Page 38 of Found By You

“Extended stay motel until I signed the lease on an apartment.”

Alison scurries back to the table, plopping down beside Cassidy once the coffee shop is vacant again. “What’d I miss?”

“Maci’s trying to decide if she should stay here based on fate with her car breaking down, or keep her plan to go to Alaska,” Cassidy informs her.

“Oh, fate all the way,” Alison says in a duh tone.

“That’s what I said,” Cassidy beams. They share a laugh before eager eyes turn in my direction to await an answer, as if I have it already figured out.

“Like I said, I still need to sort out a car, job, a place to live.” I reach for my laptop. “It’s not as easy as it sounds.”

“Is your baby’s father in Alaska?” Alison questions.

I stiffen. My heart rate jumping at the very mention of…him.

Duke huffs in frustration, letting his strong arm drop from behind me to wrap around my waist. A firm clasp of his hand settles on my hip and ass. “You don’t need to answer that, Maci.”

Alison’s face heats from Duke’s burning glare. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“No, um, it’s okay.” I pause. How do I put this? “There was an accident, and he, um—” Guilt chokes me once again at the memory of the last time I saw him. I’ve never seen such anger before. At the time, I didn’t understand how a baby could cause such an uproar in our lives. It didn’t take long for the missing pieces to fall into answers the next day. “He’s…gone.”

Shocked expressions stare at me from across the table.

Duke’s grip on my hip tightens in a silent form of support, and I find myself leaning into him.

Alison holds a hand to her heart. “You’re so brave.”

Cassidy shakes her head. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I’m so, so sorry, Maci.”

My eyes sting as I look away. Their condolences shouldn’t mean as much as they do. I don’t deserve them. If they knew the whole truth, would they still say the same? And brave? I feel anything but brave.

I sip my mug, needing some form of distraction. “Life throws you punches every now and then,” I say, remembering what my grandfather used to tell me. “You have to decide which ones you let knock you down.”

Silence settles over the table for a long moment. “But you’re pregnant,” Cassidy starts, a question in her voice. “What about doctors’ appointments and health insurance? What about all your stuff? Is it already in Alaska?”

“I paid my health insurance through the end of next year, and I’m early enough that I don’t need to make another appointment until I’m thirteen weeks,” I say. “I’ll need to pay out-of-network fees until I officially settle somewhere, but it’s not much. And my belongings are in a U-Haul container, waiting for my call on where to send it once I’m ready.”

Alison gapes. “Wow, you thought of everything.”

“Not everything.” I shake my head with a forced laugh. “I didn’t exactly plan for my car to die on me.”

Cassidy smiles wide. “You could’ve broken down anywhere, and you ended up here. If that doesn’t scream fate, I don’t know what does.”

“There are two things you don’t mess with in life: Mother Nature and Father Fate,” Alison sings, like some all-knowing wise owl.

“Did you just make that up?” Cassidy laughs as Alison nods.

A small smile ghosts over my lips when I lift my gaze to Duke. He’s already watching me with dark, avid eyes. Warmth spreads throughout my chest, and I wish I knew what he was thinking. Does he think I’m crazy letting fate decide? I feel a little crazy even considering it.

The bell chimes as Butch walks in the door.

Cassidy beams at the sight of him. “Aw, honey, you didn’t need to come. I texted you.”

He goes right to her, leaning down for a kiss. “I was already on my way. Are you feeling any better?”

“Yes.” She smiles, gesturing to me. “Thanks to Maci.”

Alison gets up. “Sit, Butch. I’ve got some cleaning to get done,” she says. “You got the front for a bit, Cass?” When she nods, Alison scurries away to the back room.

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