Page 28 of Suddenly Pregnant

“Get back here as soon as you can.”

“All right.”

“No, I mean it son. It’s only a matter of time until someone finds out. I don’t want the great job you’ve done overshadowed by this… detour.”

“Why should it? These people are not some sort of high moral ground representatives. As far as business goes, my performance and the numbers are the only thing that should matter.”

His father breathed hard into the phone. “Yes, but that’s not how it goes. Not when you’ve already met your quota of personal infractions.”

“And you haven’t?” he snorted.

“Whatever liaisons I had during my marriage, they were never made public and you know it. As far as everyone knows, I’m a happily married man.”

“I wish you heard yourself, Dad.”

“Jack, I’m not taking any relationship advice from you. Your mom knows I need my freedom, and she’s been fine with it. I love her and she wants for nothing.”

Only a faithful husband, he thought, but knew saying it out loud was a waste of time. Besides, his father and his mom had an agreement, despite how messed up it looked to others who disagreed. His father liked sleeping around, and his mother didn’t want to rock the boat and end her marriage. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later,” he said, and hung up before his father could protest.

“So if you want to sell it, you can let me know. We can sell it as is, as I imagine that’s what you want since you’re living abroad. Or if you want to make a few changes to get the place in even better shape to show stronger, I can give you a small to-do list and my handyman’s phone number,” said Angela, the realtor that Kira had set up for Billie.

Billie nodded. “Of course, I’ll think about it and give you a call.” She knew she’d still have to transfer the deed to her name, and the amount of red tape shit she’d have to deal with made her head spin. Thank God her father didn’t owe any money in taxes. One less problem to worry about.

“Great. I’ll look forward to hearing from you,” Angela said.

Billie walked her to the door, then closed it, and let out a long sigh.

She’d been back for four days, and knew she had to come to terms with the future of this house. Today, Chase offered to take Jack around and show him the town. Billie would have gone with them, but she really didn’t have time or the mind space for sightseeing when there was so much she had to do.

“Is the realtor gone?” Poppy asked, popping from the kitchen. Her cousins had stayed, and had been packing her father’s clothes to give for donation. They had been lifesavers, stepping in and supporting her with whatever she needed.

“Yes. Thanks for finding her, she’s nice.”

“Kira knows how to hire people. That’s her day job,” Poppy said. “Do you know what you’re leaning towards? Renting or selling?”

She sighed. “I don’t know… I mean I don’t see myself living in Hope Springs anymore. Selling it sounds so final though.” She folded her arms over her chest, pondering. What would selling her childhood home mean? Would she visit Hope Springs less? Would permanently leaving erase some of the unhappy memories?

“Why don’t you rent it for now? Hire one of those managing companies to deal with the renter. You’ll get some passive income, and if you ever change your mind, you can do whatever with it,” Kira said.

Billie nodded. Not a bad idea. “True.”

“You shouldn’t make any big decisions right now, Billie. You’re pregnant, and you just lost your dad. There is a lot going on in your life already,” Poppy said.

If she took account of the feelings she’d developed for Jack, her life was even messier than it sounded. Apprehension fluttered in her stomach. She could find a solution for her house, but what about Jack? “Yeah.”

“I’ll go make a run to Goodwill with Kira. Do you need us to get you anything? I guess booze is off the table, but maybe some ice cream?”

“I’m good for now.”

Her cousins left, and she had the house to herself for a bit.

She shouldn’t feel like a guest in this house—she’d grown up here. These walls knew every nuance of her personality, from the first time she tried to convince her dad to coach one of her little league soccer games, to when she heard him talking in a low voice to the big frame with his mother’s picture on the console table by the entrance.

She braced herself, then dropped her arms, and touched her belly. A delightful sensation swirled inside her from top to bottom. She knew she’d do the best she could by her baby. He wouldn’t have to experience lack of love and attention by either parent like she had.

A knock on the door made her jump, and she beelined to the entrance and opened it.

“Here he is,” Chase said. “Delivered.”

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