“That’s right,” he said, reaching for the little box in his pocket. He’d made a special stop after perusing the Newton jeweler’s website for hours every night. He held the box up under her face. Her whole body tensed, just like he expected. “Relax, it’s not what you think it is.”
“I did not think it was that,” she said indignantly.
“Why don’t you open it up and find out what it is, then?”
She took the box from him and opened it to find the treasure inside. It was a tiny horseshoe pendant with a line of tiny diamonds set into it. It hung from a delicate chain, and he thought it was just about the perfect thing for her. She’d mentioned more than once how lucky she felt to have landed in Three Rivers, and he thought it was a pretty good representation of that. And something to mark her as his, even if they weren’t at the engagement ring stage yet.
“Oh Banks, this is…this is perfect. Thank you.”
“I know,” he said with a laugh that earned him a swat on the shoulder. She removed the necklace from the box and handed it to him, lifting her hair off her neck. Carefully, he closed the clasp at the nape of her neck. She let her fragrant hair drop back down, and then angled toward him to show him the necklace. It dangled just in the hollow of her throat. He touched the jewelry lightly. “And this is a reminder that I am yours.”
She ran her hand through his hair, coming to a stop at the nape of his neck where her fingers closed, and found his mouth in a long, soulful kiss that promised their evening would be eventful. It was going to be a long day.
—THIRTY-FIVE—
“Go on in,” Layla urged from behind Norah. Something was clearly off. Nan had sent her down to the apartment to ask Norah to come up and talk to her, which was unusual for Nan—she’d usually make the trip herself—she had been all summer, so regularly it was almost a part of her daily routine to hear a knock on the door. Sometimes for something as simple as an invitation to come sit on the porch looking out over the garden and share some sweet tea. As the summer had worn on, it had become one of her favorite parts of the day.
She pushed open the door and was met with a shout.
“Surprise!”
Nan’s kitchen and living room were decorated with pink streamers and balloons. Her big table was laden down with all sorts of finger foods and a huge punch bowl with a red drink in it. Most importantly—the kitchen was full of guests. Nan was standing by looking pleased as punch with herself, and Emma, Lily and Ren Baylor stood by. A side table overflowed with wrapped gifts. And from a big chair in the corner, Aunt Gloria got to her feet, crossing the floor to wrap her niece in a hug.
It was a baby shower. From people who wanted to celebrate her and her daughter. It was a far cry from being dumped in a bar by her baby’s daddy, and it was overwhelming in its goodness.
Norah melted into Gloria’s embrace. She couldn’t help herself—her tears flowed freely. She’d truly won the jackpot ending up in Three Rivers, and it wasn’t just about people feeling an obligation to take care of her—nobody here had to do this, but they had. Maybe this was more home than she realized.
Nan approached, touching Norah’s arm and offering her a tissue. Finally, she released her great aunt, wiping her eyes.
“This is…this is amazing, you guys.”
“We had to pare down the guest list,” Nan said with a laugh, gesturing to the gift table. “We didn’t want you to get overwhelmed. But I made more than a couple stops to pick up gifts this morning on my way to get Gloria.”
Ren approached, lifting a ‘Mama To Be’ sash over Norah’s head and helping her fix it over her shoulders.
“Come get spoiled,” Layla said, ushering her into the kitchen.
The afternoon went quickly. With so much laughter, love, and positivity in the home, it was hard for it not to. Finally, they installed Norah in the big, tall-backed chair in the corner of the living room and Layla announced it was time for gifts to be opened. Nan and Layla carried gift bags and wrapped boxes in one after the other and Norah started. Diapers, wipes, toys and onesies—an abundance of things she knew she would need but hadn’t figured out yet how to pay for—things she didn’t even know she needed. There was even a tiny newborn sized tutu outfit with a tag that said “From Rosie. Sorry.”
Norah stopped when she got to the last gift and opened a soft, heather-grey, handmade sweater set, her eyes flooding up again. The box also contained an equally plush pale pink blanket. Amongst all the new and modern stuff, it looked a little out of place, but it felt perfect. She checked the tag again and wasn’t surprised to see it was from Gloria. She looked up and blew a kiss to her aunt.
“This is…so special, Gloria.”
Her aunt blew the kiss back and shook her head.
“You know I have no kids of my own, Norah. Having you back here in Three Rivers and knowing I’ll soon meet your little one is what’s so special to me. I know we didn’t plan it like this, but I couldn’t think of anything more perfect than you coming home like this. I don’t know how to ever express that to you.”
“Well, handmade gifts, with so much love in them you can feel it is a damn good way to start,” Norah said, chuckling through her tear blurred vision.
“I think you need to make a speech,” Lily called from by the door.
A chorus of voices rose up, “Speech, speech, speech!”
Norah cleared her throat, holding the blanket against her bump.
