Page 30 of The Chef's Kiss
I imagined a little girl in my arms, but I just couldn’t see myself with her in this house. I didn’t want my kid to grow up here. But what other choice did I have?
Exhaustion weighed me down, and I took a longing look at the luxurious bed stuffed with cashmere wool. It had ruined me for all other beds and sofas, and it was calling my name right now.
“I am sleeping for two.” I slipped out of my dress and tossed a t-shirt over my head before I slid between the cool sheets. Just a short nap, and then I’ll face some hard truths like an adult.
Because the hardest truth of all was that I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t raise my baby to have a life just like mine.
Which meant I needed a job. A real one.
* * *
A ringing phone woke me up hours later. Apparently, twenty-minute cat naps weren’t working for me anymore. The baby wanted a solid three hours.
I didn’t pause to see who was calling before I reached under the pillows for my phone.
“What?” My voice croaked like a frog.
“Jorgie? Where have you been?” my roommate, Cara, screeched into the phone. “I’ve been worried sick. I thought you might be at the library working on a paper or cramming for a final, but it’s been days. I’ve tried texting. Are you okay? Did you fall in a ditch?”
“Slow down, Cara.” I sat up and ran a hand through my tangled curls. “Don’t have a meltdown on me.” My roommate of the last four years was more of the dramatic sort, but she was the only true girl friend I’d ever had, and that was going to crash and burn whenever I got around to being honest with her.
“Then, tell me where you are, and Jeff and I will come get you.”
“I’m fine. No need to bother Jeff with a search and rescue. I’m at home.”
“Home?” I could imagine Cara’s nose wrinkling at that. She came from a wealthy family too, and we’d bonded over our mutual need to escape our royal—controlling families. First-world problems, right?
“I needed a break to think about what post-graduation Jorgie’s going to do with her life.”
“What about finals? We have Larson’s project due next week, and I’ll be lucky if I finish in time.”
“I handed in Larson’s final paper right before I left.”
“Wait, you’re done?”
“I’m on top of all my work, so I took a side trip. I’ll be back for exams soon.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
A stab of regret shot right through me. I loved this girl so much, and I would crush her with my news.
“It was spur of the moment. You know how I am.”
“But Superiore Bay, Jorgie? You hate that place.”
“It’s weird being back in my father’s house, but I’ve always loved Superiore Bay.” I glanced around my childhood room at all the purple decor. It was really awful. Some kids didn’t need to have everything they thought they wanted. I vowed right then I would make sure my child had everything she needed, but she … or he would have boundaries and limitations I never had. Dad loved to spoil me, and it hadn’t done me any favors.
“What made you go there of all places?” Cara knew better than most why I avoided my hometown.
“I went to Conrad’s first, but I had to face the old man at some point. He and I need to have a talk I’ve been avoiding. I know I’ve always said I wouldn’t come back here, but I do have fond memories of the town. I don’t know. I’m thinking of looking for some internships here.”
Maybe working for my father wouldn’t be so bad. It would be more like working for Conner anyway. If it was the best thing for my future … and the baby’s. I had to think about her. Or him. Man, my mommy brain was stuck on little girl mode.
“Have you lost your mind? I’m really worried about you, Jorge.” She only called me that when she thought I was being extra.
“It’s just a thought.”
“You know what will happen. It would be the same if I went home and let my mom talk me into an internship. It would be just that at first, and then it would be a junior VP gig for a year to get a little experience. And then, I’d get used to the salary because Mom would pay me an exorbitant amount, and I wouldn’t know any better because I know nothing about the real world, and before I know it, bam, I’m my mother running the cosmetics empire I grew up swearing I would never touch. No thank you. I’d rather take the hard route and do something on my own. That’s always what we said we would do. Are you getting cold feet?”
