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Cath hadn’t considered that aspect. Was she doing a disservice to her child to deny him or her interaction with its father? With relatives from Trace’s side of the family?
She got along well with all her grandparents, especially her grandma Sarah, her father’s mother. And her aunts and Uncle Clell. How would she have felt growing up to only know her mother’s side of the family?
“That will have to be worked out,” she said.
She hoped talking with the attorney later in the day would settle things. However, there was more to consider than she initially thought.
“This is my baby, too,” Trace said softly.
Cath nodded, remembering the night this precious gift had been conceived. She had not dated for several months prior to meeting Trace. And she had not been out on a single date since they stopped seeing each other. All her adult life she believed business would always be her primary focus. Now it seemed as if she had another option.
She delighted in the knowledge that there was the possibility in the few months to hold her child in her arms. She would do almost anything to assure that happened. Even if she had to take a leave of absence from work to keep the pregnancy viable.
She rose.
“I will have my attorney call yours after I’ve talked with her.”
She turned and left the office, ignoring Trace’s voice calling her to stay.
Cath was the first one out of the managers’ meeting later. She was not taking the chance of getting cornered by Trace before she talked to the attorney. She had so much to consider.
Jillian Stevens was an older, no-nonsense woman who cut right to the chase. She asked the circumstances about the pregnancy and then quickly proposed several scenarios on how Cath could handle the situation. From shared custody, to sole custody, to relinquishing of parental rights of the father, to even giving up the baby for adoption.
Cath quickly told her that she planned to keep the child and explained how miraculous the conception had been.
“So the father is out of it?” Jillian asked, jotting notes on a yellow tablet.
“We had stopped seeing each other several weeks before I found out I was pregnant. When he learned of the pregnancy, his initial reaction was to accuse me of trying to trap him into marriage. In fact, he’s had his attorney call me to discuss the legal aspects. That’s why I came to see you.”
“And what do you expect me to do?” Jillian asked.
“I thought a complete relinquishing of parental rights would reassure him that I have no designs on him. You could draw up such a form, right?”
“And what about the rest of his family? Are there grandparents, aunts and uncles? Do you not plan to let your baby know any of his biological family on his father’s side?”
Cath bit her bottom lip.
“I really never considered all of that,” she said. “My mother is thrilled with the news. The rest of my family will be delighted once I tell them. I want my baby to know its family. I just don’t know how to manage that with Trace’s side.”
“I suggest that you and Trace sit down together and talk about all the ramifications and alternatives that are available,” Jillian said. “I’m happy to draft up whatever agreement you come to, but you two need to decide what that agreement is. I’m going to give you a packet of materials that gives an overview of the various options I outlined. I hope it will answer all the questions and concerns you have, including some you may not have thought of. After you’ve had time to review the information, I strongly urge you to discuss the situation with Trace Williams. For the sake of your baby if nothing else, I hope you can keep it cordial.”
Cath was tired by the time she reached home. Things were getting more complicated every day. After the attorney’s visit, she’d seen the doctor. At least things were stable on that front. She opened the door to the surprising aroma of spaghetti sauce.
“Hello?” she called, turning to close the door.
“Cath, darling,” her mother came bustling out of the kitchen.
“Mom?”
Cath couldn’t believe her eyes. She hadn’t expected to see her mother. They’d spoken on the phone again over the weekend and she’d said nothing about driving over to visit. Cath flung the packet of papers and her purse on the sofa and ran to hug her mother.
Chapter Five
“I couldn’t stay away,” Ginny Norris said. “I’m so thrilled about the news. Your father is, too. And he’s having a hard time keeping it quiet. I had to tell him, but he’s not telling your sister or brother.”
Holding her daughter at arm’s length, Ginny studied her for a minute.
“You don’t look so well,” she said.
