Page 72 of Once Upon a Holidate
He leaned close and pressed his forehead to hers. “I’m sorry about Hunter.”
“Me, too. This is going to mess up our weekend plans.” Whatever happened with her son, there was no way she was going to let him spend the night with a friend.
“I figured as much. I was looking forward to our plans, but this is more important.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“Hey, I have a kid, too. I know what it’s like.”
She appreciated the information and the understanding. “You could have been mad.”
He lightly kissed her. “Not my style. Besides—” He grinned. “I’m looking pretty good right about now.”
Despite everything, she managed a laugh. “You know what? You really are.”
***
Garrick glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall and was pleased to see there was time for a second cup of coffee before he had to head to work. He’d just finishing pouring when Joylyn walked in.
“I hate it here,” she announced, her face blotchy and her eyes swollen. “Everything about this stupid town is awful. I wish I was anywhere but here.”
What the hell? “But things were great yesterday,” he said before he could stop himself. “You were happy. You’re making your snowmen, and you and Holly are planning her wedding. You said you were feeling good. What went wrong?”
She glared at him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
He was proud of himself for holding in the instinctive response of, “Well, I don’t care. You’re going to talk about it.” Instead, he forced himself to relax then said, “Joylyn, I can see you’re upset. I’d like to help. Please tell me what’s going on.”
She slumped down at the table. “You can’t help me. It’s awful. I hate my life.”
Despite a need to bolt for safety, he sat across from her and prepared to wait her out.
The glare sharpened. “You’re not going to make me talk. I have nothing to say to you.”
He sipped his coffee.
She threw up her hands. “Fine. Get off me. I’ll tell you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I have to go to my birthing classes by myself. I don’t have anyone to go with me.”
Was that all? “I’ll go with you.”
“Oh, please. That’s ridiculous. You can’t go to a birthing class.”
“Why not?”
“You’re my father.”
“I’m someone who loves you. I know you’ll be back in Phoenix when the baby’s born, so it’s not like you have to worry about me being there. Chandler will be the one taking care of you. It’s just the classes, right? I can do it.” He smiled at her. “I want to do it, sweetie. Besides, I’m sure all the information will completely freak me out and you’ll like that.”
She smiled. “There are videos of childbirth.”
What? Why would anyone want to see that? He held in a shudder. “See? You’re proving my point. I’ll be your birthing class partner. We’ll have fun like we used to. Remember when we did everything together? This can be like that.”
She looked skeptical. “It’s a bunch of hours.”
“I’m in. Totally and completely in. Just say when and where and I’ll be there.” He held up a hand. “I’ll come home first and pick you up, but then I’ll be in.”
“It’s two evenings this week and next.”
“Done.” He smiled. “So it’s a date?”
