Page 62 of Secret Baby for the Triplets

“I miss you too,” I choke.

“Oh, baby, what’s wrong?” she asks, immediately hearing the sadness in my tone. “What happened?”

Sniffling, I collect myself. “No, nothing. I’m back in Austin. I’m staying at Mae’s right now.”

She sucks in a small breath. “Oh, are you all right?”

I close my eyes and flop back on the twin bed, an image of Owen’s face appearing before me, his warm, understanding eyes reminding me that family is always complicated. “I’ll be all right.”

“Why don’t you come over tomorrow? Greg and I would love to see you!”

I almost refuse, but I stop myself. I do miss my mom, even if I can do without Greg. And eventually, I will have to swallow my pride and ask them to move in. And tell them about their grandchild. I might as well get it over and done with.

“Sure,” I agree. “Will you be home in the afternoon?”

“All day,” she says. “I’ll make that jambalaya you like so much!”

“Sounds good, Mom.”

“Chin up, baby. You’re a Ward woman. We don’t stay knocked down for long, do we?”

“No, we do not,” I reply.

“I love you, Emerson Grace.”

“I love you too, Mom. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

We hang up and I curl onto my side, pulling a pillow against me as I let myself cry—but just a little. A bit of self-pity is good for the soul once in a while. But then it’s like Mom said, I have to pick myself up and brush myself off again.

I have to be the best version of myself for my baby. Because it looks like we’re on our own going forward.

* * *

Since I’m used to ranch hours now, I wake up well before Will and Mae to make them a hearty breakfast of eggs, grits, and bacon. My best friend and her husband hoot appreciatively as they amble out of their bedroom to start their workday.

“When did you become so domestic?” Will asks. “I had no idea, Emmy!”

Mae slides onto a chair. “Is that what those boys had you doing on the ranch?”

A twinge of sadness flickers through me as I shake my head and join them. “No. They didn’t really let me in the kitchen much. Owen and Toby did a lot of the cooking,” I mumble wistfully.

The couple exchanges a quick look, and I realize how I sound.

I change the subject. “I’m going to see my mom and Greg today. So you don’t have to worry about me imposing for too much longer.”

“If you’re going to cook like this, you can stay as long as you want,” Will teases, wiping his mouth and reaching for his coffee.

I grin at him. “I hope you know how much I appreciate you two.”

“He’s not joking, Emmy. You can stay as long as you want,” Mae insists.

I reach for her hand. “You and I both know that won’t work.”

“Why not? I mean, maybe we can even work out a rent agreement or something,” Will offers. “You aren’t such a bad roommate, Emerson. In this economy? It’s something to consider.”

“I’m having a baby, Will.”

His unassuming face freezes. “Come again?”

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