Page 67 of Doctor Billionaire's Surprise Baby

“Okay, well, that’s the first step. And you’re not doing this alone. I’ll be with you however you need me, okay? If you want me to go to your appointments with you, I'll be there.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I rested my head on her shoulder as she rubbed my hands.

“And we’ll figure out how to get everything done – work, school, baby – together. It’s an easy commute to the city from here if you want to move in for a while until you get your feet under you.”

A sob racked through my body again as I tried to thank my mom.

“What happened with Hugo?” Mom asked softly, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

I shrugged and gratefully accepted the tissue my mom offered.

“He bolted. He has no interest in being a father. So he made it clear I’m on my own with this one.”

"I’m so sorry, honey. It doesn't feel like that's the Hugo we all know and love. It’s not an excuse, but maybe he just needs some time to process everything. Becoming a parent is a massive change, and it's natural for people to feel scared or unsure at first. Especially when you weren’t expecting it."

I shrugged again.

"I guess. I mean, I hope you’re right. But even if he does come around, how do I trust him again? He also lied to me about his immigration. He got his green card weeks ago and didn’t say anything to me. He just let me believe we were still continuing with our agreement. Everything had changed, and he said nothing."

Mom squeezed me in a hug again.

“Oh, Simone.”

We sat there quietly for a long few minutes.

"Simone, you deserve all the happiness in the world. I wish I had the answers for you, but all I can say is to be patient and take things one day at a time in this situation. If Hugo comes back, you can cross that bridge then. If he doesn’t, you’re still not on your own. I’m here for you every step of the way. And I’m sure your brother will be, too."

“I’m just scared, Mom.” My voice cracked with emotion.

“I know you are. I’ll be honest, I was terrified when I found out I was pregnant with you. Your dad and I – well, we were already on the rocks. I did everything I could to make sure to shelter Seth from the nonsense. And then I was suddenly pregnant again. A baby adds a new level of stress that’s impossible to comprehend before it happens. Obviously, it didn’t work out as I’d hoped, but I did find a way through it and found a second chance at happiness. It was worth the darkness, mostly because I have the two of you and I love you both more than you could ever imagine. You and your brother make my life worth every minute – even if things didn’t turn out perfectly. And I'm going to be there for you too, just like my mom, your nonna, was. She saved my life and helped me get on my feet again by taking you for a few years. It broke my heart to not be with you, but I knew that I couldn't be a good mother to you in the state I was in. It might seem a little bleak now, but you’ll find your way through this, too. I promise, honey.”

"Maybe," I murmured doubtfully, unconvinced.

“Okay,” Mom announced, pulling me up from the sofa. “We’re going to get out of here and do something fun. Let’s go to the beach. I always loved taking you after the rain when you were little. There was something so calming about the smell of rainmixed with saltwater. We’ll get lunch and ice cream and if we leave now, traffic shouldn’t be bad.”

I tried to put on a smile and found my mood lifting ever so slightly.

“I like that idea, Mom. That sounds like fun.”

In no time, we were packed up in my mom’s car and headed toward the ocean. When we got to Duxbury Beach, a favorite beach from childhood, I felt the knot in my chest loosen a little. My mom was right. The smell of the ocean was immediately soothing. The crashing of the waves dulled the thoughts in my brain that said I couldn’t do everything that was hurtling my way.

Standing here with my toes in the freezing cold water was how it used to be, before life became so damn complicated. Seth and I used to dare each other to go out further, numbing our bodies in the process. The cold waves lapped at my ankles and reinvigorated my body.

"I almost forgot how therapeutic this can be," I admitted, smiling as I dug my toe in the wet sand.

"See? I knew it would help," Mom replied, grinning back at me. "Sometimes, you just need to step back and allow yourself to enjoy the simple things in life."

"You're right," I said, chuckling at my own outburst. "I've been so caught up in everything that I forgot what it's like to just let go and have fun."

"Simone," she said gently, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Remember, you're never alone in this journey. Your family is always here for you, no matter what."

"Thank you, Mom," I whispered, feeling a surge of gratitude wash over me. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

As we stood there, watching the sun try to peek out from behind the dark gray storm clouds, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything would be alright in the end.

We went to our favorite fish spot and shared a lobster roll and chocolate ice cream – the flavors of my childhood healing my soul. The sun fully returned as we sat on the deck and it made the water sparkle. After lunch, we drove to the end of the peninsula and walked around the lighthouse. I’d always been fascinated by lighthouses as a kid. They felt so stable and safe, a beacon that was literally calling you home.

The sun was starting to set as we made the drive back to my mom’s house. I was glad that we’d had this outing. My head felt clearer and my heart felt stronger as we pulled down my mom’s street.

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