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I took a deep breath. “I just wanted you to know that just because you weren’t planned, doesn’t mean that I’ll ever make you feel like you are unwanted. My dad used to say, ‘Life is ten percent of what happens to you and ninety percent what you make of it.’ And you and me, we’re going to make the best of it. Just like my dad and I did.”
Finished with my odd little introduction, I pulled my phone from the car charger, tossed the keys into my purse, and got out of the car. As I walked to the front door, I couldn’t help but check my text messages again. After all, the fifteen-minute drive home was probably the longest stretch I’d gone without checking all day.
But…nothing was there. Again.
Looking down while I wallowed in self-pity, I made it almost to the door when a voice scared the crap out of me. “Gia.”
I jumped, and my hand whipped to my chest. Rush was standing in the dark in front of my door. “Holy crap. How long have you been standing there?”
“A while,” he said. “I was here waiting when you pulled up. It looked like you needed to take a minute in the car, so I didn’t want to walk over.”
“Yeah...I…” I looked over my shoulder behind me. Had I been that unaware of my surroundings that I hadn’t even seen his car when I pulled up? But I still didn’t see it. “Where’s your car?”
“I walked here.”
“That has to be at least a few miles.”
Rush shrugged. “I was drinking earlier, and I needed some time to think anyway. The walk did me good.”
Our gazes locked. “Oh.”
“You feel up to talking?”
“Of course.” I went to step forward to open the front door, and Rush stopped me.
“Would you mind if we sat in the yard? Maybe the lounge chairs to talk?”
“Sure. Can I get you a drink or something?”
Rush shook his head. “No thanks. I’m good.”
He stepped aside and put his hand out for me to walk first. While we made our way to the gate leading to the backyard, I wondered why he didn’t want to come in. Did he not want to be alone with me in my room? Did he think there would be yelling and he wanted privacy? Could I be overthinking it, and he just wanted to enjoy the nice weather tonight?
In the yard, Rush pulled two lounge chairs together and sat down on the edge of one facing me. I took his lead and sat across from him. The outside security lights had illuminated when we’d walked by, so I caught the first up-close look at him in the light.
Rush looked awful. Like he’d gone on a bender and someone ran over his dog while he watched. His hair definitely had withstood a continuation of this morning’s tug-of-war.
He rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head. “How are you feeling?”
“Physically, I’m good. Tired. But good.”
“You’re going to need more rest. Keep off your feet when you can.”
I smiled. “Well, I can do that at work now. Thanks to you.”
He nodded. “I did a lot of thinking today.”
“Okay…”
“I thought about the things you said that you’re worried about: You’re not ready. You live in a studio apartment. You don’t have a steady job and you don’t know how to be a mother.”
Wow. He’d really listened. “I didn’t mean to unload all of my problems on you. I was just rambling because I’m scared.”
“Well, you need to reduce stress now. Not increase it worrying about things. So I want to help.”
My hopes rose. “What do you mean?”
“First, the studio apartment in Queens. There’s something I haven’t mentioned to you about your summer rental.”
“What?”
“I own it.”
“You bought the house?”
“Not today. I meant I’m the owner you rented from, well, my corporation is. This house and two others out here were part of my inheritance from my grandfather. He actually owned a bunch, and he split them up between my brother, my father and me—like he did with a lot of his other businesses.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Rush chuckled. “I have no fucking idea. I thought it was funny at first, an odd coincidence, and then I just forgot about that you didn’t know.”
“That’s so weird. There are thousands of houses out here, and you happen to own the one that I’m renting for the summer? And I happen to get a job in your bar?”
“My mother would say someone up there…” He shook his thumb up at the sky. “…wanted us to meet.”
I smiled. “I’d have to say I agree with her.”
“Anyway. It’s not rented after Labor Day. Normally, I just get a couple of straggler rentals for a few weekends here and there in the off-season, not much until next summer. If I calculated correctly, your due date will be the end of the winter. Stay out here. Use the house over the winter rent-free. You can give up your studio apartment in Queens and save some money until next summer comes.”
