Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
FERN
“ I ’m so happy to see you, Elliot,” Mom greets him. I might as well not be here.
“Fern invited me.”
He invited himself but I’m not going to speak up. I’m too upset with my brothers to do so. Lysander had no right to tell Aslan and Gatsby. Wait, does Gatsby know? When I spot Maia and Keaton looking at me, I get my answer. Even they learned about my little incident with Elliot McPhee.
If I had known, I would’ve reached out to Maia.
Mom gives me a look. “I’m glad you finally convinced him to join us. How are you feeling? We missed you last week.”
I debate whether to tell Mom now or wait until we’ve had dinner.I clear my throat, knowing there’s no time like the present. “You’re going to be a grandmother.”
“Yes, Maia is having my first grandchild.”
And Lysander says that he has nothing in common with our mother. They can be so dense.
“I’ll be having the second one,” I mumble.
She gawks at me. “You are…”
“Yes, Mom, I am pregnant.”
The confused look she gives me is priceless, but what she says makes me laugh. “I don’t understand. Did you use condoms?”
Is she kidding me? Congratulations sounds a lot better than asking what brand of condoms I’m using or if I’m on the pill. “Mom?”
“You’re not married or with anyone. How is this going to work? We can find you a good husband. There are plenty of men who would marry you—we can even hire them to work for us,” she suggests. “Aslan, be a dear and check with your executives. One of them has to be single.”
She’s flustered and almost trembling.
“Are you okay, Mom?” I ask because this isn’t normal.
“Do you know the father?” She huffs and shakes her head.
“I knew you’d go to that sperm bank. It’s going to be so hard to find a man who’ll want you with children.
Why couldn’t you wait, Fern? I told you time and again that someone might be okay with your personality.
Being a Spearman isn’t bad. You’re just too impatient. ”
She’s using every conversation I’ve had with her in the past few years as ammunition to… what? I don’t understand her reaction.
I look around, and my brothers are laughing. The assholes. They think this is payback for all the years she’s been Helicopter Dawn to them. Cory is the one who watches me from the dining room, arms crossed and a disappointed look on her face.
“Elliot, would you assume the responsibilities of this child? We don’t even know the father. They must know him as sample 389-2343.”
Elliot looks at me and then at her. “If the child was, in fact, a product of artificial insemination, I would be with Fern. I would love the child as if it were mine.”
I can’t help but smile at his words. He would? But why?
I don’t have time to ask since Mom continues vomiting words. “I knew you were one of the good ones. I appreciate it, but she can?—”
“Mom, stop!”
“Being a single mother is hard. You contemplated adoption, but as I said then, are you ready to take on the responsibility of another human being? I know you think that?—”
“I’m not alone,” I interrupt her. “Though, I don’t need to be married to make this work. I am capable of raising four children on my own, but this time I don’t have to. Elliot is the father.”
Her face hardens, and she glares at him. “Then you assume your responsibility toward my daughter and her child. You have to marry her before anyone finds out that she?—”
“No,” I bark and look around. “Anyone can jump in at any time and stop this insanity.”
Aslan shakes his head. “I think this is good. Popcorn, anyone?”
“Asshole,” I mumble.
“It’s the sensible thing to do, Fern,” Mom says, not reacting to the bad word I just said.
“It’s not. I’m not marrying him just because I’m having his babies.”
She frowns, alarmed. “Babies? Are you having more than one?”
Ugh, me and my big mouth. I rub my temples. “We don’t know yet. There’s a possibility. We’ll confirm in a few weeks.”
“The baby will eat her siblings the way Fern did,” Lysander announces.
“Stop!” Elliot warns him. “She’s already dealing with a lot. The last thing she needs is your jokes.”
My brother nods almost apologetically, and I want to hug Elliot. Maybe even kiss him.
“You need to move in with me if you’re not going to get married.” Mom changes her tactic.
“Why?”
“You don’t know how to take care of children.”
Cory moves almost immediately. “Mom, shouldn’t we set the table? I need to go back to the bar.”
Mom touches the base of her neck. “Yes, what am I thinking? We’ll find a solution soon. I’m here to help you. I can even adopt them so you can continue your life.” Before I can say something, she walks away.
“Are you okay?” Aslan asks.
I stare at the empty space where she stood only a few seconds ago. “Did she just…?”
“We’re here for you, okay?” Aslan assures me. “All of us. You don’t have to listen to her, and if you need distance from Mom, we’ll make sure you get it. I’m sorry for what she said and how she acted.”
“You shouldn’t apologize for that crap.” Lysander glares at Aslan. “You’re going to be the best mom, Ferny.”
Cas kisses the tips of his fingers and blows me a kiss. Heath does the same before they head to the dining room.
“Why do I feel like I’m the last one learning about the babies?” Cory approaches me.
“You were busy,” I whisper.
“Sorry for not paying attention and for not cutting her rant sooner.” She hugs me, but Elliot doesn’t let me go.
I just hug her back with one hand. “It’s fine, Cory.”
“I’ll be there for you, and you don’t have to move here. I’ll even do the night feedings if you need me to,” she assures me.
“Hey, why does she get free babysitting and not me?” Gatsby protests. “Let’s go eat and discuss your rate, squirt. If someone is going to be babysitting our baby, that’ll be you.”
Maia waves her phone as if saying call me. I nod. Maybe later tonight or tomorrow when I feel less… sad?
When they leave us alone in the living room, Elliot asks, “What just happened with your mom? Your brothers just pushed her away and almost ducked, fearing you’d shoot them.”
“Telling me that I’m not capable of being a mother after taking care of her children feels very…” I shake my head.
“Let’s go,” he suggests.
“I have to stay.”
He kisses the top of my head, nose, and lips. “Or I can make you dinner while things cool down.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me for taking care of you. Just let me do it. I’m happy to look after you, Fern.”
“Why?”
He smiles. “I don’t know. I just love doing it. It feels like you’re too worried about all of them to take care of yourself or you think no one is good enough to do it. Either way, I love when you allow yourself to be vulnerable and need me.”
But I only do it when he’s around. I don’t understand why, though.