Page 36 of Together Is Where We Belong

If not, we can make it tomorrow. Just let me know.

I loved how thoughtful Leo’s texts were.

It was awkward being around him after all this time, but my feelings didn’t matter in the situation. The only person who mattered was Luke, and I’d do what was best for him. Always.

Luke’s already asking when he can see you again. You can come tonight around the same time if that works for you.

For good measure, I sent him the photo of Luke I’d taken this morning, trying to remain positive about our current coparenting situation. Hopefully if all continued to go well, Leo would never think about taking Luke from me. It was my biggest fear in life, someone taking my son from me.

I was checking my emails when I overheard two women next to me mention Leo’s name. I kept scrolling, pretending to read as I listened in on their conversation. My interest piqued.

“I’ve been messaging Leo, but he hasn’t responded yet. I can’t forget that night we shared a few weeks ago after leaving Whiskey On The Rocks,” the first girl said.

“You know he’s got a reputation, right?” the second woman replied.

Reputation? What did she mean by that?

“I know, but I need another night with him. Maybe I could convince him to give us a go,” the first woman said.

I looked over to her and she had stars in her eyes, as she leaned against the wall.

“Don’t go gettin’ your hopes up, Gina. You know that’s not likely,” the second woman warned, and as I looked over at the first woman, realization dawned on me that I recognized her. Gina Jeffries always had a thing for Leo in high school. She finally got her wish.

“Order up for Carolina,” I heard, breaking me out of eavesdropping. I dropped my phone in my bag and walked toward the pickup line.

Delilah’s wary smile greeted me from behind the counter.

“Thank you so much. Have an amazing day,” I said as I took the bag with the scone in one hand and the coffee in the other.

“You too.”

People somehow ended up in Haven Valley and found themselves not wanting to leave, and I wondered what Delilah’s reasoning was for taking up roots here. Part of me wanted to befriend her, as I was sure the girls I was friends with in high school would’ve taken Leo’s side when I left abruptly and broke his heart. He was popular in school, and everyone loved him. His family was well respected around here, and the whole town usually treated them like royalty.

With a pep in my step, I exited the coffee shop and walked the short walk across the street to the family practice I enjoyed working at. I loved the people I worked with. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and I loved the hours and being home to have dinner with Luke every night.

“Good morning,” I greeted the receptionist with a smile and walked back to where the lockers were so I could put my bag inside and grab my stethoscope.

“You have a patient waiting for you in room one,” one of the other nurses said to me.

I sat my coffee and scone down on the nurses’ station, grabbed the tablet, and walked to room one and gave a light knock on the door.

“Good morning. How are you today?” I said just as I noticed the name on the chart. Olivia Parkhurst.

Looking up, I saw Ainsleigh holding the baby and Gentry sitting beside her.

They both gave nervous glances to each other before they smiled over at me, the smile not meeting their eyes.

“If it’s awkward for you, I can get another nurse,” I told them, not wanting them to feel the slightest bit of unease.

“No, it’s fine. How are you, Carolina?” Ainsleigh asked as she bounced Olivia in her arms.

“I’m good. Thanks for asking. If you don’t mind laying her down on the table, I’ll get her height, and then I’ll put her on the scale to weigh her,” I replied, hoping they weren’t lying to me about this being an awkward moment.

As I took her measurements, I asked Ainsleigh and Gentry how the baby was doing and how her feeds were going.

“She’s eating every two or three hours like clockwork. Ainsleigh will wake her during the night sometimes to feed her. She usually has eight to ten wet diapers a day,” Gentry informed me. I loved it when dads were involved.

“Those are all great signs that she’s getting enough to eat,” I told them as I charted her height. After I weighed her and listened to her heart, I gave the baby back to Ainsleigh, and she wrapped her back in the swaddle to keep her warm. I couldn’t believe that I’d held Luke’s adorable baby cousin. I didn’t say anything about Luke, though, because Leo hadn’t gotten the chance to tell Ainsleigh that he had a son.