Page 55 of Baby For The Billionaire Silver Fox

“Hi, Mom.” I didn’t dare ask her how she was because she would have jumped right into what ailed her and gone on and on.

It didn’t matter that I didn’t ask.

“Nicole, check this mole for me, would you? I think it’s changed and I’m worried about it. I would go see the doctor, but I haven’t been feeling well, and I can’t seem to find the strength to get off this couch,” she said with a dramatic sigh.

“Yeah, she can’t be bothered to fix me a meal or clean this pigsty. I work my fingers to the bone supporting her, and this is how she treats me,” my dad complained.

“Maybe if you’d make more money, we could afford to get out of this moldy old place and live somewhere healthy.”

I interrupted. I was a pro at that. “Mom, if you’re concerned, you should get the mole checked by a dermatologist. And you might want to see a doctor. You look a little anemic or something.”

My mom glared at my dad as if it was his fault.

“Don’t you look at me like that, Shirley,” my dad sneered. “You’re pathetic.”

“You’re a jerk. I curse the day I married you,” my mom snarled back.

It was like a horrible broken record that had played out over and over for as long as I could remember.

“Stop. Just stop,” I said, pointing fingers at both of them. “I came here to talk to you.”

They both glared at me, mad that I had stopped their arguing. What the fuck was wrong with them? Why didn’t they get a divorce and just put themselves out of their misery?

I hesitated for an instant, then blurted out, “I am pregnant.”

My dad looked at me in disgust. “That figures.” He turned and walked to his office, shutting the door behind him. I closed my eyes, trying to hold in my hurt. He had always thought little of me. As if I could expect it to be any different—especially now.

My mom went rigid. “Oh my God, you’re not going to marry the loser, are you?”

I knew she was only thinking of herself and how she did that very thing. And regretted it with each breath she took.

“Funny that you assume he’s a loser. But no, I’m not going to marry him.”

“Good. Well, don’t expect me to be a doting grandmother who babysits. I didn’t ask to be a grandmother, so I’m not going to be,” she huffed. “I have my poor health to consider. And your father drives me nuts. If I die an early death, it will be because of that sorry excuse of a human being.”

“Don’t worry, Mom, I don’t expect anything from you. I just thought I would do you the courtesy of telling you guys before you heard it from another source. Although come to think of it, no one I know knows you.”

I turned and left without saying goodbye. No matter how many times I’d told myself not to expect them to be any different, I still held onto a stupid little piece of hope and ended up getting crushed like a bug. I was miserable as I walked down the block to my car.

My baby wasn’t going anywhere near these people. They didn’t want me, their own daughter, and for sure, they didn’t want a grandbaby. I wouldn’t let her be hurt like I was.

Was it that hard to give your child love? If I judged by what I knew from my own family history, I would think yes. But then I looked at Lexi and Nana. Lexi’s folks had died in a car accident when she was young, and Nana put her life on hold to raise her and her brother singlehandedly. That gave me hope. I could do this. Probably. I just needed to follow a better example than the one I grew up with.

Buddy was very happy to see me and licked my face. I slipped him a dog treat I had waiting in my pocket. I chuckled as he tried to do circles on the seat without slipping off. As I drove off, I opened his window and let him stick his head out. I could do that too. Just stick my head out, feel the breeze, and not have a care in the world other than when the next Scooby snack was coming.

I was selfishly glad no one had claimed Buddy yet. The more time that passed, the more likely he would stay with me. I gave him a scratch, and his tail instantly wagged. I loved my four-legged friend, and I’d like to think he loved me just as much.

We got to Lexi’s bakery and took up space at an outside table. I was glad I’d worn my heavy coat and a beanie because it was cold. Buddy loved the location and looked hopefully at every person passing by. “Snacks or scratch?” his look seemed to say.

Me: I’m back. Buddy and I are at an outside table. I’ll take a tea and some really good scones now. I’d prefer whiskey, but the baby probably wouldn’t.

Lexi: Coming right out.

Me: Thanks. Buddy said he would like a Pupachino.

Lexi came out with the drinks and a bag of assorted goodies. Buddy was in heaven. He immediately got the whipped cream from the pupachino all over his snout. I snapped a quick picture. It was too cute. He looked at Lexi with devotion, and I swear his mouth was smiling.

“How’d it go?” she asked, observing me closely.

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