Perfect Storm (The Exes #1)

by Cheryl Douglas

  I’d tried to explain the stress I’d been under: new job, selling my business, closing on a new house, packing, the pregnancy, trying to figure out how the hell I was going to tell the father. The doctor agreed I had a lot on my plate, but I had to put my baby first. I had to try and relax. Now that I was in the clinic, the tears streaming down my face, I was making deals with God, promising that I’d do whatever it took to keep my baby safe from now on.

  Tracey was supposed to come with me, but she had a last minute emergency at the shop. A cake that was supposed to be delivered to a baby shower got damaged in transit so she had to scramble to offer a replacement.

  So I was going it alone. I told myself I was okay with that, but I would give anything to have a strong hand to hold. Someone to tell me that everything was going to be okay.

  A soft tap on the door made me clear my throat and brush away my tears before I invited them to enter. The sight of my mother took my breath away. What was she doing here? I hadn’t even told her about the pregnancy yet!

  “How’re you holding up, sweetheart?” Her smile was soft and sympathetic, the concern evident in her eyes.

  “What are you doing here?” I started to panic. If she knew, maybe Jace did too.

  “Tracey called me.” She sat on the stool next to my bed, letting her purse rest on the floor beside her. “She explained everything. She felt terrible she couldn’t be here for you, and she didn’t want you to go through this alone.”

  I bit my lip, trying to stem the flow of tears as I looked at the blank screen next to me. “I was going to tell you about the pregnancy. I’m sorry I didn’t. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay first.”

  “And? Is it?” she asked, reaching for my hand.

  “I don’t know yet.” I closed my eyes, but the tears continued to fall. “I hope so. I’m already in love with this baby, Mom.”

  She wiped the tears off my cheeks, but her eyes were wet too. “I know you are, sweetheart. I know how much you want a baby.”

  “I never expected this,” I said, staring at the swirls on the white ceiling above me. “I mean, it obviously wasn’t planned. But now that I know I’m pregnant, it’s all I can think about it.”

  “So, all the changes you’ve been making lately: selling the bar to Jace, getting back into real estate, buying a house-”

  “Have all been to prepare for the baby. I wanted to be able to take care of them by myself, in case…”

  “Jace doesn’t want to be a part of their lives?” She sighed. “You don’t really believe he’d turn his back on his own child, do you?”

  “You know the reason we broke up.”

  “So, you haven’t told him he’s going to be a father?”

  I tried to ignore her accusation, but it was tough when it was accompanied by a pang of guilt. “I wanted to be sure everything was fine before I dragged him into this.” I cringed at my choice of words, making it sound like our baby was anything less than a sacred blessing was unforgiveable.

  “Honey, I know times are different now. It’s a woman’s body, a woman’s choice and all that.” She waved her hand dismissively, as though she didn’t really buy it. “But my God, you wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for him. That baby you’re carrying is as much his responsibility as it is yours.”

  “Mom,” I whispered, praying for the strength to survive whatever the next hour would bring. “Please. Can we talk about this later? The only thing that matters to me now is making sure my baby is okay.”

  ***

  Jace

  I sank back in my swivel chair, trying to make sense of the phone call I just received. It was from some diagnostic imaging center. They were looking for Cory. I did a quick Google search and found out they did all kinds of scary sounding scans and ultrasounds. What the hell was going on with her?

  I reached for my cell, determined to find out. I called Tracey at the bakery, relieved when she answered after two rings, sounding short-tempered and a little harried.

  “What’s going on with Cory? Why is some diagnostic imaging center calling here looking for her?”

  She paused. “She, uh, didn’t make her appointment?”

  “Why does she have an appointment at a place like that in the first place? You told me she wasn’t sick.” I felt like I was gonna throw up. Cory was sick. Possibly very sick. And I’d been a grade-A dick, completing the sale of the bar through our lawyers because I wanted to punish her for not jumping at the chance to marry me.

