Page 58 of Dump and Chase

“He’s fine. He’s living with me now.” Mom and Dad exchanged looks and before they got too excited, I had to set them straight. “No, we aren’t back together and we aren’t getting back together. When he told his fiancée that he was having a kid with someone who wasn’t her, she kicked him out and took the house they were living in. With nowhere to live, he came to stay with me. The situation is temporary. I would have told you sooner, but it wasn’t something I wanted to bring up over the phone.”

Mom couldn’t hide her devastation. “Well, you never know,” she said.

After dinner, Mom took me to the spare room she and Dad used as an office. In the month that I’d been gone, they’d cleared it out. “We thought of putting a nursery here, especially when you come home after the baby is born. Your dad and I thought it would also be nice to have when we babysit for you.”

For some reason, the barren room made me tear up. Mom didn’t notice at first and kept going.

“You probably don’t know if you’re having a boy and a girl, and knowing you, you’ll want a gender-neutral theme anyway. So what about some pale yellows and greens? I know how much you hate gray. Oh no, honey, are you crying?”

I wiped away a tear. “It’s fine. Maybe some pregnancy hormones. This is great, Mom. Thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me? You’re having my grandbaby! Of course I’d go all out.” She rubbed my back as I took in a centering breath. “How do you feel about the colors?”

“I love them. And whatever you and Dad want to do, I’m okay with it.”

“And if you have some time tomorrow morning, what if we go baby shopping? Just to pick out a crib and changing table, whatever else you think we might need. I don’t mean to presume, but you’ll be coming home for the summer? I know you mentioned it before, but I want to make certain.”

“For sure. Once I’ve recovered enough and the baby is a little older. I don’t want to fly right after the baby is born.”

“Good. And we’ll have this room ready. You still want me to come out at the end of March.”

“Of course! I’m going to need you.”

Mom teared up too, and Dad walked into the room and right back out when he saw the cry fest.

I hung out with my parents for a bit, telling them about my job so far. I texted Jill and Wolseley that I’d landed safely, and Jill demanded we meet for lunch. I told her I would after shopping with Mom.

After Mom and Dad headed to bed, and I decided to wait up for Leah. She was working late, but she’d be home around midnight, and since I was still on Vancouver time, that was ten. While I waited, I went through clothes and other belongings, deciding if I wanted to bring anything back with me. I’d packed away some socks, scarves, light mitts for those rare days I’d need them, and more hair accessories. Leah knocked on my door when she got home, and I nearly jumped two feet. I hadn’t heard her come in.

“How’s Vancouver?” she asked.

“Good. How’s everything here?”

“The same. How’s baby Grant?”

“Fine. Growing.”

“How is his fiancée?”

“She is no longer his fiancée.”

Leah feigned shock by placing a hand over her heart. “How did I see that coming? So you two back together yet?”

“Actually, no. And I’ve made it clear to him that it won’t be happening.”

Leah rolled her eyes dramatically. “I know you really well, so I’m going to predict that by the time the baby is born, you and Ethan will be back together.”

She was so confident, with a smirk on her face. My sister was infuriating. “Not happening.”

“You know what, let’s bet on it. I get to name the baby if I win. And if you win, I’ll let you namemyfirstborn. That’s how confident I am that you’re going to lose.”

“Middle names. And fine, you’re on.”

“Great. I better go pick out a name. Goodnight, sis.” She stopped before leaving. “Oh, and it’s nice to have you home.”

* * *

Mom had mapped out several baby stores she wanted to hit. We left first thing in the morning after she’d made me a hearty breakfast. First, we hit the paint store to pick some colors. As promised, I let Mom choose them, and the attendant was kind enough to load the paint cans in the car. Next we went to a huge big box store dedicated to baby stuff, where Mom picked out a crib, changing table, and mattress. After that, we went to Richardson’s to grab a baby monitor, blankets, a diaper bag, and bibs. I stopped her from buying any clothes because I had no idea what size the baby would need.

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