Page 50 of Never To Forever

“That’s… good to know,” I say. Garrett gives me a small half-smile before continuing to tidy up.

God, is this how it’s going to be? Me tiptoeing around my real feelings while he caters to me, oblivious to the turmoil swirling within me, which only makes me feel shittier. He seems at ease and content with all this, but how long will that last? What if he comes to resent me for this? It’s not like I got pregnant on purpose - I didn’t magically make the condom break - but that might not matter when he realizes just how much this will change his life.

A knock on my front door jerks me out of my racing thoughts. Who could that be? Frowning, I move to get off the couch, but Garrett quickly steps in front of me.

“I’ll get it. Don’t worry.”

I don’t have the energy to argue with him, so I sink back against the couch and let him go to the door.

“Oh, Garrett, what are you doing here?”

I recognize the voice instantly and tense. It’s Meredith, and by the sound of the tiny footsteps rushing into the house, she’s brought the littles with her. Damn it…I should’ve suspected she’d hunt me down when I ignored her calls.

Meredith, my youngest brother and sister, and Ally come walking into the living room.

“Hi, Marie!” My little sister, Avery, hurries to my side, jumping on the couch next to me.

“Hey, little lady,” I reply, giving her a weak smile.

“Mommy said you were in the hospital,” my brother, Henry, declares. “Were you sick?”

“I was, but I’m feeling much better now.”

“I was so relieved to hear that you were able to come home,” Meredith says. “The kids have been wanting to see you, so I thought I’d bring them by. I actually need you to watch them for a bit, so it’s perfect. Ally tagged along to help you out.”

I blink, stunned. Ally is standing next to her mom, her eyes downcast and her cheeks flushed, clearly embarrassed.

“Mom, I told you, I can watch the kids myself,” Ally murmurs. “We don’t need to bother Marie. She’s still recovering…”

Meredith waves a hand dismissively and insists, “Oh, there’s no need to worry. She’s just pregnant, that’s all. Of course, Marie is happy to watch them. She’s always happy to help out her family.”

I’m absolutely speechless. Is she being serious? I just got out of the hospital, for fuck’s sake. Does she seriously expect me to…

“I’m sorry, Meredith,” Garrett says in a polite tone, stepping between me and my stepmother. “Marie won’t be able to watch the kids today. She’s too tired and still recovering. She needs to rest.”

My heart flutters a little bit at his protectiveness, and I can’t even make myself care that he’s doing it out of obligation. Actually, maybe that’s not true. He’s stood up for me before against Meredith… I wasn’t pregnant then.

He does care about me. Just not in the way I wish he would.

Unlike last time, Meredith doesn’t seem at all charmed by him. Her brow furrows and her lips part.

“I beg your pardon?” she snaps. “Who do you think you are? This is a family matter. It has nothing to do with you.”

“Actually, it does,” Garrett insists in a firmer tone. “I don’t mean to be rude, ma’am, but I’m going to have to set some ground rules regarding Marie. From now on, you will have to find a different babysitter. Marie won’t be watching your children for you, unless you call well ahead to ask her and she agrees to because she wants to. All right?”

Holy shit. He’s really laying down the law, and I… I don’t hate it. Just like when he stood up for me in the library, I’m a bit overwhelmed by how good it feels to have someone actually on my side.

“You… you…” Meredith sputters, clearly struggling to come up with a response. It’s not often she doesn’t get her way. At length, she gets so frustrated that she literally stomps her foot and declares, “Fine! I’m not going to argue about this right now. I have more class than that. Come on, kids. Let’s not disturb Marie any further.”

“Get better soon, Marie,” Avery says.

“Love you!” Henry chirps, making me feel a small tinge of guilt, but neither of them seem all that upset that I’m not going to watch them.

Meredith turns on her heel and storms out of the house in a huff, the kids and Ally following close behind her. I don’t miss Ally’s amused grin before she disappears from sight.

Garrett sees them out and when he comes back, he’s shaking his head, his brow furrowed in annoyance.

“Geez, I don’t know how you have the patience for that woman,” he grumbles. “She gives me a headache.” He stops when he’s standing in front of me. “Are you okay?”

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