Page 89 of Single Mom's Christmas Wish

Dakota

The guys have been calling and texting every other hour. I reject the calls and text them back with the blandest of replies:I’m busy, sorry. I need some time. I’m okay, don’t worry about me. I’ll call you back when I’m up to it.They do worry about me, though, and it is the sweetest thing. It pains me that I’m unable to cope with this entire mess. All I can do is enjoy a cup of decaf and watch the sunrise over the hills of Napa Valley this morning.

Chelsea joins me up on the terrace of a lovely bed & breakfast we found yesterday. I asked her to drive somewhere, anywhere. She drove north, getting us as far away from the city as possible. She understood the assignment straight away, which is another reason why she’s my best friend, there for me through thick and thin, no matter what.

“Got us more milk,” she says, placing a small porcelain milk jug on the wooden table between us. “Maisie is still asleep. It’s been a weird couple of days for her.”

“I know, and I feel awful,” I sigh deeply.

“Don’t, okay?” Chelsea says. “It was a terrible affair from top to bottom. You need time to just pull yourself together and figure things out. I’ll keep the kiddo busy while you do that. But for now, I’m going to take advantage of her low energy levels and make the most of this milky espresso,” she adds and takes a long, heartfelt sip of her coffee. “Oh, yeah, that’s the stuff.” She looks at me with wondering eyes. “Any word from the guys?”

“And then some,” I reply. “I keep brushing them off as politely as I can, but they won’t let me go.”

“Of course they won’t; they love you.”

That hurts because it’s true.

“I don’t know what to do, Chelsea. In three days, it’ll be Christmas. The deadline will expire, and I will have lost my only shot at instant salvation,” I say, my voice trembling with despair. “I will lose the house. I’ll never afford Prescott Academy for my girl. And on top of that—”

“You were publicly humiliated, and Keith is still out there, threatening to sue for Maisie’s custody. It’s a nightmare. I completely understand why you’re frozen like this.”

I can’t help but let a bitter smile stretch across my face. “That’s not even the worst part.”

“Oh?”

“I’m pregnant, remember?”

“You’re not alone.”

“I know. I have you and Maisie.”

“And the guys. You have to tell them, Dakota.”

Tears roll down my cheeks. “I feel terrible.”

“I get it, babe, I do. You weren’t planning any of this, but you have to let them know. You have to let them help you.”

“What if they don’t want it?”

“Well, I’m sorry, honey, but it takes two to make a baby,” she scoffs. “Or, in this case, one of three plus you to make a baby.” That gets a chuckle out of me. “Point is, one of them is the baby’s father. And they won’t let you struggle on your own. You know they won’t.”

I take a deep breath, staring out into the great wide open for a while. “It’s all just so complicated. And if I have to fight Keith in court on top of everything else...”

“Do you really think Keith wants Maisie? He’s just threatening custody to hurt you. And a judge would see he’s walked away from her before. I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

Chelsea’s phone buzzes. I notice her subtle frown before she responds, then slides the phone back into her jeans pocket. “You know, you can still get married. We’ll find another officiant.”

“I think that ship has already sailed, and I need to move on.”

“Talk to the guys.”

“I need to figure out what to do next.”

“Talk to the guys.”

“You sound like a broken record,” I snap.

Chelsea pins me with a stern gaze. “This is the worst possible time for you to be so goddamn stubborn when you clearly need all the help in the world. Put your fucking ego aside for once.If the Faulkner brothers can help, why not let them? Maybe the relationship will evolve; maybe things will get better between the four of you. And if not, you can reach an agreement. Work for that money until you can pay it back. Come on, Dakota, it’s not the end of the world if you let them help you. Maisie deserves better.”

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