AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh,” I mouth, gazing at her curiously. “Where’s the mother?”
“She ran off with another man.”
“That’s so sad for him and the child. How old is the kid?”
“Henri is four and a really sweet girl.”
“And it doesn’t bother you? Being with someone with a daughter?”
Indiana purses her lips. “Look, it’s different. I can’t lie about that. Leo came to this town to give his daughter a quiet life and the affordability to raise her. He has an uncle and aunt the town over, so they help out when they can. I’m not used to dating someone whose number one priority is someone else. But, we are having fun, and as I said, Henri is a sweet girl.”
It dawns on me how blessed I was to be raised by two loving parents and surrounded by family. My whole life, I took it all for granted, and now I’m faced with being a single mom. I appreciate all the things I have been lucky to have in my life. I only wish I didn’t cause such heartache for my parents in high school and the year I left home to travel. If my kid ends up like me, it’s karma coming to bite me in the ass.
“What about you?” Indiana asks. “Do you have a custody agreement with the dad?”
I shake my head. “He doesn’t know.”
My phone buzzes inside my purse. I quickly pull it out in case it’s important. Ava’s number flashes on the screen, but I ignore it.
“Just my sister,” I say out loud.
The phone rings again, then again, until Ava sends me a text.
Ava
Fine, don’t pick up my call but read this.
There is a link she’s attached, so I clicked on it. It goes straight to an Instagram account belonging to Hunter Cash. Since when does he have a social account? I read the post slowly, but as each word passes, the pit of my stomach weighs down with a heavy feeling.
“It is with great sadness my wife and I deliver the news of our pregnancy loss. While we have chosen to grieve for the last few months in private, we ask for your respect to allow us to continue to grieve.”
“Alexa?” Indiana calls with a worried tone. “Are you okay? You look pale?”
“I, uh…” I stammer, unable to vocalize my thoughts. “Just a change in plans.”
I force a smile, not wanting to discuss it though I can’t stop thinking about it. Indiana shows me around town and her bookstore for the next two hours. The place is impressive, with limited edition books showcased on the wooden shelves. There’s a brown sofa in the corner and lots of greenery. The aesthetic is so pleasing, and I end up buying a ton of books for my shelf, plus some popular alien romances for Mom.
Leo and his daughter Henri visit. He walks in, carrying Henri on his shoulders as she squeals. I can’t help but smile watching the two of them, only for a pang to reach my heart, as I know my child will never experience this.
Indiana introduces them, and I don’t blame her for wanting to date him. He is incredibly fine. The whole daddy vibes make him all the more attractive.
I glance at the time and force myself to say goodbye to give myself enough time to drive home before it gets dark. As we hugit out, Indiana promises to come to visit as soon as the baby is here, and I’m settled into my new role as mommy.
Inside the car, there’s too much time to think. What does it mean for my baby with Hunter and Kathy no longer expecting a child? Do I tell him? Give him the opportunity to be in our kid’s life, or do I just leave it? The easiest option is to keep it a secret, but the guilt consumes me. Of late, I can’t stop thinking about it, but I’m too scared to face him.
My Bluetooth rings, and I see Beau’s name flashing on the screen. I pick up the call even though my mood is less than friendly.
“Are you ready for my visit?” he begins in a cheery voice. I can hear the bustle of the streets in the background, assuming he is on the way to somewhere in Manhattan. “I feel like a traitor for leaving and hanging out on the west coast.”
“Sure,” I mumble.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t pull the whole nothing bullshit with me. I don’t have time to waste going around in circles when eventually you’ll blurt it out anyway.”
“It’s really nothing.”
