by Kat Mizera
Too bad she felt far less confident than she sounded. Nothing about the situation was going to be easy, no matter what Daisy decided, and she was going to have to deal with the fallout.
32
“Hey, stranger!” Chelsea waved as Renee walked into the restaurant.
“Hey, guys.” She sank into her usual chair and motioned to the waitress. “Peach sangria, please,” she said.
“It’s been forever,” Tessa complained.
“And we never got details about Jared,” Tiff teased.
Renee sighed.
“Uh-oh.” Tessa wrinkled her nose. “What’s going on? Did he turn out to be a jerk?”
“No.” Renee made a little face. “He’s wonderful.”
“But?”
“We agreed we didn’t want kids.”
“But you have one,” Tessa pointed out.
“An adult child.” Renee lowered her voice. “Who’s pregnant.”
“O. M. G.” Chelsea blinked. “Really?”
“And her boyfriend, Zio, went back to Switzerland but won’t return her calls.”
“Wait for me!” Jen came running in, sliding into a chair at the table. “What’d I miss?”
Renee told them everything. They were her tribe, her people, her friends. And she desperately needed her friends right now.
“Oh, honey, that’s so hard,” Tiff said sympathetically. “Have you talked to Jared at all?”
“A few texts, but we haven’t seen each other and the worst thing, honestly, is what poor Braden must think. He lost his mother, his grandfather and stepfather didn’t want him, and then I disappeared as well.”
“But that’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” Tiff asked quietly.
“Yes and no. I mean, I didn’t want to be a mom to a young child again, but he’s a sweet kid and desperately needs both love and attention, something Jared can’t give him enough of with the new job.”
“I’m confused,” Jen said slowly. “So you love him, and you love the kid, but you don’t want to be with him because of the kid?”
“Well, no, not exactly.” Renee rested her chin in her hands and stared at them sadly. She was as confused as they were. “I don’t know how to explain it. When they were living at the house, there was chaos, all day, all the time, but we made it work. Jared is…wonderful. Braden is a sad little boy who misses his mom. Before the pregnancy test debacle, Daisy and Zio were fun, polite young adults who were a joy to have around.”
“Now I’m confused too,” Angel admitted.
“Everything got complicated and Jared was trying so hard to make sure Braden wasn’t a burden but I panicked and I missed a deadline and then Daisy was pregnant and Zio left and oh-my-god-what-am-I-going-to-do?” She burst into tears.
“It appears I’ve missed something,” Andra said as she arrived, sliding into the chair next to Renee and hugging her. “What’s going on?”
Chelsea gave her an abbreviated version as Renee dabbed her eyes and tried to get herself together.
“I was wondering why I hadn’t heard from you,” Andra said, squeezing Renee’s hand. “Why didn’t you call me when things started going south?”
“I was, and still am, completely overwhelmed. I think I love him.” Renee took a shaky breath. “And that’s the scariest thing I’ve said since I announced I was going to publish one of my novels.”
“You know, when I found out I was pregnant,” Angel spoke up. “I was terrified. I was sure it was going to be a huge mistake, but Dmitri has been beyond wonderful. I love him so much it hurts, even on the bad days, when I haven’t slept and the baby is fussy and I can’t get anything done.”
“But that’s just it—we don’t have anything like that pulling us together. I have my own career, my daughter, my life. He has his career, his kid, his life. I don’t even know how we’d put the two together.”
“He lived with you for like a month,” Chelsea said. “How did you do it then?”
Renee swallowed. “I don’t know,” she whispered.
“You sound like I did when Tore asked me to move in,” Jen said. “And we just closed on our new house.”
“You did?” Renee stared at her. “I feel like I haven’t seen you guys in years, not weeks.”
“More like months,” Donna said, “but who’s counting?”