“I haven’t always had a real good handle on what a family looks like. And my daughter was going to end up growing up the same way—with no aunts, or uncles, or family nearby, in a single parent household. This feeling you get when you realize you’re not the only one who cares about your unborn child is pretty incredible, and I feel pretty confident she’s going to grow up with a pretty healthy understanding of family. It’s a shame her father has chosen not to take part, but she won’t be lacking in anything, thanks to this town. I’m still getting used to the…smallness…of it, but I’m so grateful to all of you who have opened your hearts and your home,” she paused, looking pointedly at Nan. “To make me feel like I belong somewhere. So. For the food, the gifts, the family. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Nan started a round of applause and they each took a turn wrapping Norah up in a warm hug. These were her people, she realized. Small town, big hearts, rumor mill be damned.
As everyone began to clean up, Norah took stock of the gifts. It would be a million trips. At her shoulder, Nan chuckled.
“I know what you’re thinking. Banks should be here any minute to play pack mule.”
Norah laughed, touching her flushed cheeks.
“Can I do anything to help in the meantime?”
Nan shook her head resolutely. “Absolutely not. Today is your day, so you’re to relax and enjoy being spoiled as long as possible.”
“Til tomorrow when I go back to the office, I suppose,” Norah said with a chuckle.
“At least until then,” Nan supplied, gesturing back to the seat. Behind her, in the kitchen, Nan could see the Baylor women and Layla wrapping up trays and washing dishes.
Banks let himself in, pausing at the table to grab an egg salad sandwich before he made his way on into the living room.
“Knock knock, work horse at your service,” he said, between mouthfuls of a sandwich. “Holy, you made out like a bandit.”
Norah blushed again. She’d doubted these people at times but he’d had faith in them the whole time. She felt a little silly.
“Jellybean is pretty much set. There are just a couple more things, I think, according to the book. Doctor Fields says I should be ready as early as 35 weeks. So I have some things to get in order sooner rather than later. I’ll have to borrow your truck…and maybe your back…when I find a crib.”
“Sure,” he said, gathering up a few bags and boxes. She followed suit. She’d condensed as many things into as few bags as possible, but it was still a pretty significant load. “Man that kid is going to be spoiled. Don’t ta
ke too much, that’s what I’m here for.”
She shook her head and followed him out the door to the apartment entrance.
“Your sister-in-law is an angel,” Norah said, pushing the door open. She stopped just inside, her mouth falling open. In the middle of her living room floor, a beautiful dark cherrywood crib had been assembled, with a huge, pale pink bow tied into the rails, and a pair of drawers built into the base. She’d been sure she was all cried out but her eyes pricked again with tears. She heard Banks close the door behind them but couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful piece of furniture. She heard a rumple of gift bags and then Banks was gently taking the items out of her hands. He tucked her up under his arm and pressed a kiss to her temple. “And so are you.”
“I put it here because I don’t want to be too presumptuous but there is room for this at my place,” he murmured against her hair. “When you’re ready. I know that might be a while, but I’ve got time.”
She felt like a million bucks—not just the gift, but the fact that Banks was probably one of the most respectful men she’d ever met when it came to the concept of a woman’s boundaries. Nan had raised this man right.
“This is the best, Banks,” she said, quietly.
“Jellybean deserves the best. And so do you.”
“Banks, doing this is…” she paused, trying to find the words. Everything today had been amazing, generous, loving, but this was a whole other world of good. It was dizzying.
“Necessary. A bare minimum.”
She glanced up at him and shook her head.
“No, this is thoughtful and good. Generous, impressive, and sweet,” she said, then drew a breath. “And exactly like you.”
“I do what I can,” he said laughing, then turned her in his arms so they were as close as her bump would allow. He tipped his head and pressed a warm kiss to her lips; the kind of kiss that was an appetizer for what would happen next.
They fell into bed in a breathless flurry of lips and hands and skin and loving, came up for air, and then went back to it, until Banks’ phone rang on her bedside stand.
He ignored it, initially, but then it rang again. He pulled back, pressed his lips together.
“You should answer that,” she said, her arms looped around his waist.
He grumbled in complaint, but took the phone from the holster.
“Carter,” he mumbled, then swiped to answer the call. Norah released him, sat up and pulled on a tank top and shorts. They still had a lot of work to do to get the gifts organized and put away.
“What’s up? What?” Banks sat up abruptly. He tucked the phone between his ear and his shoulder and swung his legs over the bed, pulling on jeans and boxers. The note of panic in his voice made Norah’s heart leap to attention. She’d never heard him so ruffled. “Damnit. Is she okay? I’ll be right there.”
He disconnected the call and blew out a deep breath, standing for a moment with his hands on his hips, looking at the floor in front of himself.
“Banks?”
“Nan’s been in an accident.”
Norah’s vision blurred, icy dread flooding her veins.
“Is she okay?”
“I don’t know, they’re taking her to the hospital.”
“Gloria?”
“She had already dropped her off and was on the way home. I have to get Nate. I have to go,” he said all on one breath. The wild look in his eyes was like the night Dixie had foaled, only amplified ten times. He pocketed his phone and pulled on his shirt and boots quickly.
“Of course,” she said, ushering him toward the door.
What met them outside her apartment door was almost as shocking as the call he’d just gotten. Rob. In a clean t-shirt and jeans. His hair trimmed short and presentable. A smile that didn’t look quite like it was in the right place. A person that didn’t look quite like he was in the right place.
