Page 7 of Baby For The Billionaire Silver Fox

We devoured our deep dish at the kitchen island with its granite waterfall edges and barn wood front. I liked my place and all the contrasting materials—salvaged wood, reclaimed brick, steel, and lots of windows. The designer had added chunky throws, pillows, and rugs to soften the—what she called—hardscape. My ex-wife, Mandy, would have approved if she’d ever seen it. But she was long gone from my life, having moved on to greener pastures and better times.

- 3 -

Nicole

Talkaboutashockto the system. A new town, a new job, and an unexpected bun in the oven.

I thought about all that had transpired since I’d left the city this morning.

I’d driven to Cooperstown with my car loaded with clothes, shoes, toiletries, a laptop, and everything else I thought I might need. Big Teddy had the front passenger seat to himself. He was my plush stuffed copilot, although he’d spent most of the time slumped against the window, fast asleep.

I thought I’d have it all figured out by the time I got here, but I was more confused than ever. I would be lying if I didn’t admit I was freaked out.

Thank God I hadn’t had any further bouts of queasiness. Lexi would have figured out something was up, and I wasn’t ready to tell her. I just needed to keep this to myself for now, at least until I had some of the answers to the questions going around and around in a never-ending loop in my head.

Would it be fair for the baby to have a single mom? If I could, I would love that baby to death. But would it be enough? Babies deserved to have dads too. Kids noticed when they were different.

Do I tell Derek that he’s a father? I wasn’t sure I even wanted his support, financial or otherwise. He hadn’t impressed me in the least.

How do I work and take care of a baby? My heart started racing, and I thought I was going to have a panic attack. I’d taken deep breaths and tried to calm down. Lots of people are single parents. They make it work. I wouldn’t be the first to take this path.

Should I give the baby up for adoption? That would mean not getting to watch this child, who was half me, grow up. I would be an outsider to something I created. My hand rested on my stomach, and I thought about this thing, probably no bigger than a mustard seed, growing inside me. I was pretty certain I wouldn’t be able to go the adoption route.

And the one question that really haunted me—would I make a decent mom? I certainly didn’t have a good role model to follow. Frankly, my mom sucked at being a mom. A child deserved a loving mother. It’s not something to fuck up. You don’t get a do-over.

Finally, arriving at Nana Mae’s house was a relief. I got out of my car stiffly and made my way to the front porch. The door burst open, and Nana was there with her arms open wide and a big smile on her face.

“About time! Come on in. First things first, you know the bathroom is that way.” She pointed down the hall. Nana—she got me. I hurried to take care of my business.

“Let me help you get your things,” Nana said after I gave her a second weary hug.

“Why does driving make you so tired when you’re not even doing anything physical?” I asked.

Nana laughed. “One of life’s mysteries. Probably has something to do with aliens and UFOs.”

I mentally scratched my head at that. I handed her some light things to carry into the house. “Don’t you dare carry those upstairs. I need to get my workout in. These fine buns here take work,” I said, pointing to my ass and winking at her. I know she wanted to help, but there was no way I wanted her walking up and down the stairs more than she had to, given her health history.

Nana cackled. “We’re going to have some fun, aren’t we?”

“Yes, we are,” I said, then muttered to myself. “So much fun, sprinkled between the regrets and life-altering decisions.”

“Nicole!”

I turned to see Lexi coming through the back door of the kitchen with a happy grin on her face.

I smiled and gave her a long hard hug, willing myself not to go into weepy mode. “I’ve missed you so much. You weren’t coming to New York often enough, and when you did come, it seemed like I was always working.”

Lexi gave me another hug. “It will be simpler now that you’re here. I don’t know if I would still classify Cooperstown as a small town. It’s grown so much, but you’ll see life is slower here. Plus, we will be next-door neighbors!”

“Good,” I said, shoving a box in her arms to carry upstairs. Let’s get me settled in and go take a walk or something. I need to get off my rear end for a while. I’m not used to sitting for long periods.

“True words from someone who works 12-hour shifts on her feet,” Lexi commented.

“No kidding. I’m so glad to go to 8-hour shifts now. Maybe I can have a life every day of the week now instead of only on my days off.”

Upstairs, I looked around Ron’s old bedroom and smirked. “I see the décor hasn’t changed in the last year. I probably would have been alarmed if it had.”

“Yeah, that’s a battle we’re having with Nana right now. We’re doing this renovation of her house with an expansion this direction, plus adding a wing that way on the main floor for her so she doesn’t have to do the stairs.” Lexi was pointing in different directions with her hands.

---