Page 44 of Troubles in Paradise
“Great. Second question: Do you want to have the baby and still be with Mick, Ayers? If the answer is yes, I will understand.”
“You will?”
“Yes. Is that what you want?”
“No,” Ayers says. “I told you, I’m finished with Mick. That’s my final answer, in the name of self-respect.”
Palpable relief emanates from Baker.
“But,” Ayers says.
“But?”
“I don’t know that I can be with you either, not right away. I think I need to be alone for a while.”
“Alone.”
“Romantically alone, yes. I need some time and I need some space.” This is something Ayers has given a lot of thought to. If she weren’t pregnant, she might have climbed right into bed with Baker, forging ahead without any introspection. On to the next guy! She would have used Baker like a bandage, plastering his love and devotion over the wounds that Mick left. But being pregnant changes things. Ayers needs to be alone. She needs to worry less about falling in love with someone else and instead fall in love with herself. It’s the best gift she can bestow on this child: a mother who is happy and capable and whole.
Ayers puts a hand on Baker’s arm. “But we can be friends.”
“Friends.”
“Until I feel like I’m ready to start something new. I don’t want this baby to dictate my love life. I want my heart to dictate that.”
“We’re not exactly starting from ground zero,” Baker says. “We have something to work with. I fell in love with you the second I saw you—”
“Don’t saylove.” Ayers collapses back into the cushions. “Before I found out I was pregnant, I figured we could just start over, go on some dates, take things slow, do it properly.”
“That’s what I thought too.”
“Nothing saystaking it slowlike instant family.”
They laugh. It’s funny for a few seconds.
“You heard we lost the villa?” Baker says.
“Maia told me. She said you were looking for a rental?”
“Yep, yep. I stayed at the Westin for so long that they offered me a job selling time-shares, which I accepted.”
“Seriously?”
“I start Monday,” Baker says. “And I got Floyd settled at Gifft Hill with the cool kids.”
“All the kids at Gifft Hill are cool,” Ayers says.
“My feelings exactly,” Baker says. He gives her an uncomfortable smile. “And I found a villa.”
“You did?” Ayers says. “Where?”
“Across the street,” Baker says. “The Happy Hibiscus.”
At this, Winnie barks in a way that sounds like a laugh.
“The Happy Hibiscus?Rightacross the street?”
“Yes,” Baker says. “Floyd and I are moving in…today.”
