Page 49 of A Very Daddy Christmas

“I’ll get the mint tea brewing,” Eva replies.

I lean against the door, listening to the sound of her receding footsteps. I guess it’s easier to lie when I can’t look her in the eyes. She’d see right through me, otherwise.

I’m pregnant. And the timing couldn’t be worse. Eva used to tell me there’s never really a right time for kids.

I think of the guys and what their reactions might be.

“Which one of them is the father?” I whisper, staring at my befuddled self in the mirror.

Does it matter? It’s done. I’m pregnant, and I have no idea what I’m going to do next.

I do know, however, that having a baby on the way makes me all the more determined to fight for this bakery, to do everything in my power to make sure my child has a legacy when I’m gone. Mom and Dad fought so hard with that tenancy agreement to make sure we had a chance to buy it if they couldn’t. I have to see this through.

So, I toss the pregnancy test in the trash bin, wash my hands and my face again, then take a deep breath and deliver a mental pep talk to myself before I walk out. Eva waits by the counter with a large mug. I can smell the mint leaf tea. Might as well proceed with this white lie until I figure out what I’m going to do next and what I’m going to tell her.

“Feeling better?” she asks, giving me a worried look.

“Yeah, now that I know what I’m dealing with,” I reply. At least that’s not a lie.

I do know what’s going on with me. It also explains the emotional instability, the rash decisions I’ve made, and the regrets that followed. Gosh, looking back now, I’m beginning to think breaking up with the guys was not something I fully thought through. Not really.

My feelings for them haven’t changed. If anything, they’ve only grown stronger in the absence of their intimacy.

Minutes go by in awkward silence as I take a long sip of my tea.

I need some wisdom from the outside, an opinion from another mind, because mine is shackled between conflicting scenarios and terrible fears. Eva keeps watching me, her curious eyes scanning my face, searching for answers where I can’t give her any.

“How’s the tummy?” she asks in a low voice.

The bakery is full, our customers tended to and busy nibbling on our seasonal treats.

“Better, thank you,” I say with a weak smile. “You worry too much.”

“I see you coming in, looking pale as death. Of course I’m going to be worried. You’re dealing with so much stress, it was bound to take its toll on you.”

“You’re dealing with the same amount of stress, though. In fact, you’ve got more to lose from this than I ever will. Your husband, your kids…”

“True, but they’re also my best form of stress relief. I have Carl to talk to. The girls to look after. I dispense my energy differently. You, on the other hand, you’re on your own,” Eva says. “So, yeah, I worry about you, about the way you’re coping with all of this.”

I give her hand a proper, loving squeeze. “We’re going to be okay, sis. We’ve always landed on our feet. I just need to finish this tea, maybe grab a bite to eat, and I’m sure I’ll start to feel better.”

“There’s more to this, isn’t there?”

“What do you mean?”

She narrows her eyes, as if she’s somehow able to peer deep into my soul. “I don’t know, Cora, but I feel like you’re not telling me something. I wish you would trust me.”

“Oh, gosh, I do trust you.”

“Then what is it?” Eva asks, patiently waiting for me to give her an honest answer.

Today isn’t the day for honesty. I’m barely prepared to admit certain things to myself, let alone to Eva. No, I need to keep my mouth shut. To work hard, rest, do everything in my power to get past it all, and then breathe a huge sigh of relief when we’re finally recognized as the new owners of this building. That finish line…

It’s so close.

“I’m stressed out of my mind, Eva. I promise you, that’s all it is,” I say to her. “I wish I had something more interesting to tell you, but it is what it is. This whole waiting around for the escrow term to expire is killing me.”

“Especially when we’re constantly looking over our shoulders, right? Worried about another attack on the bakery or so-called customers dropping one-star reviews,” Eva replies with a heavy sigh. “I guess you’re right. It’s a lot of hard stuff.”

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