Separated

by Jessica Frances

  It was built by Angus Thom who wanted Midsummer to have the cinema he always wanted as a kid. It beats Paxton’s, so we get a lot of their residents coming over to us to see the latest blockbusters. We’ve even had a couple movie premiers here, which is always the talk of the town for weeks afterward.

  Mayor Fuller likes to think the Sunshine Carnival each year is the biggest event we have, but if there is going to be a movie premiere and red carpet in Midsummer, that tops the carnival, hands down.

  After spending too much on popcorn, which will likely only get half-eaten; sweets for River, who will probably just hoard them back home in her bedroom; and a drink large enough to guarantee at least one bathroom break during the movie for River; we sit down to watch the latest animated movie that Conner and River both love, and I accidentally fall asleep in.

  Conner elbows me twice to wake me, saying the second time I started to snore. I can’t help it, though. Animated movies put me to sleep. Or, I sure feel drowsy watching them.

  This is the first time I’ve been out on a sort of date with Conner, yet I can’t keep my eyes open. I’m definitely making a great case for him choosing me over the A-list movie star. Thankfully, he seems more amused by my inability to stay away rather than annoyed. I’ll make it up to him on our next date. One where I’ll make sure I enlist Bell to have River sleepover at her house.

  When we get back home, I put River to bed, not even needing to read her a story since she’s so tired. It’s satisfying to watch her sleep, exhausted from a fun day with her laughter still echoing in my ears. Sometimes, I feel completely out of my element being a father, and other times, I get this sense of accomplishment because, no matter how much of a fake I sometimes feel like, seeing her happy and safely tucked away in her bed means I’m doing something right.

  I head back downstairs to find Conner sitting on the couch, a beer in his hand and a fresh one sitting on the table waiting for me.

  “Thanks,” I say, sitting down heavily beside him and tapping the neck of his drink with my own before I take a sip.

  “Rocky, I think we might have rushed into things a bit.”

  I freeze with the top of the beer touching my lips. “What?” I whisper, my heart stopping in my chest.

  “I can’t date a man who falls asleep during a hilariously funny movie. I joked that you were alien before, but are you?”

  I roll my eyes, relaxing back into the couch and having a long sip of a now much-needed drink.

  “That was not funny,” I complain.

  “Which? The movie or how I just said it?”

  “Both. You’re not a very funny man, Conner Sherwood.”

  Conner looks affronted, even though he smirks afterward. “I’m actually a comic genius.”

  “Or your genius is comical?”

  “Ha-ha. Look, what I’m getting at is, if we were to go see a movie together—no age limit holding us back—what kind of movie would you see?”

  I shrug, taking another sip of my beer. “I guess something more action-packed. I hate slow movies.”

  “I like dramas,” he admits. “Okay, what about books?”

  “I’ve read some crime novels, but I generally prefer biographies.”

  “Hmm … I like fantasy with some smutty romance, if possible.” He cocks his head to the side. “If you had a free day, and no kid to worry about, how would you like to spend it?”

  “Sleep in,” I reply easily, since I rarely ever get to do that. “Get that full eight hours in. Then I’d ideally like to get out in the garden and fix it up.”

  “Gardening? That’s so … boring.”

  “It’s my home, having it look good will make me feel good. Besides, I’m not done yet. Then I’d like to take a beer, sit out on my porch, and watch the sunset with a juicy chunk of steak, grilled veggies, and a baked potato. Then I’d fuck you until I was sure you would be feeling me for days.” I calmly take another sip, smiling at the heated gaze he sends my way. “Or maybe I’d just do that last part and do it all day.”

  “I do like that idea.” He leans into me, and I move my arm so he can rest the top half of his body over my chest.

  A contentment I’m not sure I’ve ever felt before settles over me, lying with him like this. Things between us feel solid or, at least, on more solid ground.

  “What would your ideal day look like?”

  Conner is quiet as he contemplates this, and I take another sip, relaxing a little more with each swallow I take.

  “Well, it would be a toss-up between your sex one and hiking one of the trails along the mountain.”

  My breath hitches. “Your ideal day would have you still be in Midsummer?”

  “Well, yeah, of course. That’s where you are.”

  His words warm me in a way far more powerful than the alcohol I’m consuming.

  “You don’t feel like I’m holding you back, do you?”

  “No, never.”

  “I know Midsummer isn’t for everyone, but—”

  “Don’t stress so much, Rocky. I like it here … a lot. Just like I like you a lot. I’m happy here.”

  “I like you a lot, too,” I admit. “You aren’t concerned that we don’t have a lot in common, are you?”

  He turns his head to look up at me. “I love that we have so little in common.”

  “You do?”

  “Sure. It’s the best way to try new things and learn new loves. It’d be boring if we liked all the same things. Besides, we do have one thing in common, and it’s probably the most important thing to share a love for.”

  “What?”

  “Fantastic sex.”

  I laugh. “True. In fact, I think I might have an idea …” I trail off, moving my free hand over his chest and slowly fingering his shirt so it pulls up, inch by inch.

  “I think I like where this is heading,” Conner murmurs, looking back up at me.

