by Katy Kaylee
“Did she hit you, yet?” Only grunted a ‘no’, I poked my head into the room to find Gwen in the same position she had been when I left. “Okay- so, when she gets to the smackin’ part, just step back and don’t say anything. Don’t touch her- don’t even look at her if she starts giving you the evil eye. My baby momma is a saint, but good Lord- labor did some things to her.”
“That’s super helpful, random Uber driver dude- thanks.” Even I wasn’t sure if I was being sarcastic or not, and the line crackled before my mom’s sharp, excited breaths echoed in my ears. “Mom-“
“Ryan! Get your fucking ass in here!” Prickles raced down my spine, and even the nurse at the station looked up with a wry smile. Hanging up the phone, I slipped it back into my pocket before heading back into the room, and Gwen glared hotly at me. “Can you get me more water, please? I’m dying.”
“Yeah- yeah, of course, Gwen.” Giving Gwen a wide berth- hah!- I grabbed the pitcher on the tray table and cast her a weary side glance. Only now was it really starting to hit me that this wasn’t going to be easy; all those television shows I’d watched had lied to me. “You’re doing a great job, baby.”
“Thanks.” Heading for the little kitchen off the hallway, I filled up the container slowly as I reached into my jacket pocket. I didn’t know Gwen would go into labor so soon; her due date wasn’t for another few days, after all. Clenching and releasing my jaw, I flicked off the tap with my free hand before heading back. Everything felt so fast for me, but I knew this was agonizingly slow for her.
“So, I got you something…”
“If it’s another spoon, I really don’t think this is the time-“ Pausing to take huge gulps of ice-cold water, Gwen closed her eyes as her nostrils flared. Smiling small, I sat on the edge of the bed next to her to produce the little box from my pocket. Now, my brain scrambled to remember what I’d even got her, but I knew it wasn’t a ring.
No- definitely not a ring.
“It’s not a spoon, baby.” I popped the top, peeking inside before she had a chance, and relief slumped my shoulders. “I wanted to do this before you went into labor, but there’s no really a chance anymore.”
“Ryan, I’m not in the moo-“ Gwen’s eyes flickered downward, and I held my breath as her brows shot up. Inside the box was a diamond- just loose and settled perfectly into the cushion. There was no setting, no band, no nothing, and she sucked in a sharp breath before I finally found the brain power to say something.
“I don’t want to give you a ring and get on my knees to ask you to marry me, and all that shit. So, I thought that I could get you the diamond, and you could decide what to do with it. I don’t care what you do with it. I just want you to marry me, Gwen.” This was a fucking disaster, but I was beyond giving a good God damn. It was now or never… Well, a couple weeks seems like forever for new parents, or so I’ve been told. “I love you, and we’re going to be so happy- I guarantee it.”
“Ryan-“ Gulping harshly, Gwen’s lips trembled, and her eyes filled with tears when they met mine. My heart ached for her, and I reached with my free hand to cup her pale, sweat-slickened cheek. “You’re such a man. I didn’t have a ring when I was married. Craig gave me a 25$ watch.”
“O- oh… uh- okay. I should’ve seen that coming… he’s a dick, after all…” Leaning back, I closed the box with a snap as Gwen gave a throaty, choking chuckle. “Wow… this is awkward. I guess I will get you a ring and propose properly, then.”
“Yeah- please… just- just not right now, okay?” Smiling as a huge weight lifted off my chest, I nodded before Gwen winced, her body jerking when another contraction tore through her. “You never think things through, do you?”
“Ah- no… not really, no.” Why was it that everything I tried to do never worked out the way I planned? Maybe because I can’t plan for shit. I have someone specifically to tell me what to do and where to be, after all. “Okay, then, I guess… Oh- my mom is here… has your phone gone off or anything, yet?”
“Yeah. They’ll be here when it gets exciting… that’s my mom for you.” Humming softly, I slipped the box back in my pocket as Gwen shook her head. “It’s fine- it’s not a big deal, and I don’t think I want my mom in here for this. She still hasn’t apologized about the restaurant thing- she just acts like it never happened.”