Banks nearly walked by but pulled up at the last minute.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he ground out, his voice gruffer than she’d ever heard it.
Rob held his hands up in an innocent gesture, his gaze fixed on Norah.
“I’m here for my girl and my baby.”
—THIRTY-SIX—
“What do you want, Rob?” Norah asked, her insides white-hot with adrenaline. Everything in her said run, but she stood her ground. She hadn’t gotten even a text from him since Banks had picked up the phone that morning and she’d been convinced he was done. His very presence destroyed the happy bubble around her life here in Three Rivers.
Banks was very clearly at the end of his leash, torn between leaving in the rush he’d been in, to the hospital, to Nan, and staying with Norah. He paced a few quick steps away but turned back. She pressed her lips together. They were outside, with cars driving by, she wasn’t going anywhere with him. Judging by the cars in the driveway, the girls were still upstairs. She would be fine.
She touched Banks’ shoulder. He was tense, like a coiled spring.
“Didn’t I tell you to leave her the hell alone?” he ground out.
Norah was surprised when Rob didn’t take the bait, just smirked at Banks, tipping his head.
“You go on. I’ll follow as soon as I’m done here,” she urged, squeezing his shoulder.
He gave her a long, loaded look.
“Layla will bring me,” she insisted. “I’ll be fine.”
“Of course you will, babe,” Rob supplied.
Norah cringed at the pet name but schooled her features. Banks wouldn’t scare him off—not in his current state of shock—but maybe she could convince him there wasn’t anything he wanted here in Three Rivers. Aggression or revulsion wouldn’t do the trick, though. He was a funny creature, she’d learned over her time with him, and her time with Banks had shown her Rob wasn’t at all normal.
Banks cast her one last reluctant look and she tipped her head toward him to insist. “Go see Nan.”
He finally drew and released a deep breath, heading for his truck without looking back.
“Alone at last,” Rob said, with a smile that made Norah want to slap it right off his face. “You’re looking awfully pregnant. Beautiful, really. Pregnancy really suits you. I had no idea.”
Norah pressed her lips together. One time, those words would have done something for her, because they were so hard to come by from him, but she’d learned they should be plentiful and easy to come by and she wasn’t falling for it. She was downright impressed with how few feelings she actually had seeing him.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“No.”
“No?”
She crossed her arms over her chest, resting on her belly.
“There’s no reason to,” she said.
“Come now. I’m the father of your child. That’s reason enough.”
She nearly laughed in his face at that.
“Rob, you’ve left me here for months with lots of opportunity to come back. You didn’t. If you really cared about this kid, you never would have abandoned us in the first place.”
His face twisted imperceptibly for a moment, like he didn’t disagree with what she said but then changed, like he did.
“I’ve moved on with my life, Rob, and I think you should, too.”
“Come on, babe, you know you can’t do this on your own. It’s a big job without the father’s help.”
Like hell I can’t.
But she knew she wouldn’t be alone. She had Nan, Layla, Banks, all of the Baylor women. They said all the time, in every book she’d read, that it took a village, and she had a village, goddamnit. And he wasn’t included.
“You know owning this baby means you’ll have to pay, right Rob? There’s no way in hell we’ll be living with you, so if you want to claim this child, you’ll pay support. Which means you have to hold down a job. Which means you have to stay relatively sober.”
“I just don’t see why we can’t be together.”
“Then you’re dumber than I tho
ught,” she said. “What part of you abandoned me fits into the story of a healthy relationship, Rob? What part of you grabbed me, in that bar, with the intent to hurt me, and had to be chased out by a woman with a baseball bat is some cute story we’re going to tell our children when they get older?”
Norah got angry—her initial fear dissolving into a white hot rage that took her over and kept her mouth moving, even when she knew it might not have been the wisest idea she’d ever had. She didn’t think he’d hurt her here, but she couldn’t be sure. She did, however, know she had to make him mad enough he wouldn’t try to make her go with him because then all bets were off. “You’re a piece of shit, Rob. And a coward. And I couldn’t see that for years because I was too close to the situation. But now that I know how many better options there are out there, I can see just how awful the time I spent with you was. The only good part of our relationship is that you gave me this baby, and that you left me here, where I have family, and people who care about me.”
“And that dickwad of a sheriff for you to shack up with, right? You little slut…” Rob had lost the humility it seemed he had come with, his dark eyes flashing angrily. Norah’s heart just about stopped beating altogether, but he remained planted in place, making no move toward her. “There’s nothing here for you, Norah. Nobody here cares about you. You’re just here for the money from your Aunt Gloria.”
“How dare you bring her into this!” Norah’s anger rose up in her throat. He could say whatever he wanted about her, but Gloria and Jellybean were so far off limits. She wished she had Layla’s baseball bat because nothing would have pleased her more in that moment than laying it into his head. “She has been nothing but kind and good and loving to me. More than I can say for you.”
“Nobody loves you but me, Norah,” he taunted.
“Spoken like a true abusive piece of shit,” she muttered.
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