Page 40 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

I nodded, grateful for her honesty. “I haven’t thought much about kids either. But being around Jake has made me wonder. Still, I agree—we have enough on our plates. Let’s take it one step at a time.”

She smiled, her hand slipping into mine. “That’s why I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. To take protective measures. I want to be proactive about this… about us.”

My thumb brushed over her knuckles. “Thank you for that, Elena. It means a lot.”

The conversation lingered in the air as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the envelope Steven had given me. “Speaking of what’s on our plates, there’s something else I need to show you.”

She tilted her head, her brow furrowing in curiosity as I pulled the envelope out of my pocket. Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened it and pulled out Grandpa’s note. Elena’s eyes darted across the words, widening with every sentence.

Before she finished, I opened my wallet and handed her the check Steven Brown had arranged for me.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “This… this is from your grandfather?”

I nodded, watching her carefully. “Apparently, he knew—or at least suspected—that Jake was mine. He wanted to help, even if he didn’t know how to approach you. This check, this letter… it’s his way of making amends for me and my family, although I realize money doesn’t take the place of me being there for you and Jake years ago.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, clutching the paper. “Cory, this is… overwhelming.”

I reached out, cupping her cheek. “I know. And if you don’t want to accept it, we’ll figure something else out. We can set up a trust for Jake, donate it—whatever feels right.”

She sniffled, brushing away a tear. “I don’t even know what to say. It’s… so much.”

I pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You don’t have to decide anything now. We’ll figure it out together.”

She leaned into me, her head resting on my shoulder. “Thank you, Cory. For being here. For everything. I can’t believe your grandfather did this.”

“Obviously, Elena, he cared about you more than you… or I realized.”

We sat in the quiet, the swing swaying gently beneath us. The night felt heavier now, but in a way that was grounding, anchoring us to the decisions and possibilities ahead. We weren’t rushing, and we weren’t forcing answers, but it felt like our future was coming into focus.

Twenty

Elena

The clock on the wall ticked softly, marking the seconds as I sat in the exam room. The paper sheet crinkled under me as I shifted on the table, scrolling aimlessly through my phone. My appointment was the first of the day, scheduled early so I wouldn’t have to cancel customer appointments—again.

Thanks to Sarah’s offer to drop Jake off at school, I managed to squeeze in my appointment without disrupting my packed schedule atReflections. I’d been grateful for her help, but I wasn’t so sure now, sitting alone in the sterile quiet. My thoughts drifted, spiraling through the usual worries before inevitably circling back to why I was here.

Birth control.

A way to plan, to take control of the next steps in my life now that everything seemed to be falling into place—or so I thought. It was practical and responsible, something I hadn’t thought much about in years. But now, with Cory back in my life, everything felt different—new, exciting, and a little terrifying.

The door opened, and my doctor, Mika, stepped in. “Good morning, Elena! How are we today?”

I managed a small smile, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “Good, I think. Just… here to talk about some options.”

She nodded, her tone professional but kind. “Of course. Let’s take a look and go over everything.”

As I settled onto the examination table, I tried to calm my nerves. Dr. Mika’s small talk about the weather and holiday plans was a welcome distraction, but when her attention shifted, my heart began to race. Her pause mid-sentence only added to my growing anxiety.

“Elena,” she said softly, her voice taking on a serious tone. “I have some news for you.”

My stomach dropped. “News?” I echoed.

She moved to face me and smiled, “You're already pregnant.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and surreal. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. “Pregnant?” I repeated in disbelief.

“Yes,” she confirmed with a slight smile. “Everything looks good so far. Based on what I see in this initial exam, you're only a month or six weeks along.”

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