Page 25 of Broken Boss Daddy

“What do you mean he’s back?”

“I mean, Grant’s a doctor at the hospital and we ran into each other when I took Abby there.”

“You what?” she exclaimed.

“Mom! Keep your voice down.” I peered over my shoulder and listened for tiny footsteps, but there were none. Abby was still asleep.

“Honey, you can’t just tell me that and not expect a reaction. Especially since you’ve known about him being back and haven’t told us.”

When I first found out I was pregnant, I admitted everything to my mother. I even ended up showing her pictures of him. She’d been with me every step of the journey, so she was just as invested in that situation as I was.

“Did he see Abby?” she continued, looking worried.

“No. God, no. I didn’t even tell him I have a daughter. I won’t do that to Abby or myself, Mom. Not yet, anyway.”

She regarded me skeptically. “There’s more that you’re not telling me.”

I could never keep anything from her. “We’ve sort of been seeing each other.”

There was no reaction from her, at least none that I expected. Instead, my mom rested her arms on the counter and spoke seriously to me. “Jessica, what the hell are you doing? If this was just about you, I’d be more than happy to support you seeing where this goes. But is this the right thing for Abby? She’s all that really matters.”

“I know.” I sat with my head in my hands. “Truthfully, I don’t know what I’m doing. There hasn’t been a moment where I haven’t stopped feeling guilty about everything. My daughter means the world to me, Mom. You know that. But there’s something inside of me that just can’t let go of Grant. Not again. Not until I know for sure if there’s even the slightest chance of giving Abby the family she deserves. He’s like a drug, and I don’t think I can survive him walking away again.”

“Jess…”

“I know what you’re going to say, and I know it sounds silly and incredibly stupid. There’s just something about him that makes me feel like I’ve known him forever, like I’m supposed to know him forever.”

My mom pushed back her chair, walking around the counter to pull me into her embrace. I took comfort in her, needing my mom more than I’d needed her in a while.

“What I was going to say,” she said, running a hand down my hair, “is that I understand what you’re feeling. Your father and I had a whirlwind romance that made no sense to anyone but us. Maybe it runs in the bloodline.”

I giggled. “Maybe.”

“Jess.” Her serious voice was back. “What are you planning on doing if things get really serious with Grant? You’re going to have to tell him about Abby sooner or later.”

“I’ll choose later.” She released me, but still stood close. “I don’t have a definite answer. Though what I am certain of is that I’m not letting anyone into Abby’s life that won’t stay. I won’t do that to her.

“If things get serious with Grant, then I’ll cross that bridge when we get there. My hope is that when or if I tell him, I won’t destroy everything we’ve been building.”

My mom pulled me back in for another hug. I relished the comfort, wondering if what I was doing was truly the best thing. I had to think about my daughter above anything else, and I wouldn’t subject her to the same heartbreak I had because of Grant.

There was so much on the line for me, and I prayed nothing would backfire on me. Though I didn’t really believe that it wouldn’t.

We heard footsteps down the hall and knew that Abby was awake.

Before she let me go, my mom whispered, “If he’s as great a man as you’ve told me he is, then he’ll understand. Whatever happens, everything will work out the way it’s supposed to be, and you know you’ll always have your father and me.”

Chapter 12: Grant

Dammit

. My phone rang just as I entered the hospital for my shift, and it was my father out of all people.Just what I needed.It was too early for me to be dealing with him.

Stepping to the side, I answered, “Hi, Dad.”

“Son, how are you?”

“Fine, thanks. And you?”

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