Page 30 of Baby For The Billionaire Silver Fox

Miss Julie seemed perfectly at home in her hospital bed, unlike 99.5% of the patients. She gave me a thumbs up along with a mischievous grin. “How about you put a little something extra in that IV this time?”

“Sure. Tequila, vodka, or gin? It needs to be a clear liquid,” I answered without hesitation. “I’ll go to the liquor store. Be right back.” I gave her a wink and went to get the replacement IV bag without waiting for her to answer.

The floor was busy, and I had an extra patient on my rounds today, so the time flew by. I was happy to take my lunch break and get off my feet for a bit. And I was starving. I should probably eat more often so I wasn’t always feeling so hungry. I’d packed some chicken, rice, and green beans, and I wolfed it all down.

When I’d finished and come up for air, I gave my stomach a satisfied rub. At this rate, I would be showing in no time. I made a mental note to shop for some much bigger clothing but stopped myself. Was I going to try to hide the pregnancy like I was ashamed? Nope. Not happening. Even though I wasn’t ready to tell the whole world yet, I wasn’t going to shrink away from it once the news was out there.

I sat lost in thought as I absently chewed on a fingernail. I would welcome my baby, and she would feel wanted. I knew I could care for her physical needs. My life’s work was taking care of people’s physical needs, and I was pretty good at it. It was the emotional part I was worried about. Could I give that baby enough love? I’d only had Big Teddy and me to care for, and he didn’t count since he didn’t have a heartbeat.

I didn’t know why I was calling the baby ashe.I wondered which sex it would be and tried on the two different scenarios. I understood girls, being one myself. Also, little girl clothes were so much cuter. But the drama-filled girl teen years might kill me. Boys were foreign. I’d never had a brother. But I could give him killer advice on how to treat girls and how to be kind and a good person.

This made me think of Dan. He was those things and more. He was someone you could count on, someone you could have as a friend. He was also one you wanted with every fiber of your being to have along with you as you experienced life.

I stood up in shock and dropped my Tupperware on the floor. Where the fuck did that come from? No, no, no. Even if I wanted him, I couldn’t have him. As soon as he found out I was pregnant, he would head for the hills, and I wouldn’t blame him.

Maybe I could leave Cooperstown without even telling Dan about the baby. That was the coward’s way, and I could totally do it, but I pictured the look of disappointment on his face for not telling him like a friend would.

And what if I decided I wanted to stay in Cooperstown permanently and raise the baby here? I had to keep Dan and me on the friends-level, or it would be awkward and uncomfortable living in the same town.

Gah, I was making myself crazy with my thoughts again. Time to see the patients. Other peoples’ problems I could handle.

The week fell into a routine. I felt like I was either working, eating, watching reality TV with Nana, or sleeping. That was perfectly all right with me. I liked routine. Maybe tonight I’d mix it up a little and read a book in my room. After all, I wouldn’t be alone. It was like a party up here with Big Teddy, the Destiny’s Child posters, and the little green army men I kept finding in the corners of the closet and drawers.

I picked up the steamy romance book I’d found in Nana’s bookcase downstairs and got comfortable on the bed. I was just getting to the first good part.

“Nicole? Are you in there?” I heard Nana call from the other side of the door. “I forgot to give this to you. Something from Amazon. Feels like a book.”

“Come in,” I called, too lazy to get up.

Nana shuffled in with the package and a cup of tea. “I thought you might like this. Seems right for this cool, rainy evening.”

She put it on the nightstand and handed me my package.

“Thank you. That’s so thoughtful.”

She stood there expectantly. “Well, aren’t you going to open it?”

“Not til you leave. It’s a book I ordered on how to dispose of the bodies. If you read it, you’ll know what I’ve done with them. Better that you not know so you can maintain your innocence.”

Nana let out a loud snort and waved me off.

“A shovel and some tarps are in the tool shed if you need them,” she said and left the room, closing the door behind her with a thud.

Whew.

I tore open the package and looked at the cover eagerly. My doctor had recommended this—What to Expect When You’re Expecting—the book every new mother-to-be owned. I felt like I was part of a club now. I flipped it open and started reading.

Dan: Hey, I haven’t talked to you in a while. What’s up?

Me: I’m living the life. Work, eat, sleep, repeat.

Dan: You need to get out more. Want to go see a movie or something?

Me: Raincheck? I’m all tucked in for the night. Just me and my book boyfriend.

Dan: ???

Me: That’s what the guy in a romance novel is called by the readers.

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