Page 52 of Waiting to Love You

“Are you sure he is going to lose it?” Audrey questions, pulling out her phone and typing something before shoving it back into her pocket.

I cock my head to the side and eye her skeptically, trying to make sense of her question. “Of course, he will. I’ve been lying to him ever since he came back into town. I never tried to get a hold of him to tell him he had a daughter.”

“But he didn’t contact you either, Bri,” Leia responds with conviction. “You said you gave him your number the last time you saw each other. He could’ve called you, too.”

“I know. I know, but I’ve had more than enough chances to tell him since he came back, and I didn’t.”

“And he’ll understand that, Bri,” Selina mumbles, pushing to her feet and placing a hand on my shoulder. “I was so afraid to tell Vance what I thought I saw; I spent fourteen years separated from the man that I loved because I was afraid of getting my heart broken.”

I’ve heard Selina and Vance’s story more times than I can count. Although it’s not the same, Selina let her fear of being hurt keep her away from Vance and Tyson’s Creek for years. She assumed Vance had moved on while she was at Juilliard but never once asked him. They could have spent all those years together, but instead, they spent them trying to mend the broken pieces of their hearts. Thankfully, they found their way back to each other and are married with a little one on the way, but can the same happen between Seth and me?

“Just think about it, okay? The BBQ would be the best place to tell him. We will all be there to support both of you.”

I glance at the clock on the wall. My mom has probably already packed up Rebekah and is on the way to Connor and Audrey’s. I may as well head out of here and get some rest. I have a lot to think about before the next time I talk to Seth.

“I’ll think about it.” I push back from the table and stand, turning to my right to grab the broom and basket of cleaning supplies near the door.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Selina grabs the items from my hands and turns toward Audrey, handing them to her. “Audrey’s got this. It’s what you pay her for.” She grips my shoulder and marches me out of the break room toward the front door, stopping by the desk so I can grab my bag and keys. “You are heading straight home. Get some sleep and relax.”

“Okay, you win,” I groan as Leia hands me my keys and bag and shoves me toward the door.

“Get some rest. I’ll see you at the house later,” Audrey says from the break room doorway. “Love you!”

“I love you guys, and thank you,” I say, pushing the door open and walking toward my car.

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that my three best friends won’t let me slide on getting some rest. If I dare show my face at Audrey’s house before seven and interrupt my mom’s granddaughter time, she’ll have my head. And so will the three of them.

My eyes droop as I pull into my driveway. “I guess I was tireder than I thought. Wait. Is that even a word?”

I shut off my car and head for the door. It takes a few tries, but I unlock my front door and stumble to the couch before falling into a deep sleep. “What the heck!” I shout as I tumble off the couch onto the floor.

I look around in confusion as I hear the doorbell echoing through the room. I push to my feet and stumble toward the door and open it. My mom is standing on the other side, holding Rebecca’s car seat in one hand and a larger bag thrown over her shoulder.

“Hey, Mom,” I say groggily as I rub my eyes. “I thought I was meeting you at Audrey’s at seven.”

“You were, but it’s almost nine,” she responds, handing over the car seat and coming inside. “We didn’t want to call and wake you, so I gave Rebekah a bath at Audrey’s before bringing her home. I also cooked a few things to stock your fridge.”

“I thought you were under a no-cooking restriction.” I snicker as I shut the door behind her.

“I spent time with my granddaughters, as promised. They just helped me cook.”

“And Rebekah. How was my baby girl?”

“A perfect angel, as always.” She places the bag down on the table before coming back to the couch and taking a seat. “I think she’s feeling better, too. She was a little fussy when I gave her a bath, but other than that, there weren’t any problems.”

No one would know that Jade and Love aren’t really my mother’s granddaughters. I have a feeling she’ll feel the same about Selina and Vance’s baby when they’re born, as well. My mom always wanted grandbabies and doesn’t care that they aren’t hers by blood. Audrey, Leia, and Selina are just as much of my sisters as Melissa is. And by extension, she has adopted their significant others, as well.

“Her mood changed for the better after we talked to your sister on FaceTime after dinner.”

“How is Mel doing, anyway?”

Melissa moved to Tennessee a few months ago, and we haven’t spoken since Seth got back to town. Although we aren’t close in age, she chose to come live here for a few months after college to help me take care of the studio and Rebekah, but I knew her heart wasn’t here. Every day, she was going on and on about her best friend from college and her family. It took some doing, but my mom and I finally convinced her to move there with them, since she missed them so much. Now, she’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her.

“She’s great. Although she seems to have her panties in a twist about some guy she met. Apparently, he’s the bane of her existence at the moment.” My mom giggles.

“Sounds a lot like Leia and Riggs.”

“Oh, dear. When is that girl going to stop putting Riggs through the ringer? We all know he’s crazy about her.”

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