“If you love him, what’s the problem?” Jen asked. “I mean, isn’t that what you guys said to me? And you were right. I love Tore, so there was no reason for me to not move in. There’s been a bit of an adjustment, but it’s been awesome. I know it’s scary, because I was where you are just a couple of months ago, but if I hadn’t taken that leap of faith, how would I know how good it was going to be? He’s quirky and funny and such an asshole sometimes, but never when it matters. Never when I need him. He’s full of mischief and sometimes I have to roll my eyes, but then he whispers that he loves me, that I’ve made him better because of how I love him, and my stomach does all these flips and I fall hopelessly in love with him all over again.” Her eyes sparkled as she looked around the table. “And if you guys ever repeat any of that, or tell your respective husbands or boyfriends, you’re out of the women’s club forever.”
The ladies all chuckled, except Renee, who stared out the window at nothing. She’d made such a mess of everything and there was no way to fix it right now. Just as Zio had ghosted Daisy, Jared was ghosting her as well.
“What are you going to do?” Chelsea asked her, bringing her back to the conversation.
“Nothing,” she said at last. “Daisy needs me and until I get her on the straight and narrow again, I can’t chase him.”
“Daisy’s nineteen,” Andra said, sipping her wine. “It could be a decade before she gets her life straightened out. Are you truly going to let that incredible man slip through your fingers because your adult child is going through a rough time?”
Everyone at the table turned to stare and Renee flushed.
“I don’t know,” she whispered sadly.
“Time to do some soul-searching, girlfriend,” Tina said gently. “I had to let Royce go before we could be together because we both needed time to work on ourselves, but I don’t think that’s the case with you. I think you need to give it a chance. You already lost someone, so you know how short time can be.”
“And as soon as hockey season starts, women are going to be clamoring to find out who he is,” Angel added.
“You guys aren’t helping,” she complained.
“Someone needs to talk some sense into you,” Andra said gently.
“Apparently, a lot of someones,” Chelsea chuckled.
“And that happens to be us,” Tiff said with a grin.
“We need a plan,” Tessa said thoughtfully.
“No.” Renee shook her head. “No plans. I’m not going to manipulate him or the situation.”
Tina rolled her eyes. “Lord, you’re such an amateur. There’s no manipulation, merely some nudging. We have to come up with a reason for you to call him.”
“No, we don’t,” Renee said. “I already have one.”
Chelsea threw a napkin at her. “You’re impossible.”
“Why? What did I do?”
They all started to laugh as they gave her suggestions on what to say. Though most of them were ridiculous, it lightened the mood and Renee was more grateful than ever for their friendship.
On the way home from lunch, Renee took a deep breath and called Jared.
“Hey.” He answered right away. “I’m on my way to a meeting. Can I call you later?”
“Do you have a minute to text me Fab and Chiara’s phone number? I have to call them. I think Daisy’s made a decision but I’m not letting her do anything until she and Zio have talked, and he’s not responding to her calls or texts.”
“He was hurt,” Jared said quietly. “But yes, of course, I’ll text you the number now. I really have to go, though. Talk soon?”
“Yes. I’d like that.”
“Sending you that
number now.”
She hit the button to end the call through her Bluetooth device and stared at the road ahead. Hearing his voice had made her miss him that much more but there had been no time to talk about anything else and she honestly still had no idea what she would say. She missed him? She couldn’t sleep without him? She’d fallen in love with him but hadn’t realized it until he was gone? Nope, that wasn’t going to happen, and anyway, she had to focus on Daisy until a decision was made about the baby. And if she decided to have it, she might never have time to herself again.
“Renee, hello.” Fab sounded as friendly as ever and Renee was relieved her call hadn’t been met with hostility.
“Hi, Fab. I’m so sorry to have to bother you, but we need to get the kids to talk.”
“Yes, I’ve told Zio he can’t avoid Daisy forever, but he was quite upset when he got home from the U.S.”
“I know. It was terrible. I’m so sorry his trip ended that way.”
“Young love,” Fab mused. “It’s complicated, no?”