  I lean down, giving him a quick kiss.

  And that’s all we manage before the doorbell rings.

  “Who the hell could that be at this hour?” I groan as Conner sits up off me.

  “I don’t know, but send them away,” he begs.

  I offer him a sympathetic smile before I place my beer down on the table, which would have probably spilled all over us if we’d kept going, and then I walk over to my front door. I check the peephole and only just resist knocking my head repeatedly against the door.

  I consider ignoring it, but I know she won’t give up, and I don’t want her to wake River. So, I open the door, glaring at Sophie.

  “What are you doing here?” I hiss, stepping into the doorway to block her from seeing in, but then I realize there is something in her arms.

  It’s a portable baby carrier with a white blanket covering it.

  “Can we come in?” she begs.

  Too shocked to hold my ground, I step back, and she cautiously walks in, moving over to the couch and to where Conner is still sitting.

  He looks as stunned as I feel.

  “W-we?” I finally stutter out. “What the hell is going on?”

  She turns to face me, her skin pale and her eyes darting around the room. “I think I’m ready to have that talk now.”

  “What talk? What is going on, Soph?”

  She looks down at her hands that are shaking a little. “You want to hold him?” she asks me.

  I just stare blankly at her, because there is no way this woman had another child.

  No fucking way. Right?

  “I will,” Conner offers when the silence stretches on too long.

  She smiles up at him and moves the blanket off the carrier. A baby rests inside, sleeping soundly.

  “His name is Ryder.”

  “He’s adorable,” Conner murmurs, tensing when she carefully places the baby in his arms. The baby doesn’t stir at all.

  Conner smiles down at him as he settles in his arm. “He’s so tiny. How old is he?”

  “He’s almost three months old. His birthday is March fifteenth.�
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  Unease settles inside me. “Sophie, why are you here?”

  She looks away from Conner, and her eyes water. “I messed up.”

  “Explain,” I bark the word at her.

  She looks back at Conner and the baby, and Conner takes this as his cue to leave. Still rocking the baby, he takes steps away from us, moving into the kitchen where he can see us but not overhear.

  Sophie turns her pleading gaze over to me, gripping my T-shirt. “I thought … I thought it would be different this time. I’m older. I’m not the same person I was before.”

  “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I growl, pulling her off me and turning my back on her. I run my hands through my hair.

  Her touch is soft as it rests on my shoulder, but I step away from her.

  “I know I’m a horrible mother to River. In fact, I’m no mother at all. I’ve always carried guilt around with me because I couldn’t be the person she deserves. Even now, I try to muster up some care about knowing who she is, and I can’t.”

  I shake my head at her. “River is the most amazing person in the world. She’s incredible, so fucking smart, and—”

  “Rocky,” she cuts me off, “it changes nothing for me. I’m sorry, but I truly think she’s better off without me in her life.”

  “So, why are you here now?”

  “Because of him.” She looks back at the baby that Conner is holding in his arms.

  “You’re willing to move here so River can get to know her brother?” I ask, knowing this isn’t the case. Sophie would never be so selfless.

  “You’re half right. I think River does deserve to know her brother. But I can’t raise him.”

  “What?” I gasp, rounding on her. “Sophie, you are not stopping by my house to drop off a fucking baby. He’s a human being, for fuck’s sake!”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. But I didn’t know where else to turn.”

  A pounding in my head sets up place, a common occurrence whenever I’m near Sophie.

  Even this is beyond ridiculous for her.

  “I’m a single father, and that boy is not my responsibility.”

  “You’ve got Conner. He can be yours together.”

  “Conner and I have been dating for only a few weeks!” I yell, seeing from the corner of my eye the way Conner’s mouth drops open at my outburst. I step up to Sophie so I’m in her face, lowering my voice. “You cannot drop this on me, Soph. Where is the father?”

  She gulps, and then her voice wavers as she says, “I truly don’t know. He was a one-night stand. I didn’t even know I was pregnant until it was past the twelve week mark. I had no illness with him, and I was taking contraceptive pills to help prevent ever getting pregnant again and regularly skipping my period. I had no idea until I was in a minor car accident. The hospital ran some tests and found out.”

  Tears stream down her face, but I can’t muster up any sympathy for her. I can’t believe she’s seriously doing this—expecting me to take on a kid that isn’t even mine because she doesn’t know the meaning of responsibility.

  “You can’t do this, Soph. You can’t.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t know where else to take him.”

  “There are places that will take him; families who would want to adopt.” I know I’m sounding as desperate as her, but fuck! What am I supposed to do? I can’t have the baby here. I can’t.

  “I know, and I could do that, but then he won’t know River. He won’t know his sister.”

  I clench my fists, my entire world seemingly falling down around me.

  “You’re one of the worst human beings I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing.”

  She actually looks a little crushed by this. However, she shrugs it off quickly enough. “I’m doing the right thing by him, just like I did the right thing by River.”

  “You can’t just hand your baby to whoever you want. I’m not his father.”

  “But you are the town sheriff—you have connections to make this easy—and you are the father to his sister.”

