Page 67 of Accidental Baby Daddy

“No,” she said firmly, cutting me off before giving Gillian a quick hug. “I want to get it over with.” She turned to her sister. “See you next week?”

Gillian nodded, smiling, and then waved at me slightly as she walked out the door. I waved back, feeling a little out of the loop.

“What’s next week?” I asked.

“Doctor’s appointment,” Lexie answered flatly. “Just a checkup, since I got so sick.”

I sighed in relief. “That sounds like a good idea.”

Lexie was dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She looked great in my opinion, her hair swept back from her face with a headband. I wanted to lean down and kiss her, but I hadn’t forgotten that she wanted her space. That she’d cut things off.

It still stung.

We walked to the car and I smiled sheepishly, pointing at Trent in the backseat. “My mom is out with friends, so we have to take the rugrat with us.”

She laughed. “I never mind him tagging along. Even if he does think I’m a witch.”

I snickered. “I think I’ve got it through his head that you’re not.”

“Good to know.”

I opened the door for her, and she slid inside. As we pulled out onto the road, Trent piped up from the backseat.

“Are we going to the fire station?”

“No, buddy. The police station. And you need to be extra good while we talk to the sheriff.”

“Do I get to hear the sirens?” he asked, bouncing in his car seat.

“Maybe,” Lexie answered, smiling. “But probably not. It’s pretty quiet in Wagontown.”

“Aw, man,” he whined, but he didn’t complain any further and I was grateful.

At the sheriff’s office, Reese met us in the lobby. Helooked down at Trent, blinking, and I gave him a sheepish smile.

“No babysitter,” I explained.

“That’s all right,” he said. He turned, calling out for someone named Mariah.

She rushed into the lobby and looked down at Trent, smiling.

“Hello, there. I’m Mariah. What’s your name?”

“I’m Trent!” he answered, bouncing on his heels.

“Hi, Trent. How would you like a tour of the station?”

“Do I get to sit in a police car?” he asked, still bouncing. I smiled at Mariah and then down at Trent, finding his exuberance adorable.

“I think that can be arranged,” Mariah said, taking Trent’s hand and leading him deeper into the office.

Lexie watched Trent with a smile, but I noticed that there was a dullness to her, somehow. I supposed it was because she was sick, but I still hated seeing her that way.

I took her hand as Reese led us into a small room. She didn’t react, but she didn’t pull away, either. I hated that we’d broken things off before all of this happened. I wanted to comfort her, wanted to be there for her, and I felt like now, I couldn’t be.

“Let’s start with your statement, Ms. Tripp,” he said, and Lexie took in a deep breath.

“It was about six-thirty. I was working at the Pig in the Poke, and my ex, Dick…Richard, came up to me. He called me a name.”

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