Page 22 of Falling for You
“Finnneee,” I whine under her scrutinizing gaze. “When I got there, he was standing outside with an older couple. I walked up just in time to hear Rome say he doesn’t have a daughter. He was basically experiencing shock so I took over, and invited them into the brewery to explain the whole situation. Her name is Olivia Rose Thomas. The mom even gave her his last name, that’s how sure this family is that she’s his daughter. And I mean you have to see her, she’s his double. Her lips are his lips. Her eyes are his eyes. Her hair is the same black as his. There’s no denying it, Vi.”
I pop the last piece of cookie in my mouth and lower my forehead to the cool stainless steel island.
“So how did we get here? Who is the mom and where is she?” Vi walks over to me and rubs my back, comforting me.
“He apparently hooked up with a tourist here on a girl’s trip. The timeline seems like it was a couple weeks to a month before we started whatever it was that night at the cove. She had cancer, and came for a last hoorah trip before she started her treatment. And when she tried to start chemo they told her she was pregnant. When the baby was born, the cancer was too much, it progressed too far, she passed away just a few months later. Her parents just found Rome today.”
“That is heartbreaking!” Mom’s voice breaks through the room as soon as I finish.
“What’s heartbreaking?” Liam walks through the back door from the office with Pops and Hunter.
“Whose baby is that?” Hunter stops dead in his tracks taking in the looks on our faces.
“Oh, honey, why don’t you boys sit. We have something to tell you.” Thank God Mom is taking over this part. I don’t want to do this again.
All three of them eye us suspiciously, but follow Mom’s orders. “Uh, please tell me that’s not a Keaton baby,” Hunter half jokes, but we all know between my brothers there’s no telling. It could be any one of them in Rome’s position.
“Not quite, but close,” I offer.
“Boys,” Mom steps in, “this is Olivia RoseThomas.”
Hunter pushes his stool back so quickly it falls over. “What do you mean Thomas? Thomas as inEvelynThomas?”
“Seriously?” I stare at him with awhat the fuckface. “You just saw her. Does she look like she just had a baby, you idiot?”
“Wait, this is Rome’s baby?” Liam chimes in now, with his jaw on the floor. At least his brain works faster than the other two.
“Yes, An older couple came by the brewery today when Emma was there to help him with the books. They are claiming that their daughter gave birth to this sweet pea a few months ago, and that Roman is the father. Unfortunately, the mother has passed away. So we are going to besupportive, andhelpRoman in any way we can.” She levels Wyatt, Liam, and Hunter with a stare letting them know she will not tolerate any shit giving just yet.
“What is he going to do?” Wyatt asks.
“I don’t know. I offered to take Olivia for the time being because his staff was starting to show up. He said he’ll be here after the dinner rush so Clark doesn’t have to do that alone. But I don’t know if he’s thought farther than that,” I explain.
“Shit. He’s always at the brewery. If he couldn’t bring Fi sometimes he shouldn’t even have a dog. What is he going to do with a real, live baby?” Hunter runs his hand through his hair.
“He could bring her here?” Liam offers.
“And do what? Ride the tractor with you? Throw some hammers around?” Violet rolls her eyes.
Hunter slams his hands on the stainless steel table, “Oh! Why don’t you nanny for him, Ems? You could move in with him and then you wouldn’t have to live in a construction zone. It’s a win-win for both of you!”
Hunter looks so proud of himself for this revelation. Too bad he’s lacking sufficient background on Roman and my relationship.
“Uh,” I try to find a reason this doesn’t make sense.
“You just expect her to move in with Roman? What if he doesn’t want her to live with him?” Violet saves me with the logic I couldn’t find myself.
“Like he can deny the help. He’s kind of stuck. Plus he’d always help Ems out. She’s like another little sister to him. He knows what her cabin looks like.” He shrugs. “It’s mutually beneficial.”
Among other things.
Violet and Mom look at me, a knowing glance shared between the three of us that Roman does not in fact think that I’m like his little sister.
“Beggars can’t be choosers. And currently, Rome is a beggar, honey. He needs you. It would be the friendly, neighborly thing to offer to help.” Pops urges me to agree with Hunter.
Since when does being friendly and neighborly involve moving into someone’s house? Let alone someone who has ruined you for all future men.
“Jeez, you guys are really pushing for someone we don’t even know if he wants my help.” I throw my arms in the air, frustrated with the situation I seem to have gotten myself into.
