Page 62 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
“I didn’t.I mean I didn’t realize it would get so out of control.”
“What did you think would happen?”
“Could we talk inside?Traffic was terrible, I need to pee, and I’m starving.”
Levi sighed.“Fine.”He walked her down the wraparound porch to the side of the house so they could enter the kitchen.
“Is this the home you grew up in?”
“Yes.”He was annoyed and didn’t want to go down memory lane with her.
He showed her to the hall bathroom and got a glimpse of Missy in the sunroom at her easel.She was studying a new piece she must have started that morning, and he wondered if she was feeling as sunny as the yellow hues on the canvas looked.Once Sara was done, he brought her back into the kitchen and started to pull out things to make her a sandwich.
“Oh, Levi, I didn’t know you were having company today,” Gran said, walking in with a big smile like a Cheshire cat.
Sara smiled sweetly as she sat down at the kitchen table.
“Gran, this is Sara Baxter.We went to college together.”
“Hello.You’re the woman who may or may not be carrying my first great-grandchild,” Gran said.“It’s so nice to meet you.”But her accusing and playful tone put Levi on edge.He knew when his gran was upset, and it was tough to know what she’d do.
Sara had the decency to blush and stayed quiet with what looked like a fake smile plastered on her face.
“Levi, if that sandwich is for her, she shouldn’t be eating that lunch meat.There are too many nitrates for a pregnant woman.”
“Oh,” Levi said, and made her a simple cheese sandwich.“We were just going to have a quick conversation about all the gossip,” Levi said when his grandmother lingered.
“Alright, I’ll leave you two alone.Maybe Missy and I will go into town for lunch,” Gran said, just as Missy walked in.
Her eyes grew big with surprise but she recovered fast.“You read my mind, Mrs.Hart.I’ve been craving the green goddess at May’s all morning.”
“Hello,” Sara said, sitting up straighter and studying Missy with a tight smile.
“Hello.”Missy didn’t offer more.
“Missy is our artist-in-residence here at Hart House, and my companion,” Gran said.“Missy, this is Sara.She may or may not be carrying Levi’s child—she’s not sure.”
Gran did not fail to make it clear exactly what she thought about a woman not knowing who the father of her child was.
“Hello,” Missy said but barely met Sara’s eyes.“Actually, Mrs.Hart, let’s go have pie for lunch and then stop by the art supply store.”
“That sounds lovely,” Gran said and let Missy guide her out of the kitchen.
Levi felt gutted having Missy meet Sara face to face, after everything that had happened between them.And that was the first time they’d been in a room together in three days, but she didn’t even look at him.
“She’s beautiful,” Sara said.
“Tea or water?”he asked her as he took down two glasses.
“Tea please.”
Once he heard the front door close, he brought their drinks to the table and sat across from Sara.
“So why did you drive out here when you’ve been ignoring my calls and texts for days?”
“Because I needed to ask you in person if you would help me.”
“Help you with what?”
