AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No mystery,” I said, “and nothing more to tell you. I’m sure Lori gave you all the details.”
“Oh, yes. She did. I also heard from the tourism committee that Will’s hosting Birdie Maxwell’s poker tournament in a few weeks. And on the weekend before Valentine’s Day! Did you hear that they’re thinking about extending the annual festival to run for an entire week, not just a weekend? It’s going to be the best one yet!”
I ran my teeth over my bottom lip, concerned again about the responsibilities piling up on Will’s shoulders. I was suddenly anxious to get back to the loft and take Seb off his hands so he could get back to work.
I squeezed Dawn’s arm. “You know I always love talking to you, but I need to say a quick hello to Mama, then head back to The Stop.”
“Of course, honey. It was lovely to see you. You let me know if you need help with the baby or the tournament. I’d be happy to pitch in.”
If there was one thing Dawn was good for, it was corralling the troops, and it was always smart to keep her offers of support in your back pocket. “You know what? I may just take you up on that.”
Dawn moved aside so I could move into the house, and I found Mama set up at the dining table with a clipboard and stacks of papers, ordering people and things like a grey-haired dictator. There was nothing like a list to get Nancy excited about life, and I loved that about her.
A flutter of nerves twirled in my stomach as I pulled out a chair. I should have been the one to tell her about the baby, and finding out from Dawn must have hurt her feelings. “Hey, Mama.”
“Abigail!”
I took a seat and leaned over to press a kiss on her cheek. “I just spoke to Adam. He filled me in.”
“Oh, darling. I wish you’d called me.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I thought today would be soon enough, but—”
“It’s okay.” Mama leaned in and lowered her voice. “Lori called me last night and filled me in before Dawn could break the news.”
“But Adam said—”
Mama pursed her lips and whispered, “Dawn was here when he called, so I couldn’t give him the details. She was so thrilled to be the one to tell me.”
I closed my eyes in awe at the sheer scale and complexity of the Valentine Bay grapevine.
Mama latched onto my hand, and when I opened my eyes, she’d removed her glasses, and her eyes were shiny with tears. “Ababy. What a blessing!”
I smiled crookedly as I plucked a blank white sticker from a stack of labels and started picking at one corner. “A blessing that breaks the sound barrier when you can’t read his mind. I don’t think I slept more than five hours last night.”
Mama patted the back of my hand, then let it go. “You’ll get there.”
Did I want to get there? No. I just needed to get Will through the next few weeks, and then everything could return to the way things were. A little voice in my head argued that the way things were didn’t sound all that great anymore, but I refused to listen.
I set the paper aside and looked Mama straight in the eye so she wouldn’t see the lie.
“I just met with the insurance company about my apartment and the studio. It’ll take some time to repair the damage, so I wanted to let you know I’ll be at Will’s a little while longer.”
“Oh.” Mama pressed a palm to her chest. “That’s great news.”
I lifted one eyebrow in amusement. “The destruction of my home and business isgreat news?”
She clicked her tongue. “Oh, you know I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just happy for you and Will. And little Sebastian, of course.”
I rolled my lips as guilt and obligation twisted in my chest. “Mama, I don’t want you getting too attached to this new arrangement. Nothing about this is permanent. I’ll be moving back home as soon as I can, and things will go back to the way they used to be.”
Mama shook her head and gave me a look that clearly said I was missing something.
“What?” I asked.
She took one of my hands in both of hers. People milled around us, waiting for directions, but Mama ignored them. “A baby is permanent, Abigail.Sebastianis permanent. Will is a father now, andthatis permanent.” She gave my hand a tight squeeze. “And is any of that such a bad thing?”
I smiled like what she said didn’t land like a punch to the stomach, and I thought long and hard about it on my way back to The Stop. Mama was right. Sebastian was permanent. Daddy Will—gird my loins—was permanent. Will’s new business venture and the life he was building for his little family were permanent. I was so freaking proud of him, and I’d always be the loudest, most obnoxious cheerleader on his team, but none of that meant Will was ready to make a permanent place for someone in his bed—or in his heart.
