by Sandi Lynn
“Yes. Very nervous.”
“Me too.” He grinned as he kissed my forehead.
We drove into the office together and I walked Chase to his office.
“Good morning, Sunshine.” He smiled at Lexi.
“Morning, Lexi,” I spoke.
She looked at both us with narrowed eyes for she knew something was up.
“Good morning. Did the two of you by chance drive in together?” Her brow raised.
“We did,” Chase spoke. “We’ll explain later. I’ll be down in a bit.” He kissed my lips.
“Okay. See you soon.” I smiled.
“What the hell is going on?” Lexi exclaimed.
“Like I said, we’ll explain later.” Chase winked at her.
I walked down the hallway and took a seat at my desk. My nerves were getting the best of me and my legs were starting to shake. I was scared to death to tell Mr. Calloway that I was carrying his grandchild.
“Good morning, Kinsley,” he spoke. “Can you come into my office for a minute. I want to go over a couple things with you.”
“Good morning, Mr. Calloway.” I smiled and nervously followed him into his office.
“Oh good, you’re both in here.” Chase grinned as he walked in and shut the door.
“Not now, Chase, I’m going over a few things with Kinsley.”
“This can’t wait, Dad,” he spoke as he took the seat next to me and grabbed my hand.
“What the hell is going on?” Mr. Calloway asked as he looked at our hands interlocked.
“You’re going to be a grandfather!” Chase blurted out.
“Excuse me?” He cocked his head.
“The baby Kinsley is carrying is mine. Your grandchild.”
“What?” He shook his head. “Kinsley told me you weren’t the father.”
“That’s because I told her no one was to ever know. I was in a different place then and I’ve come to my senses. Kinsley and I are going to have a baby, Dad, and you’re just going to have to deal with it.”
“I’m so sorry I lied to you, Mr. Calloway.”
He sat there behind his desk with his hands cupped together, glaring at the both of us.
“So, the two of you are in a relationship?” he asked.
“I believe we are.” Chase smiled at me and I smiled back.
“Thank God.” He let out a breath.
“What?” Chase spoke in confusion. “Aren’t you going to yell or something?”
“Yell? Why the hell would I yell?” He stood up from his chair with his arms spread wide. “My son is finally in a relationship, and with a woman whom I like very much, and he’s going to be a father. This is the best news anyone could ever give me.”
“Well.” Chase grinned. “I’m happy you’re happy.”
Mr. Calloway walked over to me, grabbed my hand, and helped me from my chair.
“Welcome to the family, Kinsley.” He hugged me.
“We’re not getting married, Dad,” Chase spoke.
“Doesn’t matter, son. Kinsley is carrying my grandchild; that alone makes her family.”
He turned to Chase and hugged him.
“Congratulations, son.” He patted his back. “We’re going to have a celebratory dinner tonight. I can’t wait to tell Penelope.”
“Thanks, Dad. If it’s all right with you, I’m going to steal my girlfriend for a few minutes. We need to tell Lexi.”
“Yes, of course. Go.” He grinned.
Chase and I walked out of the office and headed down to his.
“Well, he took that better than I thought he would,” he spoke.
“I think I’m still in shock.” I glanced over at him.
When we approached his office, he asked Lexi to come in.
“For the second time, what the hell is going on?” she asked.
“Kinsley and I are having a baby.” Chase grinned as he placed his hand on my belly.
“It’s about damn time.” She blew out a breath.
“What? You knew?”
Lexi walked over to him and began hitting his arm with her hand.
“Of course I knew, you idiot. Do you think I’m stupid? You really think I believed that Kinsley slept with some random guy? I’ve been waiting for one of you to come to your senses and tell me.”
“I’m sorry, Lexi,” I spoke.
“It’s not your fault, Kinsley. I know you were doing it to protect this idiot.” She began hitting his arm again.
“Will you stop hitting me?” He grabbed her hand.
“Anyway, I suspected the day we had that talk and I told you that you shouldn’t be a dad and you got all defensive.”
Chapter 38
Chase
I went with Kinsley to her doctor’s appointment and heard my baby’s heartbeat for the first time. I never expected the overwhelming feeling that came over me. This was really happening and now it was more real than ever. After her appointment, we went back to my house for the night and cooked dinner together.
“Do you like it here?” I asked as I tossed the salad.
“Of course. I love it here. Who wouldn’t?” She smiled.
I set down the salad tongs and walked up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“I want you to move in with me,” I whispered as I lightly kissed her ear.
“Really?” She smiled as she turned around and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Yes. Really. I want me, you, and our child under the same roof. Plus, I have some pretty awesome-sized bedrooms upstairs that would make a great nursery.”
“I would love to move in, but I signed a year lease.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of your lease.”
“That’s sweet of you, Chase, but—”
“No buts.” I tapped her nose. “You’re moving in here. End of discussion.”
“If I move in, then all my stuff will be mixed in with yours. I do recall a conversation I overheard where you had a problem with that.” She smirked.
