Chapter 50 Before
Before
Annabelle had been staying at James’s house for two weeks.
He’d been her rock, listening to her rail against Randy one minute, then dissolve into sobs the next.
She didn’t know what she would have done without him.
Randy showed up at James’s house, but she refused to see him, and James ran interference for her.
She ignored all Randy’s calls and texts, too, until finally he stopped trying.
She’d barely been able to concentrate on her finals, but somehow, miraculously she’d passed, and her college career ended.
She’d let the administration know that she didn’t plan to walk at graduation, so they would mail her diploma.
She was sitting at the kitchen table at James’s house, picking at the roast chicken he’d made for dinner. He was standing by the counter, still in his scrubs, a look of concern on his face.
“Are you sure you don’t want to walk? It’s a rite of passage.”
“What’s the point? My mother won’t be there. Randy and I are through. There’ll be no one there to cheer.”
“I will.”
“I know you would. But I don’t want to parade across the stage with my stomach out to here.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. Plus, I don’t want to run the risk of seeing Randy.”
“Now that you brought it up, I have to ask. Are you sure you don’t want to talk to him? No matter what, he is the father of your child. He’s begged me to try to talk you into seeing him.”
“Absolutely not! There’s nothing he can say that will make me ever want to have him in my life again.
I need to be with someone I can count on.
The fact that he cheated on me, especially now…
” Annabelle shook her head. “It’s unforgivable.
He was probably seeing her on the side all along.
It shows you his lack of character. I could never trust him again.
One man already let me down; I don’t need another. ”
James pursed his lips. “I understand. I honestly don’t know how he could do what he did. I thought he was better than that. I’m so sorry that you’re going through this.”
“I wish he didn’t even know about the baby, but I don’t suppose I can keep him away forever.”
James tilted his head. “I don’t blame you. I’m happy to be Uncle James and to support you, but are you sure Randy doesn’t deserve the chance to be a father?”
“I don’t know. I need space right now. No matter what he asks, tell him to stay away from me.”
“Okay, you got it.”
“I still can’t believe I gave up my apartment, and now I have nowhere to live. Mrs. Miller already rented to someone else.”
James walked toward her and took a seat at the table. “Move in here.”
“What?”
“I’m serious. I have plenty of room, and I like having you here.”
“I don’t know, James. You’ve already done so much for me. I feel like I’m taking advantage of you.”
“I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it. Come on. I’m hardly ever here with my schedule at the hospital. You’d practically have the place to yourself. You just started your job and you don’t need the added stress of finding a new place. Plus, your stuff’s already here.” He smiled.
“But what about after the baby comes? You don’t need an infant waking you up at all hours of the night. Sometimes I can’t help but wish I could turn back the clock and prevent this from ever happening.”
James gave her a long look. “The baby is as welcome as you are. It’s not an imposition, really.”
“What if you start dating someone? How’re they going to feel that you have a single mom living here with you?”
“This imaginary girlfriend will have to understand. Any other objections?”
She bit her lip. “I guess not, if you’re sure. But I want to pay you rent then.”
“That’s not necess—”
“I insist. I’d be paying somewhere else.”
He nodded. “Okay. Welcome home.”
“Thank you!” She heaved a sigh of relief.
James made her feel safe and taken care of—a feeling she hadn’t felt since before her mother got sick.
He was right; the last thing she needed was to be trying to find a new place to live on top of everything else.
She appraised him objectively. He was nice-looking in a quiet way.
The dark glasses gave him a studious look, but she’d noticed how pretty his eyes were the few times she’d seen him take them off.
He didn’t have the startlingly good looks that Randy had, but she could tell he was one of those men who would get better looking with age.
Tall and fit, with a strong jawline, he’d engender crushes in his patients.
Doctors had a certain cachet, and that would add to his appeal.
This wasn’t the first time that she wondered if his feelings for her were deeper than friendship, but it was the first time she’d wondered if hers could be.