to see how you were doing and give you that,” she says pointing at the cold ginger ale in my hand. “Get some rest and good luck. If you need anything, let me know,” she says.
“Thanks. I will,” I say as I smile and close the door.
Anna pats the bed beside her, and we both slide back under the covers. She finds the remote and flips through the channels until she lands on one she likes.
“Get some rest. I’m not going anywhere. I want you to feel your best tomorrow. Goodnight,” she says and kisses my cheek.
“Goodnight,” I say as I close my eyes. I have a feeling I’m gonna need more than luck when I tell my grumpy hero that he’s going to be a dad, and all because he chose to save me from a little more heartbreak by not rejecting me. Now I may be the one to finish his heart off for good if he’s not open to this turn of events. I cover my stomach with my hand and hope he’ll at the very least be a part of our baby’s life. I don’t expect anything else. And I hope that’s not expecting too much. Because I know…this baby changes everything.