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Was it getting hot in here?
“She was okay about it all?” Harper asked, leaning against the wall. A lock of hair fell across her eyes and she wiped it away, tucking it behind her ear. “She wasn’t worried about some strange pregnant lady being in your house while you were gone? I was scared she was going to call the cops on me.” She licked her dry lips. “Or that I’d blurt out the truth.”
“I told her.” He looked amused at her flustered response. “I explained who you are and she understood.”
“What? Wait…” Harper shook her head. “You told her about the baby being yours?”
“Yeah.”
“And she doesn’t mind?”
He gave her a confused smile. “Why would she mind? It’s not her life.”
“But…” Harper blinked. She tried to imagine her grandmother’s response if she’d been in the same position as James’s mom. Her tight lips, judging eyes, and shaking head. “She must think I’m awful,” she whispered. “For being here and being pregnant and everything.”
“She said you were lovely. And she’d like you – or rather us – to go over for dinner one weekend.” He took in her expression and his eyes softened. “Don’t look so worried. It’s me she’s mad at for not warning her. In her words; ‘that poor girl is probably panicking and it’s all your fault, James.’” He grinned.
Harper blinked. “She said that?”
“Yep. On the plus side, she cooks a mean pot pie and she’s determined to feed you up. Especially after I told her how much you like eating.”
“You’re making it worse.” She rose her eyebrows at him.
“Seriously, she can’t wait to properly meet you now that she knows who you are. She’ll probably drive you crazy asking a hundred questions about your pregnancy. And if you’re really fortunate you’ll get treated to photos of me as a baby.”
“Naked?”
He winked. “If you’re super lucky.”
A smile curled at her lips. How she wished she had a mom who thought like that. One who would invite her over and feed her. Someone who’d show interest in her baby or in her life. A mom she’d see more than once every few years when she was between husbands or boyfriends.
“Are you okay?” James asked her. “You don’t have to meet them if you don’t want to. I guess it’s a bit weird, but I figure she’s going to be around this baby once it’s born, and you’ll probably want to know her a bit better.” He tipped his head to the side. “You don’t have to decide right away. They leave for vacation in a few days and won’t be back for a couple of weeks.”
“I want to meet them both,” Harper said quickly. She wasn’t lying; she’d liked James’s mom, and now that she knew Louise was excited about the baby the thought of sharing details with her warmed Harper. “I mean, it’s not as though this baby is going to be surrounded by family. Not from my side at least. It’s nice to know she’ll have one doting grandmother.”
He took a step closer, stopping only a couple of feet away from her. She swallowed, feeling the way she always did whenever he was close.
“Have you told your mom?”
Harper shook her head. “No. Not that she’ll care.”
“How about your grandma?”
“I’m dreading that phone call the most,” she admitted. “So I’ve been putting it off.”
“Why?”
“Because she’ll be so disappointed in me. And I hate the way she looks and sounds when she’s disappointed. She took me in when she didn’t have to, and she dislikes the woman I’ve become. She spent a lot of money trying to craft me into becoming somebody she could be proud of, and I’ve dashed all her high hopes.”
“But you’re not a circus animal. You can’t be somebody else just because they say so.”
“Tell that to my grandma.”
“I will if you’ll let me.” His voice was sure, strong. “If you want me to call her, I will.”
She frowned. “But why? Why would you do that for me?”
He reached out, tracing the sharp line of her jaw with the tip of his finger. She felt a shiver wrack down her spine. “Because you’re the mother of my baby. I don’t like seeing you stressed.” He tipped his head to the side, his eyes sweeping down as he slid his hand around her neck. It was warm and gentle and she couldn’t help but lean into it. “I also think you’re my friend.” He smiled. “Friends look after friends.”
