Page 145 of Darling Obsession

She eyes me. “From what she tells me, and I know she told you the same thing, she’s not entirely sure the baby is yours.” She seems to be testing me a bit, which is fair. But she doesn’t even try to hide her disappointment when she adds, “She said it might be Justin’s.”

I knew I liked this woman.

“According to what I just heard in there,” I tell her, “it is mine.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Anyway, I don’t seehimhere, stepping up and trying to be the father.”

“Maybe he would, if she gave him the chance.”

I bite back my thoughts on that.

Lorraine considers me for a moment. “She didn’t invite you here today, either.”

That’s true. I can’t deny it.

“You would’ve been that baby’s daddy, even if it wasn’t yours?” she asks me.

I don’t answer right away. The truth is, if Quinn wanted me, the answer to that is yes.

But according to the dates we were just given during that ultrasound, Iamthe father. And I’m still not sure if she wants me.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Lorraine says. “I can see it.” She leans in and adds gently, “You’re a daddy already.”

I don’t feel like one. At least, I feel like I’m failing at being one.

“You know why?” she asks me.

“No. Why?”

“Because you’re here. And you’re scared.”

We sit together in silence. We’re the only ones in this corner of the large waiting area.

“You might not ever feel ready,” she says after a moment. “Even after they’re grown and gone. And people might not say this often, because it’s not pleasant and it’s not what you want to hear, but there are a lot of downsides to parenting. There’s pain and sorrow involved.”

“You don’t sugarcoat, do you, Lorraine?”

She laughs dryly. “Would you want me to?”

I grunt. “No. I’d rather you didn’t.”

“My daughter brings the sugar to this family. You want to know what the upside is?” She leans in a bit more and nudges her shoulder against mine. “That woman in there. She’s been a wonderful daughter.”

Yeah. I figured.

“And I know she wants more than anything to open a bakery, and live out our shared dream,” she says. “But I don’t need a bakery. With all I’ve been through… these days, I just need my baby to be happy, healthy, and safe. Quinn is the best thing I ever did with my life. And I don’t care how many billion-dollar companies you have. That baby she’s carrying will be yours.”

It takes me a long moment to recover from the swell of mixed emotions, and reply to that. “This kid is going to have the best grandma ever, Lorraine.”

Quinn’s mom smiles. But there’s a hint of sadness in it. And I know she’s thinking that terrible thing that plays in the back of Quinn’s mind all the time.

How long will she be around to be a grandma?

When Quinn comes out, I get to my feet, blinking away the damn tears Lorraine put there with her wise mom words. I never had a mom who talked to me like that.

I make a silent promise to myself to do everything I can to be a decent father to her grandchild.

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