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“Tell me, or I’m going to pull the car over on the middle of the highway.”
“Stop.” I groan, dropping my head on the headrest behind me.
“Then tell me!” Rose whines.
I whip my head towards her, showing her the heartbreak and worry and all the concerns my head is throwing me right now. “Jackson broke it off. He’s done. Now it’s just me and Wesley, and I don’t know if I can do it by myself.”
“But you have—”
“No. I know I have you, but you aren’t going to be the dad, Rose. You are going to be the aunt, and the aunt doesn’t raise the baby. You have Easton, and your mom, and everything else and I’m not going to pile a newborn baby on top of it. I’m going to raise the baby, and I wanted to do it with Jackson. But now I have to do it by myself, and I’m scared. But not only that, I… I love Jackson, and I really wanted it to work. I’m tired of getting left behind.”
I barely notice the movement of Rose pulling off the highway and into a parking lot. The next thing I know, she’s unclipped her seat belt and is leaning over to wrap her arms around me.
“I know.” She rubs her hand down my back, and I fall apart in her arms, letting go of all my fears in the form of tears. “From the little that Easton has said, Jackson’s going through a lot. Don’t cut him out just yet, just give him time.”
“I can’t keep playing this game with him, though.”
“It’s not a game, Cara. He’s fucking paralyzed and probably scared shitless. Just give him time. And if he asks, be there for him, okay?”
Biting my lip, I mumble, “Okay.”
“Okay, now let’s go.” Rose re-buckles her seat belt and drives the rest of the way back to my house. When we pull up in front of my house, worry seeps in.
“Are you sure you got everything I need? A crib? Diapers? Thermometer”
She gives me a sly smirk. “Trust me, you’ll be fine. Come on.”
I lift my eyebrows and watch as she slides out of her car and goes to the backseat to unlock Wesley in his car seat, lifting him out of the car and walking towards my door without another glance at me.
I grab the small bag at my feet, wincing as I lift myself from the car and hobbling after Rose. It feels weird, being back here. Mostly with a baby now. I never imagined raising a baby in The Grove. I always hoped I’d be out of this dump by now, leaving it in the dust as I start over somewhere new and fresh.
I also imagined I’d be going home with my baby and the father, but I guess we don’t always get what we want.
“Ready?” Rose asks, car seat handle balanced in the crook of her arm as she looks at me with that same smile. Like she knows something that I don’t.
“Ready for what?” My brows furrow in confusion.
Rose turns the door handle, saying nothing as she pushes open the door and walks inside. I follow behind her, ready to question her again when the words die on my tongue.
I let out a small gasp, the bag in my hands slipping out of my grasp and plopping on the floor.
My usual tiny home has been transformed into a baby wonderland. Although many things still remain, unnecessary things have been replaced to make room for everything baby related.
My worn couch still sits in its usual spot with the chipped coffee table in front of it, with a baby bouncer off to the side replacing the old end table that had nothing but a broken lamp on top of it. It’s tan and green with a little brown monkey mobile hanging over the top. It looks so soft I instantly wish I could shrink so I can fit inside of it.
A small bin full of infant toys sits in the corner and it looks like it’s one toy away from exploding color all over the room.
In the kitchen sits a brand-new highchair where an old chair with a ton of junk piled on it used to be.
This house has been transformed into a baby wonderland. Babyproof items are decorated throughout, in the outlets and the cupboards have those little white clips locking the doors closed.
I follow Rose into my room and gasp out loud when I see the transformation.
“What the…?” I turn in a circle and take in the cutest baby room I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
My milky white walls are now a smoky gray. Wildlife art decorates the walls. A small dark wooden dresser sits in the corner with a lamp sitting on top of it, an outline of mountains decorating the shade.
A matching dark wooden crib sits against the other wall, wildlife sheets covering the mattress and a bear mobile hanging over the top.