“Yeah…” Trailing off, I shook my head to clear my thoughts, and I stood up to wrap my arm around Gwen’s waist. She gripped my forearm hard enough to hook her nails in my skin over my shirt, but the pain was strangely absent. Slowly turning her away from the bed, tension zinged up and down my legs, and she panted loudly.
This was insane. I didn’t know what I was supposed to feel or think or anything. All I could do was watch everything happening around me. I mean- Gwen was giving birth… to a fucking baby. A real baby.
Like, wow… That was an incredible realization. The entire time she was pregnant, this moment seemed so far away. It seemed to damn stupid, but that’s how it was.
“You seem to be doing fantastic, Gwen.” Glancing over my shoulder at the calm voice, I only nodded as Gwen’s OB- who I couldn’t remember the name of in that moment- strode towards the bed. “Lay down, and we’ll check this out. With any luck, you’ll be over 5 centimeters.”
Epilogue: Gwen
Stroking Conner’s beautiful, perfect, hairless head, I inhaled his fresh baby smell and closed my eyes. He was my boy, painstakingly crafted and handled, and delivered in all his glory to my arms. His pale red face bunched up as he yawned a little, newborn yawn, and I smiled before my own yawn ripped through me.
We were both exhausted, had worked so hard, and I hummed softly in pleased satisfaction.
“Did Ryan come to, yet?” The room was dead silent, and the nurse fixing Conner’s warming station glanced up at my mumble.
“Not yet. I mean- I told him not to look, so it’s his own fault, really.” I didn’t care because I got to spend more quality time with my boy, and I glanced over at the cot by my bed. Ryan had watched Conner slip out of me and promptly passed out cold. It’d been four hours already, and he hadn’t woken up, either. “You should get some sleep, Gwen. I can put the station on the other side of your bed, if you want.”
“Yeah- please.” The wait was finally over, and I didn’t want to go to sleep and miss these precious moments with my son. So much had happened today- or, was it night time?
I didn’t know.
Every moment started to blend together after Ryan tried to propose to me. The contractions started coming harder, faster, and he started freaking out harder. His mother showed up, and then my parents appeared a few hours later. Then, I couldn’t even think about anything but the pain.
But that was all over, and peace had returned once again.
“I’ll take him.” Nodding listlessly, my heart lurched when Conner lifted from my breast, and I gasped harshly. “It’s okay- it’s okay. Roll over, and you can touch him- here.”
“You’re a good nurse.” Slurring from exhaustion, I struggled onto my side, and she grabbed my hand to put it on Conner’s tiny, frail body. Covering me with the coarse, hospital blankets, she walked out without further ado, and I exhaled deeply. Sinking into the bed, I only counted three breaths before losing consciousness myself, but my hand remained stubbornly awake.
Something jerked me awake, and I cracked open my eyes as unfiltered panic struck my chest. Gasping sharply, I searched around for Conner only to feel air, and I sat up before a soft creak echoed through the otherwise quiet room. My eyes snapped up, and my heart leaped into my throat before catching sight of Ryan rocking gently.
“… He’s a beautiful boy.” Low, barely a collection of sounds, Ryan glanced up at me, but he couldn’t keep his gaze from Conner for more than a fraction of a second. “It’s my turn, now. You sleep, Gwen.”
“Ryan…” He only grunted, softly stroking Conner’s head and legs and arms- anywhere he could reach, and a small smile tilted my lips. “You’re gunna propose to me befo
re I go into labor again, right?”
“Of course…” Again, Ryan responded without looking at me, but his smile revealed his dimples. Sinking back down onto the bed, I pushed the heater away to stare at the beautiful sight before me.
“And I promise I’ll say yes!”
“Yeah baby, I’m so dying to propose to you properly and hear you say yes. But first we need to get you some rest, okay?’
Moving back here was a good idea. My relationship with Thomas was on the mend, and I had a man that loved me. I had a baby. I had my business. I had everything I’d ever wanted, and there was still more to come.
Sure, there’d be some hardships, but Ryan had never given me any reason to doubt him or his intentions.
