Page 34 of Jeremy
Runningmy palm across my face, I sigh. “I do care about her. I’ll keep a closer eye.Thanks for calling.”
Shehangs up without a goodbye. That woman really dislikes me, but I’m glad Melissahas her on her side.
ChapterNine
Melissa
“Yoohoo, it’s me and I brought a friend!” Agnes calls out as she walks through myfront door. I hear it close behind her before her smiling face pops around thecorner of my bedroom doorway. “Good, you’re following the doctor’s orders.”
Agneshas such good timing. She and Amos have settled into their condo in Florida,but they returned this week to attend Amos’s granddaughter’s wedding. We hadplans to meet for dinner, but the baby had other ideas.
“It’sbeen a whole day and I’m already going crazy,” I laugh. The last two days werescary. I came close to losing the baby, but he pulled through. The doctors saidit’s not terribly uncommon, and they’re hopeful I can still carry to term. “Thanksfor coming. I’m going to hire someone to get groceries and stuff, maybe the kidwho helped with the yard sale.”
“He’sback at school, but no worries. I found someone who absolutely insists onhelping.”
Arough “humph” tells me she’s full of it. Frowning, she turns to grab someone,and a second later Jeremy stands in my room, a smirk on his face.
“Nicepajamas.”
Woodyeyes him from his spot at my feet, but he’s at least stopped growling everytime he comes near me.
Ignoringhim, I regard Agnes. “Have you gone senile? Seriously, should I be worried?”
“Helives right next door, and from what I can tell, contributes little or nothingto society. I asked him if he could spare a little time, and he agreed.”
Ouch,Agnes. I know she thinks the baby is his, and that’s why she detests him, soit’s time to set her straight. “Jeremy, can you give us a minute?”
Beforehe can step out of the room, she hands him a list. “Here are the basics sheneeds right now.”
Jeremytakes it and nods. “I’ll be back.”
Assoon as I hear the door close behind him, I tap the edge of the bed. Agnes sits,and I look her in the eye. “I know you’re trying to help, and I love you forit, but this isn’t his responsibility. The baby isn’t his. I was with a manjust before you met me. He’s dead now, and that’s all I’ll say about him, buthe was the father. Not Jeremy.”
Herface fills with doubt. “How can you be sure? That close together?”
“BecauseI didn’t sleep with Jeremy.”
Hereyebrows jump up. “Excuse me?”
“Ispent the night, but he was too drunk. We didn’t have sex.”
“I-ohmy-oh Melissa. I’m so sorry.”
Ilay my hand on her arm. “You don’t need to be sorry for anything.”
“Youdon’t understand. When you first told me, and I mentioned him, and you didn’tdeny it, I thought you just didn’t want him to know and.” She sighs. “I wasworried about you and pissed he wasn’t doing his part so I confronted him. Itold him you were carrying his child.”
Confused,I shake my head. “But, he knows we didn’t…how could he believe the baby ishis?”
Excusingherself for a moment, she leaves and returns with a glass of water for her andjuice for me. I swear she thinks babies require a ton of fruit.
“Yousaid he was drunk. How drunk? Could he assume you slept together?”
Ohno. I think back to his reaction the next morning. It was strange for him tofreak out over something that didn’t happen. I assumed he was embarrassed athis whiskey dick failure and taking it out on me. Does he actually think thiskid is his? Oh God. The birthing and baby care class. That’s why he went. Theway he touched my stomach, the unexpected awe and joy on his face.
“Ohgod. That’s why he’s been hanging around and fixing stuff. He feelsresponsible. I have to tell him.”
“I’msorry. The last thing I wanted was to add to your stress right now.”
