Page 4 of The Sweetest Mistake

Julia’s eyes widened, thinking the worst.

“Not that,” Cam said. “I knew I was going to keep the baby, but I wasn’t sure what to do about telling Connor. I don’t know what he’s told you, but we had an ugly breakup. I wasn’t sure he’d even want to be part of this baby’s life.”

On cue, Ava cooed and flapped her arms as if to say, “Look at me. Aren’t I cute?”

Julia had an overwhelming urge to hold her, but she didn’t dare suggest it. There were still too many unanswered questions.

“Anyway, I made the decision to raise the baby myself, thinking that I would be up to the challenge. Turns out, I wasn’t. Shortly after Ava was born, I went out to Denver to stay with my sister for a while. She’s a stay-at-home mom with two kids of her own, and she offered to help until I decided what to do next. While I was there, my sister convinced me to tell Connor. She made me realize that it was selfish to keep Ava away from her father, and honestly, I could use his help.”

That, Julia could understand. Her friends who had children often complained about how much work was involved, especially when they were working parents. So far, it was the one sentence Cam had said that made sense, but Julia still questioned her motives. Was Cam trying to win Connor back? Did she want them to be a family?

Connor shifted uncomfortably as he joined in the conversation. “Cam called me a few weeks ago and told me the news. At first, I wasn’t sure what to do, but then I decided to fly out to Denver to…”

“Make sure Ava was really his,” Cam finished.

“The minute I saw her, I knew. And then I convinced Cam to come back to Michigan so we can work something out. I’ll have to juggle my work schedule, but I’ll help whenever I can.”

“Juggling is what I’ve been doing for the past five months,” Cam said pointedly.

“If I’d known about Ava from the beginning, I would have been there,” Connor argued.

For some strange reason, Julia found herself playing referee. “Okay, you two. The past is the past. The question is, what happens now?”

“I’m not sure,” Cam said. “I gave up my apartment when I went to Denver. I can stay with my parents for a while, but I need a more permanent solution. Otherwise, I’ll go back to Denver, where I know I’ll have help.”

“We’ve already discussed this. You’re not going back to Denver,” Connor said adamantly.

Julia looked between them and wondered how this could have happened. Well, she knew how, but why? Why hadn’t they used protection like responsible adults? Connor had always insisted on using protection with her.

“Isn’t there anyone else who can help you?” Julia asked.

“My parents have health issues, so I don’t want to burden them, and I don’t have any other close family nearby. That’s why I went to Denver in the first place,” Cam said.

“What about daycare?” Connor interjected.

“I hate the thought of leaving Ava with a stranger all day. Besides, I have friends who use daycare, and their kids are always sick. I don’t want to subject our baby to that.”

It was the same refrain Julia had heard from other parents, and she’d empathized with them. Looking at the precious bundle in Cam’s arms, she could understand why it would be difficult to leave her. But the phrase “our baby” had taken her aback, and she wondered how long it would take for the reality to sink in.

In the meantime, Cam was still talking. “My boss said I could work from home a couple days a week, but I still have to figure out what to do with Ava on the other three days.”

“Big of him,” Connor said sarcastically.

“None of this is his fault, Connor. This was all you and me,” Cam snapped.

Julia cringed, realizing that Cam was still working for the man she’d had an affair with. She was teetering between feeling sorry for their predicament and feeling like she wanted to bolt out the door, shocked that she’d become caught up in this crazy situation. Yet something inside her kept her rooted to the spot, and she was even considering ways that she could help. Now who’s the crazy one?

Connor scratched the back of his neck, his nervous tell, and said, “I told you I’d think of something. Just give me some time. But I know one thing for sure. You’re not taking Ava back to Colorado. She’s my responsibility too, and I’ll do my part.”

At that moment, Julia was proud of him. Even though she could see how uncomfortable he was, he wasn’t about to cut and run. Reliability was a trait that all three O’Brien brothers possessed, and she admired them for it. The only ingredient that was missing here, and perhaps the most important, was love. But Connor had just discovered that he was a father. How could he love someone that he didn’t even know yet?

“I might be able to help too,” Julia blurted out—again. When will I ever learn to keep my mouth shut?

Connor and Cam turned and stared at her.

“What I mean is, maybe I could babysit sometime.”

Softening, Connor said, “Julia. You don’t have to do this.”