The Valentine’s Day and Saint Dwynwen Day celebrations were just proof that we did things at our own pace. Anyone can judge us for that; anyone can judge me, but no one else mattered.
The only people that judge me are people more miserable than me.
***The End***
Playing Pretend
A Single Dad Baby Romance
Description
“You pretend to be my fiancée for this wedding, and I’ll protect you from your step-brother.”
I mean, what could possibly go wrong! Until…
Well, let’s just say I wanted to say goodbye to virginity, and then I wanted to feel his hard, chiseled body, and then I wanted to be a part of his life – forever!
He’s from military – a sexy, single dad who needs a baby sitter for his six year old.
I’ve never done this before, but there’s always a first time.
The problem…his charm steals my heart every time I look at him, his smile takes my breath away and his touch makes me beg for more.
And now, I’m starting to see a future with his daughter and him.
Please tell me we’re just playing pretend and my situation won’t change anything.
Not even my chance to have a baby with him…
Delainne
Rifling through a bunch of receipts, I pursed my lips tightly as the thin, yellow papers became see-through and confusing. My eyes ached from staring so hard, but I ignored it as I set them in their appropriate piles.
If there was nothing else I could do, my organization skills were exceptional- and it’d take nothing less than perfection to fix this mess.
“Delainne-“ The fine hairs on my back stood up at the call, and I glanced over to watch my boss lean on the frame leisurely. Donald’s face screwed as he scrunched his nose, and he crossed his ankles before speaking up again. “Would you be able to fill in for someone on the job tomorrow? It’ll be a piece of cake- just planting flowers. Think you can handle that?”
“I- I would prefer not to…” My heart threatened to clog my throat, and fire licked my cheeks as Donald arched a brow quizzically. “I mean… I’ve never… I haven’t planted anything… like, ever.”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I could get someone else. Jason’s mom fell and broke her hip, and I was already going into this job shorthanded. I understand it’s out of your comfort zone, Delainne, but it’ll just be this once.” My unease over something so simple as planting flowers must’ve been written on my face, and Donald sighed heavily. Sauntering into the small office, he kicked the door shut before seating himself across my desk.
Rolling my lips between my teeth, I had nothing to say to that, and my boss rubbed his palms harshly against his jeans. Leaning back in my chair, I tore my eyes off him to stare at my lap, but the silence didn’t stretch long. Anxiety curled in my gut and tightened my chest, and blood drummed in my ears underneath the deep, strong voice that filled the concrete box that was my office.
“I hired you without asking any questions, and I’m not trying to use it against you or leverage you or guilt trip you, Delainne… but the fact of the matter is that I want to get this job done in one day. It’s simple. All you have to do is dig a hole, put the plant in, and cover it with soil. Three hours- that’s all I need from you.” Holding my breath as I glanced up, the ache around my eyes grew more intense at the expectation in Donald’s gaze. “I know it’s a lot, but I’ll be there.”
“… Okay…” Forcing the word past the dense lump in my throat, I jerked my head in a nod as I twiddled my thumbs in my lap. My boss smiled, satisfied, and I licked my lips heavily before parting them. “I’m sorry… I’m not- you know- I’m not usually so…”
“Don’t be sorry, Delainne. I don’t blame you, and I wouldn’t have asked unless I had no alternative.” Slowly standing, Donald’s smile morphed in sympathy, and my lips twitched upwards weakly. “I appreciate you going out on a limb like this.”
“… Donald-“ Stopping him from opening the door, I gulped harshly when he twisted to watch me under furrowed brows. “It was my step-mom’s son… I know- I know it could’ve been a lot worse, and I’m sorry it’s affecting my ability to work for you.”
“It’s okay, Delainne. I would never hold that over you, and you do a fabulous job for what I hired you to do. Just because you don’t want to take on extra duties doesn’t mean you’re failing or it’s ‘affecting your ability’.” Disgust at myself bubbled up in my throat like tar, but Donald only smiled sympathetically. “I’m not going to ask questions, but if you need help- you can come to me, Delainne.”