“I didn’t really have a problem with it. It scared me, that’s all. But I’m not scared anymore, Kinsley. I—I love you.” The corners of my mouth curved upwards.
“Did it hurt to say that?” she asked with a grin.
“Not at all. In fact, it felt pretty amazing to tell you.” I rested my forehead on hers.
“I love you, too, Chase. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Okay. Let’s finish up here and we’ll talk over dinner.” I kissed her lips.
I set the salad on the table while Kinsley pulled the chicken from the oven. Once we were seated and getting ready to eat, I looked across at her beautiful face.
“What did you want to talk about?”
“I was thinking about taking some business classes.” She bit down on her bottom lip.
“Why?”
“I would love to open up an antique shop one day and I feel I should have some business knowledge.”
“I see. An antique shop?”
“When I worked for Mrs. Buckley all those years, I loved it. I loved the timeless pieces and the stories they told.”
“I can understand that. Are you going to be able to take some classes with working full time and being pregnant? I don’t want you to burn yourself out,” I spoke with concern.
“I’ll be fine.” She smiled.
“Okay, then. Tell me what you need, and I will help you.”
“Thank you, but I can do this on my own.” She grinned at me.
“But I want to pay for your classes. At least let me do that.”
“I have some money saved. Plus, if I’m moving in here, then I won’t be paying monthly rent, right?” Her brow arched.
“Oh, my love, you will be paying rent. Just not with money.” I grinned.
She took a piece of lettuce from the salad bowl and threw it at me.
One Month Later
Kinsley
Every morning before work, Chase and I would head down to the bea
ch. He would surf, and I would do yoga. Delilah was thrilled that he came to his senses and she was happy I moved in with him. She tore up my lease and told me not to worry about the rest of the rent, but Chase wasn’t having it. He thanked her for being a good friend to me and paid her the remaining balance of the lease.
After we showered and started getting ready for work, I pulled my black pants from the closet and pulled them on. Shit. I couldn’t button them.
“What’s wrong?” Chase asked as he saw me struggling.
“These pants don’t fit anymore.”
He smiled as he walked over to me and placed his hands on my belly.
“You’re starting to show, which means you are going to have to go shopping for some maternity clothes. We’ll go together after work.” He kissed me.
“You have that client dinner tonight with your dad. Did you forget?”
“Shit. I did. I’ll cancel.”
“No, you won’t. This is a very important client and your dad needs you there. I’ll ask Lexi if she wants to go shopping.”
“Good idea. She’ll love to.” He smiled. “We should start thinking about the nursery.”
“We have time,” I spoke.
“We only have five months. What if you deliver early? We need to be ready.”
“We’ll start talking about it after we find out what we’re having,” I spoke as I rummaged through the closet trying to find something to wear.
“What? We’re finding out?” Chase asked.
“Yes. It’ll be easier that way. Don’t you want to know what we’re having?”
“I guess. I kind of like the suspense, though, of waiting until he or she is actually born.”
“Then I’ll find out and won’t tell you.” I smirked.
“And how are you going to keep it from me when we do the nursery? Obviously, if it’s a girl, you’ll want pink.”
“True. Well, it looks like you’re finding out with me.” I smiled as I straightened his tie.
“And when are we finding out?”
“In three weeks. Lexi wrote it on your calendar already.”
“Remind me to thank her,” he spoke as he kissed my lips.
Chase
“Lexi, come in here, please,” I shouted from my desk.
“What’s up, boss?” She grinned as she took a seat in front of me.
“Today is the day Kinsley and I find out the gender of baby Calloway.”
“I know. How exciting!”
“Something’s been bothering me.”
“What?” She cocked her head.
“I think Kinsley should tell her mom that she’s going to be a grandmother.”
“Have you talked to Kinsley about it?” she asked.
“Not yet. I wanted to get your opinion first.”
“I don’t know, Chase. From what Kinsley told me about her, I’m not sure I’d want her to know if she was my mom. Plus, you met her.”
“I know, and believe me, it wasn’t a pleasant conversation, but she is her mom and she does have the right to know.”
“Tread carefully with this one, my friend. I’m not so sure she’ll be open to it.”
I sighed as I placed my hands behind my head and leaned back in my chair.
“I just think someday she’ll regret not telling her.”
“Maybe she will or maybe she won’t. That’s up to her. Carefully approach her about it and if she starts to get all crazy, drop it immediately.”
“Thanks, Lexi.” I looked at my watch. “It’s time to go find out if I’m having a son or daughter.” I grinned as I got up from my desk.
Kinsley and I walked hand in hand into the medical center and took the elevator up to the third floor. Excitement and nervousness overtook me. I didn’t care what the baby was, as long as it was healthy. As Kinsley lay down on the bed, I held her hand in anticipation.
“Hello, you two.” Dr. Morgan smiled as she entered the room. “Are you ready to see your baby?”
As she placed the transducer on Kinsley’s belly, I gulped when I saw a perfectly formed human inside of her. Tears started to fill my eyes as I sat there and stared at the child Kinsley and I created.
