Page 65 of Sheriff's City Girl

I rolled my eyes. “No, Mom, he’s not going to jail. No one is going to jail. In fact, he’s the sheriff here, so he puts people in jail. He’s known Lily and Drew their whole lives. They grew up together.”

“I would be congratulating you, but the tone of your voice has me thinking that I shouldn’t.”

“Yeah… Well… I mean, things were a little confusing at first, but I think they’re going well now. We’re just both busy people, and he has a sixteen-year-old daughter, so he wants to go slow—I don’t blame him for that. His daughter is great though. I think she’s rooting for us, actually.”

Mom was silent, but just for a beat. “At your age, it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t already had kids. I’m glad you get along with his daughter. Is her mother in her life?”

“No, not at all. She ran out on them when Jess was just a little girl.”

“Oh no,” Mom said, and I could hear the frown in her voice. “That’s just plain terrible.”

“Yeah, but they deal with everything well. Mason and Jess have a great relationship and she’s a really great kid. It’s actually really sweet.”

“That’s good…” Mom’s voice trailed off. “So what is the problem? I can just hear something off in your voice. Is it just you being stubborn in some way? I know that you don’t adjust well to being in a relationship.”

“No,” I snapped, shaking my head at her. “It’s got nothing to do with that. It’s the fact that I’m pregnant.” My heart pounded in my ears as I waited for her response, sitting on the edge of the stool. I felt like I might pass out as the beats of dead quiet passed. “Mom?”

“Sorry,” she said quickly. “I’m shocked—well, more like surprised, I suppose. Honestly though, I’m happy for you, honey.”

“Seriously?” I couldn’t hide the disbelief in my voice. “I thought you’d be lecturing me for it. You always said not to get pregnant outside of marriage and all that… And that’s exactly what I did.”

“Well, accidents happen,” she laughed on the other end of the phone. “And you are with the man who helped cause it. I can’t be mad at you for that. I can’t be mad at you regardless of the situation surrounding it. That never helps anything. I’m only sorry that I’m moving now.”

I smiled, relief flooding through my body as I relaxed on the stool. “I know, and I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner—I’ve just been avoiding it. I thought you’d be angry with me. Things have been complicated around here.”

“Ah, I see… How far along are you?”

“Almost sixteen weeks,” I answered her, bracing for her reaction—but she didn’t have one.

“A couple months from finding out the gender,” she beamed. “How exciting. Your sister and I will have to fly home to have a party for you. Oh, she will just be so excited to know. Have you told her?”

I cringed, guilt washing over me. “I haven’t really talked to her at all, to be honest. You know that we don’t really get along most of the time.”

“She’s your sister though,” Mom chided me. “I’m sure she’d be more than happy for you. Besides, it’s a relief to hear that you’re seeing someone who might be the right one. I know the pregnancy is a little bit of a stressor, but it can bring you together—what does he think about it?”

I hesitated. “He loves kids.”

But has no idea.

“Oh, that’s wonderful! And you already know that he’s a great father. I bet that’s such a relief for you. If only we could always see what kind of father a man will be before we’re with them. I tell you, that’s a gift you know. He’s been there for his daughter, caring for her on his own—that takes a real man.”

I smiled, my heart swelling with pride. “Yeah, yeah it does. He loves his family, his friends, and the community. He’s a good man.”

“And as long as he loves you and treats you just as well as he does all the rest of them, I’m more than supportive of it all.”

The warm, fuzzy feeling I had dissipated at the mention of love—something that had not been brought up between us. I wasn’t even sure if I loved Mason… But the more that time passed, the more I thought that I could.

“Listen, honey,” Mom continued when I didn’t immediately say anything. “I’m gonna have to go, since the kids I hired to box up things are here. But before I go, I’d love to stop by and see you. It might be a couple of weeks though. I have so much to wrap up at work before I can move work to just remotely. You know how demanding work can be.”

“Yes, I do,” I said with a sigh, hearing the laughter of customers. It was starting to pick up again, and I probably needed to get back to it. “I’ll call you later. Love you.”

“Love you and congrats,” she chirped, before hanging up.

I sat there for a few long minutes, surprised that she had taken it so well. Maybe I was worried about telling Mason for nothing… A message popped up on my screen from Lily.

Finished altering your dress for tonight.

I took a deep breath, glancing down at my stomach. We had found the perfect dress, but it had to be adjusted in order to hide my stomach… Which was becoming nearly impossible now… I needed to tell Mason before he could figure it out on his own.

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