Two hours later, I was back at Alistair’s place.
The weight had lifted.
Now there were only my parents left.
Chapter 20
Alistair
It seemed to be going well with her housemates.
I set the binoculars on the counter with a sigh. She’d been so nervous, swaying between bravery and cowardice. Acceptance shouldn’t have been an issue—but my girl was too softhearted. She hid beneath silence and snark. I studied the three girls gathered around her. She was in safe hands.
Satisfied—for now—I returned to the hallway and grabbed the suitcase full of her laundry. If she was moving in, she needed to see the benefits I brought.
I paused mid-task, staring at the machine.
A father.
We’d have a baby in this house.
I looked around the utility room and frowned.
Was this place baby-safe?
My stomach churned.
Was university safe for Callie?
Just watching her walk down the lodge stairs had made me panic. She could’ve slipped. Twisted her ankle. Hit her head.
Why hadn’t I thought this through?
Would my second option be safer?
I resumed loading the washing machine, slower this time.
No.
She definitely wouldn’t take to kidnapping.
Too much stress for the baby.
Fuck. I needed to speak to Eric. He was a relatively new father.
No. Then Sophie would find out.
Fuck. I needed to research this. Online. Forums. Blogs. Something.
I couldn’t be the only man losing his shit over baby safety.
?? ?? ??
The front door opened and closed. I heard her lock it, and the chain slide into place.
“How did it go, baby?” I called out, snapping my laptop shut.
The research had soothed my neurotic safety spiral—until the pregnancy risks pulled me right back down the rabbit hole.
