Page 9 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

My heart sank. I'd forgotten about Nora's Sunday brunches. I hadn't paid much attention to the day or the time, in all honesty. I'd just wanted to get out of Atlanta. To move on. “I'm here to stay for a while, if that's alright.”

“Of course, it's alright,” Nora said, stepping up behind Carrie. Cody was right behind her. Nora's short, brown bob shone and her brown eyes sparked with energy. She was in a crisp button-down shirt and high-waisted jeans. She wore very little make-up, the age lines on her face adding to her beauty, rather than detracting, showing a life well-lived and making her beauty more approachable. It looked like Cody hadn't shaved in a couple of days, but his smile was warm. He was in jeans and what appeared to be an old, worn-out t-shirt, like he'd just been working and was about to get back to work. “Come on inside,” Nora said. “Cody will get your bags.”

I stepped inside and Carrie's gaze dropped to my belly, obvious in my maternity jeans and t-shirt. “Eight months,” I said. “It's Noah's, but he doesn't know about it.”

“Why not?” Cody asked, his tone sharp.

“That's enough questions,” Nora said. “Cody, you go get the bags and Aubrey, honey, you come on with me. You must be starving.”

“I'm always starving,” I said, though my stomach roiled. I hadn't been expecting an audience. I followed Nora to the dining room. The house was spacious, with high ceilings and large rooms. The furniture was a mix between modern and antique and was as rustic and charming as the exterior. The dining room was enormous and held a table large enough to seat twenty people. May was sitting next to a little girl and cleaning up a puddle of syrup from the table cloth. On the other side of May was a little boy and next to him, a teenage girl. Both younger children had their hair neatly combed, the little girl's hair was in two neat braids, and they both had the biggest eyes. The teenager was the only one of the three with light hair, a strawberry blond that fell to her shoulders in waves. She had a wide mouth and bright, blue eyes. She also had on way more make-up than I'd ever considered necessary for brunch, but she was wearing a cardigan that was almost the twin of the one Carrie was wearing. They all looked up at me when I walked in with Nora. May stood up. She was still in fuzzy pajamas, her hair a messy halo around her head, her eyes sleepy, looking far younger than her twenty-four years. “Aubrey?” Her gaze dropped to my belly.

I opened my moth to speak, but Nora beat me to it. “Aubrey is eight months pregnant with Noah's baby. He doesn't know about it, and we'd like to keep it that way for a little longer.”

“Okay,” May said. Worry was clear in her clouded brown eyes, but there was also happiness and excitement. “Congratulations. I've always wanted to have a niece or a…”

“Niece,” I confirmed.

The teenage girl cleared her throat and mock-glared at May, who smiled. “I was about to say, I've always wanted a niece or a nephew, and now I can't believe I'm about to have four of them. Maybe this one won't steal my clothes.”

“You said I could borrow whatever I wanted,” the teenager said.

“One time, Kayla. Not three times a day. I've had to do laundry twice this week just to have enough to wear.”

“What about me, Aunt May?” the little girl said.

May looked down at the little girl fondly. “You are also my niece and I love you, Jenny. I love you so much. Won't it be fun to have a new baby around?”

Jenny grimaced. “Babies cry all the time.”

Nora laughed. “Aubrey, these are Cody and Carrie's three kids, Jenny, Simon, and Kayla.”

I said hello and didn't ask any questions. When I'd met Carrie, eight months ago, she hadn't said anything about kids and she was way too young to have a teenager, but I knew better than to ask in front of the kids.

Nora sat and gestured for me to sit next to her. Cody and Carrie returned and took their seats at the table. “I wasn't sure where you're putting Aubrey,” Cody said. “So, I put her bags in the front hall for now.”

“That's perfect,” Nora said.

After dinner, I helped Nora clean up, but couldn't stop yawning. It was only two in the afternoon and I was ready for bed. Nora dried her hands and placed one on my shoulder. “You're exhausted, sweetheart. I'll show you to your room and you can get a nap.”

“Thank you, Nora.” I turned to face the older woman. “I know this can't be easy for you, and I just so appreciate you wanting to help me and to be a part of my baby's life.”

Her eyes were a bit glassy. “I'm so happy to have you here, dear. And I'm thrilled to meet your daughter. No matter what Noah does or says, that won't change.”

My own eyes stung and I hugged her, feeling emotional and so very grateful.

Nora released me and wiped her eyes. “Come on, sweetheart. You need your rest.”

She led me to the back of the house to a small bedroom with an attached bath. “This is the best I can do for you for now,” she said. “We'll find you something more permanent soon.”

“This is perfect.”

She left and I dropped into bed without changing my clothes or taking out my contacts. I felt more at peace than I had in a very long time.

***

I slept through the afternoon and the night and woke up the next morning with mossy teeth and my contacts sticking to my eyeballs. I stretched, hopped out of bed, and stretched again. I felt great, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and I was surrounded by people who'd love my daughter. This was going to work out, everything would be okay. Even if Noah forever hated my guts, my daughter wouldn't be alone. And if I kept telling myself that over and over again, eventually it would come true.

I showered, unstuck my contacts from my eyeballs, dressed and went downstairs. I followed the scent of warm food and found Nora in the kitchen, her brown head bent over the stove. She was dressed in dark-wash jeans and a button-down blouse and she was muttering to herself.

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