“Oh, yes.”
“And Daisy? She is well?”
“No. She’s miserable and now that she’s finally come to her senses, she realizes how badly she treated him. Can you get him to call her? Even if he can’t forgive her, they have to talk about the baby.”
“Yes, of course. He’s at the arena now, playing hockey with friends, but when he comes home, I’ll have him call.”
“Thank you.”
“And you, Renee? You are well?”
“Me? Oh, well, I’m sure Jared told you he moved out…”
“Yes. I was surprised. I thought the two of you were quite lovely together.”
“We are. I mean, we were, but you know, life is complicated sometimes.”
“Love is always complicated, but it’s worth it, don’t you think?”
“I used to think so, but the years since I lost my husband have proven otherwise.”
“Perhaps the memories of your late husband have clouded your ability to see what’s in the present. Jared is a good man, one of the best I know, and he cares for you deeply. I think maybe it’s not just Daisy and Zio who have to talk.”
“I know. I just don’t know what to say.”
“Your heart, cara. Say what’s in your heart.”
“Thank you. I’ll…think about it.”
“Good night, Renee. I’ll talk to Zio this evening.”
He disconnected and Renee thought about what he’d said. Had she let her memories of Billy keep her from fully committing to Jared? She’d lost Billy so long ago, sometimes she couldn’t even remember what his voice had sounded like or what it felt like when he touched her. Daisy didn’t remember him at all and had once commented she wouldn’t have anyone to walk her down the aisle when she got married. Somehow, Renee had always assumed she’d get remarried, but when it hadn’t happened early on, she’d given up.
She hadn’t thought about Jared in specific terms like marriage, but he’d been the only man in fifteen years to make her feel whole again and she’d let him walk away. What was wrong with her?
“Mom?” Daisy’s voice sounded strange and Renee looked up from her desk in surprise.
“Hey, honey.”
“Mom, something’s wrong. I’m bleeding.”
33
Renee’s ob-gyn had agreed to meet them at the emergency room. Daisy was bleeding excessively and in a lot of pain, so they’d decided that was the best option. They’d drawn blood and were doing an ultrasound now. Renee watched with concern, trying to decipher what she was seeing on the screen.
“There’s no heartbeat?” Daisy whispered.
The tech looked confused but merely shook her head. “Dr. Diaz is coming in to explain everything.”
“But there’s no…baby?” Daisy was on the verge of tears and the tech exchanged a sympathetic look with Renee.
“Daisy, let’s wait for Dr. Diaz.”
Thankfully, the doctor came in a few minutes later and looked over the ultrasound pictures and results from the blood work.
“What is it, Dr. Diaz?” Renee finally asked. “Has she lost the baby?”
Dr. Diaz turned, gently shaking her head. “There was no baby.”
“Are you sure?” Renee glanced at her daughter in confusion.
“I took three tests,” Daisy said. “They were all positive.”
“You have what’s called a corpus luteum cyst, which can cause false positive pregnancy tests.”
“Oh my god.” Renee sank into a chair.
“A cyst?” Daisy asked. “Is that bad? Is it cancer?”
“No, it’s not cancer, and it’s not bad. When you ovulate, eggs are released. The corpus luteum is a mass of cells that forms and produces progesterone during the early stages of pregnancy. However, if the egg isn’t fertilized, the corpus luteum starts to break down. Sometimes, it fills with blood or fluid and a cyst can form inside it, which is what happened to you. I’m going to give you something for the pain and run a few more tests to make sure nothing else is going on, but it should go away in a few days and you’ll be good as new. I wouldn’t recommend sexual intercourse for a week or two, but otherwise, I don’t foresee any other problems. This is very common.”
Daisy burst into tears.
Renee had just gotten Daisy settled in bed when her phone rang and Jared’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hello?”
“How’s Daisy? Why didn’t you call me?”
“I… How did you know? I didn’t call anyone.”
