Page 43 of Burden to Bear

“It tastes like it did.”

“What about you? What did you do today?”

It was right on the tip of my tongue to tell him that I’d done anything I could to avoid thinking so much about him. Instead, I shared, “I decided it was time to search for baby items.”

“Like clothes?” he asked.

“No. No, I’m trying not to do too much of that just yet. I was thinking more along the lines of furniture. I spent most of my time trying to decide on a crib.”

“Did you find one you liked?”

I nodded. “I did. But I’m having a tough time bringing myself to order it.”

Curiosity washed over his expression. “Why is that?”

Shrugging, I confessed, “I don’t know. It took me a while to come to terms with having to do this all on my own, and now that I’ve accepted that, I guess I’m worried I’ll make the wrong decisions.”

Brock sent a look of understanding my way. “I think what you’re feeling is normal, Mia. The fact that you’re worried about making a mistake tells me you’re going to do exactly what needs to be done. The crib you select isn’t going to make a difference in the end, as long as your baby is happy and healthy.”

God, where was this man weeks ago? I’d spent so much time agonizing over every little decision I made when it came to the baby, and Brock eased my concerns with just a few words. None of what I was worried about when it came to choosing a crib or stroller or highchair would really matter in the end. I just wanted my baby to be happy and healthy.

Feeling reassured and comforted by that, I smiled and said, “You’re right. Thank you for saying that.”

“Anytime. So, when does this little bundle of joy arrive?”

“I’m due on August 28th.”

“Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl yet?”

With a slight shake of my head, I answered, “No. I’m right around that time where I could find out with an ultrasound, but I keep flip-flopping between finding out now and waiting until the delivery to be surprised.”

The next thing I knew, my body froze. Because Brock nonchalantly placed his hand on my forearm, stroked back and forth two or three times, and gave me a reassuring squeeze.

Why did everything he said or did have to be so comforting?

“See? You’ve already got it figured out.”

Doing my best to ignore how much I liked having his hand on my arm, I asked, “What do you mean?”

He pulled his hand away, swept it in my direction, and reached for another taco as he explained, “If I had to guess, unless you’re a woman who just loves surprises, maybe you realize that it really won’t matter if you have a boy or girl. In the end, you just want a happy and healthy baby.”

I stared at him for several long seconds in silence, willing myself not to jump out of my seat and into his lap. “How did you know that?”

Brock shrugged. “When my brother found out that Izzy’s mom was pregnant, he said he hoped he was having a boy. And he had an honest reaction when they learned they were having a girl. He wasn’t mad, but he certainly felt disappointed. But the minute that little girl was born, his whole world changed. He couldn’t love her more if he tried. She’s the whole light of his life.”

My heart warmed. “She really is such a sweet girl. Was she at dinner yesterday?”

“She was. And she didn’t hesitate to announce the news of you to my mother,” Brock revealed through his laughter.

My brows shot up. “Me? What did she say about me?”

He continued to smile. “Let’s just say that she adores you. As soon as I sat down, she asked me if I saw you yesterday. Of course, I told her all about the cookies you made. My brother informed me that Izzy talked about you all week long, making it clear she couldn’t wait to come back here for a visit, so she could see you again.”

I wanted to cry. Brock’s niece was adorable, and I loved spending that time with her last week. The only thing that likely prevented me from bursting into tears was the question I had about one other person in the equation. “How did your mom react to this news?”

“She asked some questions, wondering who you were and how Izzy knew you, but the conversation didn’t linger for too long on you, if that’s what you’re worried about. Izzy quickly changed topics, and we moved on to discuss other things.”

That hadn’t exactly been bad news, but I wasn’t sure it was great either. I mean, Brock and I weren’t more than just neighbors, so I shouldn’t have expected much, but I couldn’t say I wasn’t curious about how he had answered the questions his mom had asked.

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