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“Since this little one.” I pat my swollen belly.
“Speaking of which, Isla and Sami messaged to ask if we’re having a baby shower. I didn’t want to tell them you were adamant we don’t tell any family members. I just said I’d discuss it with you. You know Aunt Claudia and Grandma Hilda will be upset when they find out we’ve hidden it from them all these months.”
I sigh. “Well, that might change now.” I pick at my piece of cornbread. “Damon stopped by the school today. Apparently he received a text about my… situation.”
“Siska?” my dad practically shouts.
“Do we know another Damon?” I ask.
He laughs. “Well, technically, I don’t know a Siska.” He shrugs, putting cheese and sour cream into his chili and taking it to the table.
“You will. You both will.”
My mom’s smile vanishes, and she concentrates on cutting the rest of the cornbread. She’s worried about what all this will mean when it’s public knowledge that Damon is having a baby.
“Mom,” I say, placing my hand on her arm.
“I know he’s the father and should be involved. I just don’t want you to be dragged through the mud in those damn gossip blogs and magazines. You know people will say you trapped him or something.”
My mom has always been the one to speak my fears out loud. I’m not sure if it’s because we’re close or if she’s just so communicative, but she always knows what’s running through my head.
“We’ll see. He wants a paternity test,” I admit before chomping down on the piece of cornbread, grabbing my bowl of chili, and going to the table.
“We knew he would,” my dad says.
“That fool thinks it’s not his? Who does he think my daughter is?” Mom shakes her head.
Dad looks up from his chili, smirking. That’s my mom, always protective over us.
“Darling, he’s a professional football player. Do you know how many women have probably accused him of fathering their babies?” He winks at me.
“Because he’s a manwhore. How about he keeps it in his pants, and maybe then not so many women can accuse him?” She’s getting worked up.
“Mom, just come over and eat.”
She brings her bowl of chili and a plate of cornbread to the table. “You can’t trust him. I’ve been Googling him,” she says, whispering the word Google.
I searched him too. Most of what came up was a million pictures of him with different women he’s dated or slept with, from celebrities to influencers to doctors to regular women. How is it that me, a regular middle school teacher, gets gifted with his baby?
“Let’s just see what happens, okay? And you have to be on your best behavior because he’s going to be at the doctor’s appointment on Tuesday.” I point my spoon at her for emphasis.
“Oh man, I hope the doctor hides all her sharp instruments.” My dad shakes his head, laughing at his own joke.
“Mom?” I ask with my eyebrows raised.
She holds up her hands. “I’m a grown woman. I can handle my temper.”
Dad buries his head in his meal because we both know my mom is unable to hide her mama bear instincts when it comes to protecting her cub.
Chapter5
Damon
Iarrive early to the doctor’s office, pulling my hat low on my head to hopefully avoid being recognized. I intend to ask the doctor for after-hours appointments after this first one, but I didn’t want to put that on Adeline so soon or put a spotlight on how much her life might change when this gets out.
Instead of walking into the office and sitting in a waiting room full of women trying to figure out who I am, I loiter around the hallway outside.
The elevator dings, and Adeline steps out with another woman. The woman is older but just as tall as Adeline and bears the same dark hair, except it’s much shorter. Where Adeline’s face is rounder, her mother’s is more oval. But that’s about the only difference between the duo.
