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“Let’s table that discussion for now,” Kat said. “What about being a father? Let’s set aside talk of child support and trust funds and discuss what being a father really means to you. Do you intend to be involved?”
“Absolutely. I believe my lawyer submitted a request for visitation every other weekend, alternate holidays and a week during the summer. That seemed to be pretty standard.”
Kat sighed. “And what about the rest of the time? What about school plays and ball games? Recitals, science projects? Playing in the park? Sitting up with him or her all night when our child has a fever and can’t get comfortable?”
“To be honest, I didn’t expect you to want me to be that involved. I’m willing to do as much or as little as is needed. I work long hours, and travel a lot, too. I may not be able to make every after-school game and class party. But if you really need me to be there, I will do what I can.”
At this point, his words felt like a win to Kat. It wasn’t all that she wanted, but it was a big step for their first talk. Maybe once he returned home from China, they could spend more time together. There was still a chance he might change his mind and want to be more involved in not only their child’s life, but hers, too. She wouldn’t give up hope yet.
“Look over the paperwork, Kat. It doesn’t cover everything, but it does cover a lot. We can talk about it more in a few days. In the meantime, I’m going to talk to my parents. Keep an eye out for a mushroom cloud over Mount Pleasant. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Kat hung up the phone and leaned her head against the back of the seat. After everything that had happened the last few days with Sawyer and now with Finn, she was emotionally and physically exhausted. It didn’t take much lately. The tiny human inside her seemed to sap her of any energy she might have. She wasn’t sure how she was going to handle it when the baby got bigger, or worse, after it was born and mobile.
The idea of having a child alone was terrifying. It was a thought she hadn’t really allowed herself to entertain. Every time the scary what-ifs crept into her mind, she would tell herself that Finn would marry her and they would be one big, happy family. But was she just lying to herself? If she accepted the fact that she was doing this on her own, would she be better prepared to face the eventuality?
Kat glanced down at the legal papers she’d set aside. Finn’s attorneys had promised her a great deal of security. As much as money could buy. That was something. But Finn’s money wouldn’t hold her at night or get up and change the baby at 2:00 a.m. when she was too exhausted to get out of bed.
She tried to picture Finn doing just that. She could see him in a pair of boxer shorts, clutching a small baby to his chest. Both he and the infant had the same golden-blond curls as he bent to kiss the baby on the top of the head. It was a touching image. One that nearly made her tear up at the thought. But as she let the fantasy play out in her mind, she knew one thing was different in this scenario.
It wasn’t Finn holding her baby in her mind.
It was Sawyer.
* * *
Sawyer stood awkwardly on Kat’s doorstep, holding a large box with a bow on it. He’d gotten the address from Finn’s attorneys, but it felt weird to stand here on the piazza steps of her home with a gift. Unannounced. Like he was asking her to the prom or something. He suppressed that comparison lest the image of her in a slinky beaded dress completely derail why he was here today.
This visit wasn’t about his brother. Or the District. Or his undeniable urge to see her again. And kiss her again. No. It was about his family.
He rang the doorbell, stopping to admire the intricate engravings on the front door. The edges were done in a Celtic knot design that ran all the way around, with leaves, acorns, chipmunks and other woodland creatures carved into the dark wood. It was incredible, and no doubt one of her pieces.
Kat opened the door, a look of confusion wrinkling her nose as she eyed him and the box in his arms. “Sawyer? What are you doing here?”
Considering he hadn’t seen her since they kissed in her workshop and now he was at her home without prior warning, that was a valid question. To be honest, he hadn’t called ahead because he thought she might tell him not to come. That was the smart thing to do. Let the lawyers handle the situation and stay far from the temptation of Kat McIntyre. And yet here
he was, on a mission he’d volunteered for.
“I’m here today on official Steele family business,” he said. At least that might ease any concerns she could have about him being here for less than altruistic reasons. He wasn’t at her home to kiss her again. Although he’d have a hard time turning her down if she wanted him to. Kat was apparently the Achilles’ heel he never knew he had until their lips touched that afternoon at the District. Since then, he’d thought of little else.
“What official business is that?” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the door frame.
“Well, news of you and the baby has spread to the immediate family.” Sawyer hadn’t been at the house the night Finn called, so had heard the tale secondhand from Lena, their housekeeper. Apparently, they’d had to call the doctor, because his father had turned bright red as his blood pressure went through the roof. Sawyer wouldn’t tell Kat that, though.
“Everyone is very excited to meet you and they don’t want to wait until Finn gets home, so my parents have asked me to invite you to a little thing they’re putting on this weekend at the house.”
“A little thing?”
Sawyer knew well enough that nothing his parents ever did could be described as little. Perhaps in their mind a garden party for a hundred of their closest friends was an intimate get-together, but normal people knew better. “My grandmother is coming home. She’s spent the last three years traveling around Europe after my grandfather passed away. I guess she finally got tired of Paris and has decided to come back to Charleston. They’re throwing a welcome-home party for her Saturday afternoon and they’d like you to come.”
He could tell by the look on Kat’s face that she wasn’t excited by the invitation. Some people dreamed of being invited to a Steele party. But some people weren’t carrying the illegitimate child of the family’s problem son. He imagined that, for someone in her position, a party like that would be akin to being dropped in a shark tank wearing a chum bikini. This might take some convincing.
“Can I come in?”
Kat nodded and stepped back to allow him up the stairs and inside the piazza. He followed her into the house, and as she shut the door and turned to face him, he held out the large box to her. “This is for you.”
“What is it?” she asked cautiously.
Sawyer shrugged. “I think it’s a dress. It’s from my sister Jade, so I’m not entirely certain. She just told me to give it to you.”
