Page 2 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

“Gillian–” Lola pokes my arm. She points up at the TV screen in the corner. It’s the seven o’clock nightly news; I can tell by the logo in the corner and the ticker rolling by on the bottom of the screen, but that’s not really what catches my eye.

It’s the image of me helming a protest in front of the empty lot near Stella’s school. I’m holding a bullhorn and shaking a sign high in the air that reads, “Community, not condos!” while a crowd with various other signs shouts back at me in solidarity.

“Turn it up, turn it up,” Dana says.

Kira rushes to pull a chair out in front of the television and gets up onto it to turn up the volume. As she does, the voice of a newscaster gets clearer.

“…another weekend of protests at the Seton playlot ended with a standoff between protesters and developers.”

The footage shifts to a few men in suits approaching the crowd of people. One of the suits is, unfortunately, not just a suit.

It’s Lola’s brother, Axel Hitchins.

“Oh god,” she mutters next to me, tucking her head in her hand as if she can’t watch it.

“The protesters, made up of mostly parents from Seton Elementary School, have been trying to stall plans for a new condo building being built by Hitchins Property Developers that will take over the lot that has historically been linked to Seton Elementary. However, the school’s lack of ownership over the land and zoning issues keep things at an impasse on both sides.”

“You’re famous, Gilly,” Amy says cheekily.

I’d rather not be. At least not for this. For the past two months, protecting the play lot by Stella’s school has taken up all the time I’m not working at the bakery or being a mom. “It wasn’t a standoff. All they did was come to survey and we said no,” I say as if it’s the most pedestrian thing in the world.

Thankfully, they don’t show the shouting match Axel and I got into only a few moments later.

Before I can retune into the broadcast, my phone starts ringing in my pocket. I pull it out and find it’s Fran Shapiro, my lawyer and fellow parent at Stella’s school. Her son, Jacob, and Stella have had many playdates dedicated exclusively to Lego while Fran and I go over the case we have against Hitchins.

“Fran, what’s up?” I answer quietly. I can feel Lola shrink further into her chair.

“The temporary hold has gone through. It’s going to be brought to city council.”

I can’t hold back my absolute delight. I gasp, “Are you serious?”

“Serious as I’ll ever be. Just got word five minutes ago and called you.”

“This is fantastic!”

Fran huffs, “It’s something. We can’t get ahead of ourselves.”

“Of course not, but–” I can’t find words. I’ve been a part of protests before. Usually, though, it’s just a formality. Just a fucking show of support for something. It’s rare anything actually gets done. This time, though, something might actually get fixed. We might be able to protect the play lot next to the school. “Thanks for calling to tell me. What’s next?”

“Honey, just relax. You’ve got a baby on the way,” Fran chuckles.

Fran and I have become fast friends through this process. She’s about fifteen years older than me, but motherhood transcends age. It’s amazing how you connect with other moms just based on the fact you’re both moms. “Okay, you’re right.”

“Just celebrate the win and give that baby a big fat kiss for me when you get to. Aw, I want another one.”

“Not too late, Fran…”

“Don’t even think about it, my husband would kill me. Anyway. Talk soon, Gill.”

Fran hangs up before I can reply as is her way. She’s a full-time lawyer and a mother with a penchant for scheduling. Every minute she has is worth its weight in gold.

“I wish you’d just drop this, Gillian.”

I look at Lola with a raised brow. “Excuse me?”

“It’s just–”

“Aren’t you proud of me?”

---