Page 54 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

“Hey, sis!” Kelsey’s cheerful voice greets me. “What’s up?”

“Um, I… I have some news,” I stammer, suddenly nervous. “I took a pregnancy test, and it’s… it’s positive.”

“Wait, what?” Kelsey exclaims, her voice incredulous. “Are you serious?”

“Very,” I reply, gripping my phone tighter. “I don’t know what to do, Kels. I’m scared.”

“Hey, it’s okay. We’ll figure this out together. Do you know who the father is?”

My face burns. “Yes! I’ve only been with one person in, like, forever.”

“Okay, okay. I was just checking. There’s no shame either way. So that means it’s Nathan?”

“Yep.” I close my eyes. “It’s Nathan.”

“Wow.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “Have you told him yet?”

“I can’t.” My voice is quiet and broken. “What if he wants nothing to do with the baby?”

“Maria, you won’t know unless you talk to him,” she says gently. “But first, let’s just focus on you and figuring things out, okay?”

“Okay.” Just having her on the phone makes me feel slightly more grounded. “Thanks, Kelsey.”

“Anytime, sis. I’m here for you, no matter what. So how do you feel? What do you want to do?”

“I want to raise my child,” I answer firmly, feeling a sense of resolve wash over me.

Kelsey is silent for a long moment before she replies.

“Wow, Maria,” she finally says. “If that’s what you want, I’m here for it. You’ll be an amazing mother.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, touched by her words. “But I don’t know if I can do this alone.” My chest tightens with an overwhelming mix of fear and determination.

“Hey, you’ve got me.”

I twist my lips. Kelsey lives several hours away from me, so it’s not like she’s a hop and a skip away.

“Thank you.” I sigh. “Unfortunately, you’re all I have.”

She’s quiet again, and I wonder if she’s also thinking about our parents. Neither one of us is close to them, and they’re both off living their biggest, loudest single lives. I can’t imagine either one of them wanting to play grandparent.

“I’ve never felt more alone in my life.” The words slip from my lips before I realize they’re coming.

“Oh, honey. I’m sorry. Hey, what if you moved here? This little town is pretty nice, and Hayden and I would love it if you were close by.”

I twist my lips. Moving to be closer to her makes the most sense. In fact, it would be the most logical thing I'd have done in a while. I know that right now isn’t the time to make any big decisions, though. The pregnancy news is still too fresh, and I’m probably in shock.

“Possibly…” I stare out the window, which provides me with a view of another building.

“Either way, maybe it’s time for a change of scenery, at least for a little while. Get away from the city and clear your head.”

Her suggestion sparks something in me, and I find myself nodding in agreement. “You know what? You’re right. The firm’s closed on Monday anyway, so maybe I’ll take a long weekend.”

“Sounds perfect. Where will you go?”

“Back to Montauk. I’ve been planning on renovating it anyway.”

The beach house has always been my sanctuary, my place to think. Maybe being there will help me figure out my next move.

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