Page 136 of Sweet Little Thing

Starting the car, I pulled onto the interstate. I didn’t say anything. I let her sit there and think. She had to know I wasn’t a complete idiot. What had just happened wasn’t food poisoning or car sickness.

The Italian place appeared at the next exit sign, and although I wasn’t positive she could eat just yet, I took the exit anyway. Our silence continued until I was parked, and we sat there staring straight ahead. Both of us waiting for the other to speak. I wanted her to tell me. I didn’t want to be the one to hammer her with questions, but I would if I had to.

“He doesn’t want kids. He said having a child would be a mistake.” Her voice was so soft I had to strain to hear her.

Stone didn’t think he could be a father. He had no example to follow. Deep down he feared that he would fail. I knew better. He’d been saving my ass for most of my life. But he would have never said that to her if he had known she was pregnant. At least I couldn’t imagine it. Again, I needed all the facts.

“He said that before or after you told him you were pregnant,” I asked. As much as I cared about the guy, if he had said that to her knowing she was pregnant then, I’d find him and beat his ass or go down trying.

“I couldn’t tell him, not after hearing him say that. I don’t want my baby to ever feel like it was a mistake. Or unwanted.”

She spoke as if each word physically pained her. She wouldn’t look at me. I could see her chin quiver as she fought to hold in her emotion. When Stone found out, I doubted he would ever forgive himself.

“I understand. But I also know Stone. He often says what he thinks and doesn’t consider how it could change if the situation presents itself. I know he loves you. I understand that more than anyone else. And because I know how he feels and the sacrifice he was willing to make to secure your safety by calling me, I also know you’re wrong about how he would feel about the baby.”

If he didn’t forgive me for anything else, what I’d just said should cleanse me from all the other sins I’d committed against him. Beulah was so vulnerable right now. I could take advantage of that. I could step in to be a father to the baby. She’d eventually love me and learn to look over the fact we were cousins. I could see that scenario play out and I would be a liar if I didn’t admit it was tempting. But it was also wrong.

I knew the baby’s father. I knew the truth. And I knew he would want her and this baby. She wasn’t an abandoned single mother who needed me to save her. If she was, I’d gladly do it and thank God for a second chance. But this wasn’t my lucky moment. It wasn’t meant to be for us.

“Can you eat?” I asked her instead of pushing or trying to convince her of anything more.

She turned to look at me. A small, sad smile touched her lips. “Actually, I’m craving those breadsticks you mentioned.”

For now, I’d feed her. When she slept again, I would decide what to do and how to handle it. Stone’s future happiness depended on it, and this time, I wouldn’t let him down.

Chapter

Eighty-Four

Beulah

Somehow, I had managed to eat three breadsticks and an entire bowl of ravioli. When I had gotten sick for the first time, I wasn’t sure I could ever eat again. If it wasn’t chicken or Mexican, it seemed I was fine in the hunger and eating department. The restaurant was more expensive than my budget. Jasper had threatened to make a scene if I didn’t allow him to pay for the meal. When I tried to order salad and breadsticks only, he ordered me ravioli, lasagna, and fettuccini alfredo. I had to promise to eat the ravioli to stop him from ordering everything else on the menu.

Over lunch, he didn’t mention Stone, the pregnancy, or what he thought I should do next. Instead, he told me funny stories about college. The story about Sterling when he had been locked out of the house without clothes and had to run naked to the neighbors to ask to use their phone had almost made me pee my pants. The neighbors had been in their late seventies and calledthe police on him. He’d hid in the woods, staying there all night until someone woke up in the house and finally let him inside.

I didn’t completely forget my problems. But for a short moment, I laughed and enjoyed the distraction. Once we were back in the car, my sorrow returned. I closed my eyes, and sleep came easily. At least that was something I didn’t have to worry about. My body was going to rest even if my mind wasn’t cooperating.

When I woke again, the trees were different. They weren’t as green. It was almost as if fall was close, and it wasn’t the end of August. I sat up and looked around. “Where are we?” I knew this wasn’t the southern or even the central part of Georgia. With a quick glance at the clock on the dash, I realized I’d been asleep for four hours.

“Somewhere in South Carolina,” he replied with a smile as if that answer was sufficient.

“Where in South Carolina?” I pressed.

“Not really sure. Haven’t seen a sign in a while. Halfway through, I’d guess.”

“Halfway through? What’s our destination?”

He shrugged. “I figured since you weren’t set on anything yet, we’d look at North Carolina. See what you thought of it. We have time. This adventure is on me until I leave you where you are happy.”

Frustrated, I grabbed my phone to see if I could figure out where we were and how far from Savannah we were. There had to be a city around here that would be a good fit. “North Carolina is too far,” I snapped.

“Didn’t say you had to settle down there. Just thought we’d check it out.”

“Ugh!” I groaned. “I need to find a job, Jasper—a place to live. I don’t have time to ride around and explore. Neither do you. You’ve got a corporation to run.”

“It’s fine for now. It’s a phone call away. Besides, it’s getting late. You should get out and stretch your legs. Let’s find a place to stop for the night.”

I threw my hands up. “I’ve been sleeping in the parking lot of a twenty- four hour service station to save money. We aren’t fitting in this car comfortably tonight, and you aren’t paying for a hotel room. I’ve wasted a day when I should have been finding a home.”

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