Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Scarlett
A nna is waiting for me in my room at the B and B. She has clothes laid across the bed for going out, and another set for staying in and binging whatever TV shows or movies we want while ordering in.
She plops down on the couch close to the little table and chairs in the corner. “I’m down for whatever you want to do, but before we decide what that is, come tell me what he said.”
I toss my keys and purse on the little table as I pass by. Then I sit beside her. “It went the way you’d expect. You have a one-night stand with someone you don’t plan to see again, and six weeks later you’re told you’re going to be a dad. I mean, I can barely believe it myself, Anna.”
She tucks my hair behind my ear. “At least he’s not dating someone,” she says. “That would make it awkward.”
I close my eyes. “Yeah. That’s the thing, he says he has very little to do with women, yet there’s this waitress who works for him and I swear she was basically peeing circles around him to stake her claim.”
Anna bursts out laughing. “What? Are you serious?”
“Yep. I went to the bar and asked for him and she interrogated me like the FBI would a suspect from the most wanted list. And when we went to his office to talk privately, she didn’t take her cold stare off us. And I swear she was eavesdropping because when I barreled out of his office the first time, she practically ran around the corner to avoid me.”
“Yikes. But it may be one-sided,” she says.
“Or they could just have something physical going on, but she wants more. He hinted at sleeping with women, just no relationships. I mean…I don’t know him, Anna. And he doesn’t know me,” I say as I stand up and start to pace.
“I’m having a baby after a one-night stand with a man I barely know. A man who is as grumpy as the day is long. I’m not sure what I pictured from the man who would father my children, but it wasn’t someone who doesn’t know how to smile and is still hung up on his past,” I say, exasperated.
“I know having someone stand you up on your wedding day had to have sucked, especially when his circumstances were that she left him for his best man/best friend. But was my situation so much different? I didn’t know the woman who stood up in the church to object, but the knife to my heart was no less sharp.”
Anna wears an expression filled with pity. She’s smiling at me, but it doesn’t touch her eyes. “Scarlett, you and this baby are going to thrive no matter if there’s a dad in the picture or not. You know why?”
“I don’t but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
Anna laughs at that. “You know I will. But all joking aside, you will be fine because you have me and your parents, and we will love you and this baby unconditionally. But mostly, you’ll be fine because you are such an amazing person with so much love to give. This baby is going to be so lucky to be blessed with a mom like you.”
I start to laugh but it turns into a cry instead. This whole situation seems impossible. Anna stands and pulls me into her arms. “I got you, hunny-bunny.”
“I know you do. I’m sorry. I’d be emotional anyway, but these pregnancy hormones are no joke,” I say as I pull back and wipe my eyes.
“So, how did you two leave things?” she asks.
“The ball is in his court. I gave him my number and told him to call after he’s had time to think it over. I did say I either want him in or out. I don’t want the baby to be confused and hurt by a dad that can’t decide whether they want to be part of their lives or not.”
“And what about you? Do you want a chance to have him in your life?”
“This isn’t about me or us, Anna. I’m not a charity case just because he got me pregnant. I want to be able to find real love one day. I don’t want to be tied to a man who can’t give me that simply because he wanted to ‘do the right thing by me.’ Nope, not happening,” I tell her.
“And what if he could be your real true love, Scarlett? He might be your happily ever after. And then you can make more babies…on purpose.”
I shake my head. “No relationship should start under this kind of pressure. It would be a lie for him. Even if he wasn’t so jaded, I’d always wonder if he was with me for our baby and not because he actually wanted to be—because he loved me.”
“Shouldn’t you let him try if he wants to?” she asks.
“No. It would come from a place of duty, not genuine interest in me.”
“But couple or not when the baby was created, you did it together. The baby deserves to have both of you two there. And obviously it’s a bonus if they have you together…as in a couple,” she says.
“You’re supposed to be supportive, not judging me,” I say lightheartedly.
She smiles. “This is me supporting you. I’ve been your best friend for almost our entire lives. You know I won’t lie to you or say what you want to hear. I’m going to tell you the truth. And the truth is support whether you like it or not. But telling you the truth about something doesn’t mean I’m going to judge you for doing what you feel is best even if it’s the opposite of what the truth is. Does that make sense?” she asks.
I nod. “It does. And I’ll take you telling me the truth, or stating facts, or whatever you want to call it over you sugarcoating things to not hurt my feelings. I need your voice in my head to keep me going,” I tell her and laugh.
“It’s a good thing you can call me day or night and my voice can be with you,” she says, laughing.
“What now?” she asks.
“Now, I wait. I’m going to stay here a few more days and hopefully we can talk,” I tell her.
“What about your parents?”
I sigh. “They’ll have to wait until I talk more with Zander. I need to know where we stand, or at least have an idea of where we stand before I let them in on this new development,” I say as my hand instinctively drops to my stomach.
“Do you want to camp out in front of the TV for the rest of the evening or do you want to explore?” Anna asks. She’s open to anything I want. I don’t know if a platonic soulmate best friend is a thing, but if so, she’s mine.
“How about we explore for supper, but come back here and veg out on dessert after?”
She throws her arm around my shoulder. “My hunny-bunny. You know me so well.”
“Right back at ya, tootsie-wootsie,” I say as we go through clothes to wear for a night out in Greendale Valley. A night where I pretend everything is normal and I’m not on a man’s hook waiting for an answer.