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“Me? A father figure?” He shook his head. “Way out of my league. I would probably scar the poor kid for life. Maybe your dad or brother, if you have one, can be the father figure.”
He meant it as a joke, something to lighten the mood. But she didn’t laugh. She didn’t even smile.
“Disregard that. It came out sounding wrong. I was trying to be funny, but I should know better.”
“Just so you know, my parents don’t know about the baby yet. Not many people do. Only you, Kate and maybe her husband, who also works at the hospital. But you don’t have to worry about him saying anything to anyone.”
“Who is he?” Nick asked.
“Liam Thayer. He’s in charge of the hospital’s pediatric unit.”
“I haven’t met him yet. But then again, I’m in my own little world in the ER unless a specialist consults. But Celebration isn’t a very big town. Aren’t you afraid, even if a couple of people know, word might get out before you tell your parents?”
“I trust Kate and Liam.” She shrugged. “Telling my folks is easier said than done.”
“You’re a grown woman. What are you afraid of? It’s your body and your life. Do you really care about what they think?”
“They’re my parents, Nick. Of course I care.”
“Sorry. That’s a perfect example of just how bad I am at family relations.”
“You’re not close to your family?”
The question hit him like a punch to the gut. “No. I’m not.”
“How come?”
He shook his head. “That doesn’t really matter. Not right now, anyway. What is important is that you know that I will take responsibility for our child. I can’t promise that I’ll be a great father, but I will provide financially. I’m going to do what’s right. You and the child will never want for a thing.”
She stared at him with disappointed eyes.
“I don’t understand why you’re so sure you’d be a bad father.”
“Once you get to know me, you’ll understand.”
She looked at him dubiously.
“For some reason I don’t believe you. But you do bring up a good point. We need to get to know each other better.”
One thing he was beginning to realize about Becca Flannigan was that she seemed to think the best of people. She saw the silver lining, when he tended to be too jaded to even see the clouds. He wasn’t necessarily a pessimist. More of a realist.
But what could it hurt to get to know her better? After all, she was the mother of his child.
“That’s a good idea. Since I’m just getting to know you and the town, maybe you can show me something that’s typical of Celebration, Texas?”
He might’ve been imagining it, but he could’ve sworn he saw a half ton of tension lift from her shoulders. Those blue eyes of hers that could hypnotize him if he wasn’t careful seemed to have regained some of their sparkle.
“I know you have to go to work. But I’ll think of the most quintessential Celebration thing I can and let you know. But first, I have an appointment with my OB doctor tomorrow in Dallas. Will you go with me?”
His first thought was to say no, to back off—way off. But why should she have to go this alone? Especially after he’d just promised her that he would do what was right?
“Sure, let me know what time.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad you’re coming.”
Before he knew what had hit him, she’d turned to him and hugged him. For a moment he didn’t want to let her go.
Chapter Four
The next day, Becca glanced around her obstetrician’s office at all the happy pregnant couples who were in for appointments. There was a man and woman who were heartbreakingly tender toward each other. The husband—Becca guessed they were married because they wore matching wedding rings—sat with his arm protectively around his wife, gently stroking her shoulder.
If Becca had to wager, she’d bet that this was their first child, because they were young and seemed so much in love.
Another couple had brought their four kids with them. The little ones were playing in the children’s area in the far corner of the office. Their father was sitting with them quietly keeping them in line.
As she glanced at Nick, who was sitting next to her reading a newspaper, she was torn. On one hand, she was happy he had agreed to come for the sonogram, but on the other, she felt like a fraud sitting there as if they were a couple who had conceived a baby as a by-product of their love. It shouldn’t really matter. Nick was there, wasn’t he?
