Page 13 of Don't Fall For Your Grumpy Neighbor
So right now, my secret is mine to keep. I’m taking great care of myself and the baby is healthy. That’s all that matters for now.
“Tell him your sexy neighbor is more than willing to help with anything you need,” she says, laughing.
“Emmie, stop. I told you that’s over. It was a slip in judgment and it’s over.”
I refuse to look up from my computer because I know she’ll see the sadness in my eyes.
“Felicity, I don’t understand why you don’t just go talk to him. Ask him what happened,” she pushes.
This time I sigh and lift my eyes to hers. “I did talk to him. He was just as grumpy as ever. He knows it was a mistake.”
“He said that?”
“No, he didn’t say that, but ugh, it’s obvious. Now, please, just let it go. I have, you need to.”
“I’ll let it go.”
“Thank you,” I say, forcing a smile.
She shakes her head. “For now, but I refuse to believe it’s over. I saw the way he looked at you. That wasn’t a lie and it wasn’t a mistake.” I go to interrupt but she holds her hands up. “But for now I’m letting it go.”
Thankfully, she does let it go and the rest of my day is spent working and googling what the baby looks like today.
When I clock out of work, I decide to go to my mom’s house. Karl won’t come looking for me there and I can have a good home-cooked meal. As I pull up to her house, I see her sitting out on her porch, much like Shepherd does. Only she isn’t grumpy and she isn’t drinking God awful coffee.
“My baby girl,” she says, smiling as I walk up to the porch.
“Hi, Mom.”
She wraps her arms around me and I close my eyes, feeling the comfort of her hug.
“How are you feeling? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating enough?”
I giggle as I step back. “I’m good. Definitely eating enough and I never slept well, so that’s not going to change.”
“Well, I have roasted chicken in the oven with red baby potatoes and green beans. You can take home all the leftovers,” she says, sitting back down in her chair.
I sit in the white wooden chair next to hers and look out into the yard. She’s an amazing gardener and the flowers are beautiful and in full bloom. I wish I had a green thumb like her, but my house is where plants go to die.
“Have you told the father yet?” she asks out of nowhere.
I turn my head toward her and dip my brow. “What?”
She raises her eyebrow and replies, “Did you really not hear me?”
I sigh, shaking my head. “I tried to tell him but he was being the jerk he is.”
She reaches over and rests her hand on mine. “Felicity.”
“Mom, stop. Tons of women raise babies on their own.”
She squeezes my hand and smiles. “I’m not saying you can’t raise a baby on your own. You’ve always been responsible well beyond your years.” I smile at her, but she continues. “But don’t you think the father deserves to know?”
Does he deserve to know? Maybe, but he’s denied me once, I don’t think I can handle it a second time. This time though he won’t just be denying me. He’ll be denying me and the baby. I don’t think that is something I’ll be able to handle.
I rest my hand on my still-flat stomach, trying to protect this baby already. I’ve heard the heartbeat and ever since I’ve had this uncontrollable need to keep this little one safe. If I tell Shepherd, I’m afraid my emotions toward his rejection will be bad for the baby and this little miracle doesn’t deserve that.
“It’s not that easy, Mom.”