“Thank you.” Only casting me one, final, smile, Donald left my tiny office, and I leaned back in my chair to heave a gust of a sigh. My mind flew to my interview with him, and images flashed behind my eyelids when they shuttered shut. Leaning my head back, I gripped the arms of my seat with white-knuckle tightness as anxiety flooded my veins.
Donald needed a secretary, and I was the only one that responded to the ad. I’d just come into town three days earlier; I didn’t even have a place to live, and I had no money. When I arrived for my interview, he didn’t bring up my personal life even once- he didn’t even ask me if I’d relocated, or why I hadn’t put an address on the employment form.
Maybe he knew I was running… the way he treated me, and the things he said, certainly pointed to that assumption.
Now, more than four months later, Donald had helped me get an apartment, a credit card, and a bicycle for transportation. I owed him as more than just my boss, and a faint, grateful smile tilted my lips. The good feelings about my boss were squashed pretty quickly, though, and my mouth twisted into a deep frown.
If it wasn’t for Greg, I never would’ve met Donald or come to this absurdly large, sprawling, dense city. Shaking my head furiously, I forced back my thoughts about my step-brother to focus on my computer screen. Glancing between the receipts and the glowing box, I flexed my fingers taut before poising at the keyboard.
The day flew by quickly, busily, until the lunch bell rang, and I leaned back in my chair to swish myself side to side. The old, overused seat squealed lightly, but I ignored it to take in how much work I’d done. On my desk, the tall pile of receipts was half it’s size, and a satisfied smile stretched my lips.
My office was nothing more than a concrete box at the back of a massive warehouse, and I opened the door to get blasted with the smell of dirty, mulch, and sweat. Thick, metal rib plates shielded the three dozen employees from the harsh sun of midday, held up by girders 50 feet tall. Gantry cranes slid on rail heads that allowed them to reach every inch of the floor, and one couldn’t help but be impressed.
Donald was the manager for the site, but the company itself was international.
Heading for the break room, I raked my hand through my hair absently as voices rose from the forest of pallets and equipment. Anxiety tightened my abdomen, and I sped up to grab my lunch from the refrigerator before anyone noticed me. Holding my breath, I pulled open the plain, steel slab that served as a door before glancing over my shoulder.
The break room itself was nice- more than just four concrete walls and a concrete floor. There was a stove, a couple of sinks, microwaves, and three refrigerators- everything needed to feed three dozen employee
s easily. Apprehension thrummed through my on my way to the nearest refrigerator, and I soaked up the cold that surged towards me when I popped the seal.
“-s Friday, after all, so why shouldn’t we go out for drinks? We’re not part of the road crews, so we don’t have to work tomorrow.” Prickles shot down my spine at the confident, deep voice, and I snatched my plain, black lunch box with clammy palms. Straightening to close the refrigerator door, I forced my muscles to move as a pack of bodies shuffled in my direction. One of the men that worked inventory noticed me first, and he smiled broadly before breaking off from his friends.
“Hey- Delainne. How are you today? I didn’t even see you come in.” My eyes widened as uncertainty slammed into my gut, and I held my lunch box to my chest tightly. Carl was his name, and his dull, blue eyes sparkled with expectancy under a cap of salt-and-pepper hair. The moisture fled from my mouth, and the silence ticked on into discomfort until my brain managed to fire off a command.
I ran away- the only thing I seemed to know how to do. Critical stares weighed down my body and slumped my shoulders, but I slipped out of the break room to shirk the sensation. My face tingled from cold, and my heart thundered wildly on my way back to my office. In such a huge space, I could hear the distorted mumbling from the break room; the wall stretched ten feet, but no higher.
“What’s wrong with me?” Bitterness dribbled from my tongue once I was in the safety of my office, and I sat down heavily to groan. Setting my lunch box on my desk, I rubbed my face and eyes hard as I struggled to remember a time when talking to people was easier.
Even before my dad married my step-mother, I had a hard time with socializing; it’d only gotten worse from that fateful day onward.
My step-brother was a year older than me, but he was different. Ever since the day we met, I hadn’t liked him, and that dislike had only intensified over the years. Now, at 19 and cripplingly introverted, I was alone because of my step-brother, and my dad didn’t even know what had happened.