“Fab texted me asking how she was. Zio was beside himself when she didn’t respond to his texts.”
“What?” She frowned.
“She texted him to tell him she thought she was having a miscarriage and then nothing.”
“Her phone died,” she said, explaining what they’d discovered about the pregnancy. “Oh, I feel terrible. She doesn’t know he texted back. She’s sleeping now, but would you mind telling him what happened and that she’ll call him when she wakes up in the morning?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you. And thanks for checking in. It was scary.”
“So she was never pregnant?”
“No. These cysts can cause false-positive tests.” She repeated more details about what Dr. Diaz had told her. “Usually they disappear without any symptoms but Daisy’s filled with blood and was painful. Then she got her period and everything went haywire. Hopefully, it’ll go away in a few weeks and she’ll be back to normal.”
“I’m glad she’s okay.”
“Me too.” She paused, desperate to keep him on the phone, to hear his voice just a little longer. “How’s Braden doing? School started this week, right?”
“Yeah.” He let out a breath. “He had a rough week.”
“Oh, no. Why?”
“His first homework assignment was to make a poster about himself… You know, pictures of him growing up, his favorite color, what he did all summer, stuff like that. Of course, he wanted to write that his mom died, and I thought maybe that was too sad, which made him cry. Then we needed baby pictures, and of course I don’t have any, so he had a meltdown. He failed his first spelling test, kicked a boy on the playground for calling him a redneck, and refused to eat his lunch every day this week because they don’t serve chocolate milk here.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yeah.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“Nah, Dot’s working on the spelling and homework stuff, and I asked Rudy to send any baby pictures he had, or make some copies for me. Braden’s teacher knows the story about his mom dying and everything, and she said not to worry, she would stay on top of things while he adjusts. We’re going to see how he does the first nine weeks with just therapy. If he struggles, we’ll discuss other options.”
“Oh, okay. Good.” What else could she say? She hated being systemically shut out, but that had been her own doing. He was doing what was necessary for his son, and she’d allowed him to t
hink that’s what she wanted. At this point, how could she say she’d been wrong?
“Well, I’ll let you go. You’ve probably had a rough day and want to get some sleep.”
“Yeah, well, we both know how well I sleep.”
“I’m sorry, hon. Try to rest, at least?”
“I will. Good night, Jared.”
“Good night, Renee.”
Jared stared at the ceiling a long time that night. What the hell was wrong with him? Renee had all but told him she couldn’t sleep now that he was gone, hinting that she missed him, but he’d been too stubborn to take the bait. He missed her too, but her actions had spoken a lot louder than any words. Of course, they hadn’t done a lot of talking about the future. He’d given her the easy way out because he cared about her, and despite his growing feelings for her, he didn’t want her to feel bad about not wanting to take on responsibilities that had nothing to do with her.
The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he got. It wasn’t like him to not go after something he wanted, but somehow, Renee was different. He wanted her to come to him and it made no sense because women who threw themselves at him were the last kind of woman he wanted in his life.
“Jared?” Braden stood in the doorway of Jared’s bedroom and he sat up in surprise.
“Hey, buddy, what’s wrong?”
“Can I lie down with you for a little while? I had a bad dream.”
“Sure.” He held out his arms and Braden crawled into the bed, snuggling against his side.
“Jared?”
“Yeah?”
“How come Daisy doesn’t play with me anymore?”
“Actually, Daisy’s been sick, but I think she’s feeling better now so maybe you can go see her after school on Friday. How does that sound?”
“Okay.” He closed his eyes. “Can I call you Dad?”
Jared’s heart squeezed painfully and he felt the strangest scratchiness behind his eyes. “Sure. I’d like that.”
“Night, Dad.” The boy fell asleep but Jared was up for much longer, his thoughts a tangled mess. How the hell was he going to get through hockey season with a broken heart, a kid with a different kind of broken heart, and no one but his sixty-year-old nanny to back him up?