  I shake my head. “You can’t ask this of me.”

  “I’m sorry, Rocky, but I already have. I had complications with him. I can’t have children now. He’ll be my last. Surely you won’t turn him away.”

  “Why not? You’re turning him away,” I snap, my hands still fisted at my sides. I’m not sure anyone can enrage me as much as Sophie can.

  Conner walks over to us, still holding Ryder, who is now fussy in his arms.

  “What’s going on?” His voice is low, but I hear the worry there. He knows something fucked up is happening.

  “I have some more stuff in the car. Should I bring it in?” Sophie asks.

  Even if I don’t plan on keeping him, it’s clear that she doesn’t intend to stay in Midsummer any longer.

  “You’re leaving tonight, aren’t you?”

  She nods. “I have a friend out west who invited me to stay.”

  “Why wait until the last minute? Were you hoping I’d have no choice?”

  “Contrary to what you’re thinking, this was hard. I waited until I figured River was asleep, because I knew you wouldn’t want me to see her. I planned to do this tonight, and I got the call a couple hours ago.”

  “Wait.” Conner is shaking his head in disbelief. “Are you leaving Ryder here with Rocky?”

  “She’s abandoning another child,” I snap, trying to calm myself, when Ryder fusses again in Conner’s arms.

  “I’m sorry. I put your name on his birth certificate, and I’ve already signed the papers that I needed to. All you have to do is sign them, as well, file them, and he’s yours forever.” She’s already walking backward, not sparing the baby another look.

  I’m frozen in shock, unbelieving that this is truly happening. I must be dreaming, right?

  None of this can be real.

  But then Ryder lets out a loud cry, and the piercing sound jumpstarts my feet.

  “Sophie!” I shout, ignoring the papers that she dropped on the dining room table and racing outside. I stand on my porch where I watch her already at her car. “You can’t do this!”

  Sophie doesn’t respond, except to open her trunk and pull out two overstuffed bags.

  “He’s always been on formula. He only likes the one brand. He takes a bottle every four hours. He sleeps pretty well, and he finds it soothing to have the TV playing in the background. He’ll probably be moving on to solids soon enough.” She says all this while already seemingly happier than when I first let her in. In fact, she looks fucking relieved!

  “Soph!” I growl, beyond furious right now.

  “Good luck!” She drops both bags at my feet then turns back toward her car. She doesn’t even spare Ryder another look as she gets in and starts the engine.

  I watch in stunned silence as she drives away.

  I cannot believe this, yet I sort of completely can.

  Son of a bitch!

  Ryder’s crying snaps me out of my silent rage as I storm back inside the house.

  “She can’t be serious, right?” Conner asks, continuing to stiffly hold the baby.

  I take Ryder away from him, since he’s doing nothing to help calm him. Then, as I hold the baby against my shoulder and slowly bounce around, he quickly calms.

  The words bubbling in my chest, the anger and fear, it all sits with a block over my throat, but the pressure in my chest remains.

  This can’t be real. I’m still asleep in the cinema, right? Soon, Conner will elbow me, and this will all just be some insane dream.

  “Wow, you look pretty hot right now,” Conner murmurs, his eyes glued to us, but then I notice a shuffling at the stairs.

  River is wiping at her eyes, her hair already in disarray, as she clumsily plods down the steps.

  “Daddy? I thought I heard …” She trails off as she drops her hands from her eyes and takes in the baby in my arms.

  “You were right, River,” Conner says, still sounding shell-shocked.

&nb
sp; “Right about what?”

  “Your dad really does give in to everything you want. You asked for a sibling, and he’s delivered.”

  I glare at Conner, but he doesn’t take his eyes off Ryder to see it.

  River gasps, staring at the baby in my arms. “What do you mean?”

  I take a step toward River, wanting to kick myself for getting myself into this situation. Actually, I want to kick Sophie.

  “River, this is your brother, Ryder.”

  And I know without a doubt that, from this moment forward, my life will be forever be changed.

  Coming Up Next …

  Stay (In Midsummer, #3)

  One screaming baby. One too many diaper disasters. One surprise shooter. One victim. One perpetrator. One blast from the past.

  Having a surprise baby dropped at your doorstep has to be the worst kind of relationship buzzkill in history. Instead of dating, now Rocky and I have shifted into becoming exhausted parents with zero time for any kind of fun. Everything is moving so fast that something has to give. I just hope that something won’t be us.

  Then, when a shooter comes after Rocky and their aim is a little too close for comfort, important questions need to be answered. Who wants Rocky dead? How far are they willing to go to make it happen? How much luck can one person have before it runs out? And where on earth did Rocky put those spare baby diapers?

  With someone gunning for not only Rocky but also our relationship, one has to wonder just how many hits we can take before it all falls apart.

  Note to Readers:

  Thank you for taking the time to read Separated.

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review from the vender of purchase so others may discover it, as well.

  Indie authors rely on the generosity of you, the reader. Your review, short or long, may help others in their decision on whether to try this book or not. All reviews are appreciated and welcome.

  Thanking you in advance,

  Until next time!

  -Jessica Frances

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