“Baby is growing well, and the heartbeat is nice and strong. Do you two want to know the sex?”
Kinsley glanced at me and I gave her a smile and a nod.
“Yes, Dr. Morgan.”
“Okay. Let’s go down to that area and see what we’ve got.” She smiled.
Instantly, I saw it and my face lit up.
“It’s a boy!” I shouted.
“You’re right, Mr. Calloway. You’re having a boy.” Dr. Morgan grinned. “Congratulations.”
Kinsley turned to me with tears in her eyes as I gently squeezed her hand.
“We’re having a boy.” She smiled.
“I love you.” I leaned down and kissed her lips.
Chapter 39
Kinsley
I was lying on the bed, on my side, staring at my ultrasound picture, when Chase walked into the bedroom.
“What are you doing?” he asked as he lay next to me, pulled my shirt up, and placed his hand on my belly.
“Staring at our baby.” I placed my hand on his. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Me either, sweetheart. There’s something I want to talk to you about.” He began to softly stroke my belly.
“What is it?”
“I think you should tell your mom about the baby.”
“Why would you even say something like that?” I spoke in an irritated tone.
“She has a right to know she’s going to be a grandmother.”
“Really, Chase?” I sat up and pulled down my shirt. “She doesn’t have the right to know anything. She never cared about me. She didn’t take care of me. I took care of the both of us. Me!” I shouted as I pointed to myself.
“Baby, calm down,” he spoke as he sat up and placed his hands on my shoulders.
“No, don’t tell me what to do! You met her. You saw the environment. For God sakes, she gave you scotch in a plastic cup!”
“Please don’t remind me of that. All I’m saying is that she’s your mom and she should know. It doesn’t mean she has to meet him or anything.”
“And what about your mom?” I cocked my head at him. “Don’t you think she has a right to know?”
“That’s different and you know it. My mother abandoned me.”
“And so did mine. She may not have physically abandoned me, but she did emotionally for years. God, I can’t even believe you would suggest that!” I got up from the bed, went into the bathroom, and locked the door. I couldn’t even look at him, I was so mad.
“Kinsley, please.” He fumbled with the door handle. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not. Obviously, you feel very strongly about it or you wouldn’t have mentioned it.”
“How long do you intend to stay mad at me?” he asked.
“I don’t know yet. Please, just leave me alone.”
I closed the lid to the toilet and sat down, placing my face in my hands. Tears started to fill my eyes as I thought about her. I stood up, unlocked the door, and stepped into the bedroom, where Chase was sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked up at me, and instantly, I felt a warmth run through me.
“She never nurtured me. Whenever I’d have nightmares, I would run to her room and call her name. She never responded. She would just moan and roll over. So I’d climb into her bed and snuggle myself against her. She never knew I was there. I hated her for that. I was a child and I needed to be loved. And no matter what, I always took care of her. I cleaned up her vomit, and I cleaned up all her alcohol bottles that were lying all over the house. I resent her for all of it. So I’ll be damned if she ever comes near my baby,” I cried.
“Damn it, sweetheart. I’m so sorry for even mentioning it,” he spoke as he got up from the bed and held me tight. “I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry. I should have known better.”
“You need to understand
that I can’t and I won’t.”
“I do.” He held my face in his hands. “I love you.”
Chase
I sat on my surfboard and stared at Kinsley as she did yoga on her mat in the sand by the shoreline. She was now seven months pregnant and glowing more than ever. She wore baggy low-rise sweatpants and a sports bra, exposing her large belly. She was the most beautiful woman in the world. A smile crossed my lips as I watched her. I was the luckiest man in the world. But I was also a man who was filled with regret. To think that I wanted nothing to do with her or my child revolted me.
“Hey, bro.” Steven smiled as he paddled his board up next to mine.
“Hey, Steven.”
“Kinsley’s looking great. You have what? A couple more months left until the baby comes?”
“Yeah. It’s hard to believe.”
“I met someone last night,” he spoke.
“Continue?” I smiled.
“Her name is Franny. I ran into her on the street and knocked a bag of groceries out of her hands. Food went flying everywhere.”
“I sure hope you helped her pick it up?”
“Of course I did. I’m not that much of an asshole. Anyway, I helped her pick everything up and carried her bags home for her. She only lived a couple of blocks from the store. Damn, Chase. I can’t explain it. The feeling I got when I met her.”
“You don’t have to explain it. I already know the feeling.” I smiled.
“We talked for a while and she gave me her phone number. Instead of going to the club last night, I went home and we talked on the phone for hours. I’m taking her to dinner tonight.”
“Good for you.” I grinned. “It’s about time.”
“Yeah, well, Alex grew up, you grew up, and I thought maybe it was time I did too. This single life can get lonely at times.”
“I know what you mean,” I spoke.
Steven and I surfed for a bit, and then it was time to head back and get ready for work.
“I’ll see you at the office, bro.” I fist-bumped him.
Kinsley bent down and rolled up her yoga mat and then hooked her arm in mine.
“Are you feeling okay?” I asked her.