Page 37 of Sometimes You Fall

“Mom!” my mother exclaims, glancing over her shoulder at my grandma as I sniffle through a laugh.

“What? If you’re gonna get knocked up, it’s gotta be worth it. I mean, I remember the night your father and I conceived you and my God, he rocked my world that time…”

My mother shakes her head as we share a laugh. “Gigi, it was…” I let out a sigh because there aren’t words eloquent enough to describe how Grady touched my body, how safe he made me feel, how sex with him was so intense that it scared the shit out of me.

She claps slowly. “Then the man did his job. And if he can do that right, there’s probably a lot more he’s capable of too.”

***

“Come to momma.” As soon as I open the door to Smells Like Sugar, which used to be the Sunshine Bakery when I was a kid, cinnamon and sugar assault my senses and intensify my craving, which is why I’m here before I head into work this morning.

Last night, as I went to bed, I got the strangest craving for something with cinnamon and apples, and when I woke up, the craving was amplified. So here I am, preparing to eat my weight in baked goods since it’s the only thing that sounds delicious at the moment.

“Oh. Hi, there.”

I glance up from the display case to find Astrid, Grady’s sister, standing on the other side of the counter. Seeing her just reminds me that I’m having a child with her brother, and she’s going to be my kid’s aunt.

Jesus, this is getting more complicated by the second.

“Hi, Astrid.”

Her friendly smile seems genuine, but I have no idea if Grady has shared our news with her yet, so I feel uneasystanding in front of her right now. But if I don’t get an apple fritter in the next five minutes, I might chew someone’s head off.

“I know about the baby.”

Okay then. No beating around the bush. I guess I have to appreciate her directness. “Um…”

She rounds the counter and comes out to the side I’m standing on. “Look, this doesn’t have to be awkward. In fact…” Her smile grows. “I’m really freaking excited because I get to be an aunt. I swear, I never thought Grady would ever have kids, especially after these past few years.” She rolls her eyes and pulls me by the hand, closer to the case. “But everything happens for a reason, right?”

My eyes must be bugging out of my head. “Yeah, that’s how the saying goes, isn’t it?”

She waves me off. “Anyway, just know that I’m here if you need anything, including sweet treats.” Pointing to the display case, she bounces her eyebrows. “I’ve got a little bit of everything. What is the baby in the mood for this morning?”

I’m trying to regain speech after her reaction, but I don’t get a chance to respond before the chime above the door rings out. A striking blonde woman waltzes in, looking like she just stepped off the cover of a magazine in her business attire and heels.

“Willow! This is Scottie,” Astrid announces to the woman, whose eyes immediately widen.

Willow’s expression mimics Astrid’s, and suddenly I’m very aware that far more people know about me and my situation than I anticipated. Turning to me, she plasters a smile on her face and then reaches out to shake my hand. “Oh my gosh! It’s so nice to meet you.”

I reciprocate her gesture as I stare between the two of them. “Likewise, although I’m sure you already knew who I was based on your reaction.”

Astrid bumps her shoulder against Willow’s. “I told her I knew about the baby.”

Willow sighs, rolling her eyes. “You have to forgive my friend here, Scottie. Astrid is one of my best friends, but she is insanely excited about becoming an aunt. I haven’t heard her talk about anything else since she found out on Sunday.”

“My brother came to my daughter’s birthday party looking like he hadn’t slept and told us what happened with your son and…” She drops her eyes to my stomach.

My hand moves there instinctively. “Oh.”

“We’re not judging you,” Willow interjects. “Believe me. I swear, just looking at Dallas could get me pregnant, so I can imagine how hard it was to resist Grady.”

Astrid smacks Willow’s arm. “Ew, that’s my brother!”

Willow shrugs, still looking at me. “Sorry, girl, but the men in this town…” she tsks. “There must be something in the water in Carrington Cove.” I fold in my lips to hide my smile. I can’t speak for their men, but I know the second I saw Grady that night, all grown up and far more muscular than he was in high school, my ovaries started dry humping the air.

Astrid pushes Willow aside and glances back at the bakery case. “Anyway, what can I get for you this morning? Any cravings?”

“Actually, yeah. That’s why I stopped in. Those apple fritters look delicious. I’ll take two please.” Each one is nearly as big as my head, but I don’t want to risk not having enough.

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