  “She isn’t sick,” she said, softly. “I’m sorry, Jace. I really can’t say any more.”

  “You can’t just leave me hanging like that,” I warned, gripping the phone tighter. “Because I swear if you don’t tell me I’m going to get it out of her.” Or haul ass over to that clinic and start making threats until someone told me something.

  “Please,” she said, sounding desperate. “The last thing she needs in her life right now is more stress. She needs you to just back off and let her take of… herself.”

  “Back off?” I shouted. “The woman I love and want to marry is dealing with some medical emergency on her own and you want me to back off?”

  “Yeah, she told me about your half-assed marriage proposal. Sounded real romantic.”

  “I was just acting on impulse, okay?” I looked at the photo I still kept on my desk, one of me and Cory wrapped in each other’s arms. I loved that picture, loved the way her smile lit up her gorgeous face, like there was nowhere she’d rather be than in my arms. “I may have screwed it up, but I wanted…” I cleared my throat. “I really wanted to marry her. I may not have said all the shit she needed to hear, like how much I loved her or how I couldn’t have lived without her-”

  “Why? Why didn’t you tell her that? That’s exactly what she needed to hear.”

  “I guess I just expected her to know that.” I blew out a frustrated breath as I curled my hand around my forehead. “I’ve been telling her that for four years. If she doesn’t know by now how much I love her she never will.”

  “But proposing marriage isn’t about how much you love the other person, Jace,” she said, gently. “It’s about letting them know that you’re ready for forever with them. Without hesitation.”

  Is that what she’d sensed when I asked her to marry me… hesitation? Is that why she turned me down? “I know I want to spend the rest of my life with that girl. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.”

  “You still want to marry her?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “When?”

  Another two weeks apart had turned me into more of a bitter spiteful asshole. No one wanted to be around me. Reminded me a lot of the old man. If this was what living without Cory was going to turn me into, I wanted no part of it.

  “Whenever she wants.”

  “You really mean that?”

  I thought about what that would mean as I glanced absently at my left hand.

  It would mean a ring. On my hand and hers. It would mean she’d take my last name. Everyone would know she was mine. She’d share my bed every night. Wake up and tell me she loved me every morning. Work by my side every day, taking our dream to the next level.

  What the hell was wrong with me? I should have married that girl yesterday! I wanted all of that.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Even if it means babies?”

  I closed my eyes, a smile teasing my lips as I imagined Cory holding our baby, that same smile lighting up her face… and my world. Tripping over toys. Making room for stuffed animals. Teething. Drooling. Crying. Diaper changes. Sleepless nights. Pudgy little hands reaching for me. Hearing Daddy for the first time. Protecting her. Guiding him. Watching Cory be the kind of mom to our kids I always wished I’d had. Being the kind of dad to our kids I’d always wanted mine to be.

  Hell, yeah. Bring it on.

  “Even if it means babies.”

  She heaved a sigh, but it sounded like relief. “I’m so glad to hear you say that.”
r />   “Why?”

  Tracey groaned. “I really shouldn’t be the one to tell you this.”

  I sat up straighter, my mouth dry. “Tell me what?” When she didn’t answer, I said, “Don’t mess with me, girl. Tell me what’s going on.”

  “Cory’s pregnant,” she whispered. “She was so scared to tell you, but-”

  I could barely breathe. My chest tightened and my head was spinning. I’d never fainted before, but I sure as hell was glad I was sitting down. “Pregnant?” I repeated. “She’s pregnant. That’s why they called from the-”

  “Yeah. That’s the other part. She’s been having some bleeding lately. It may be just all the stress she’s been under lately, but the doctor wanted her to have an ultrasound just to make sure everything’s all right.”

  It has to be. We can’t lose this baby. My mind drifted back to the last time I’d heard those words… We lost the baby. If Cory said that to me today I’d be gutted. That’s how I knew for sure this was it. I was ready to be a father. I wanted that baby more than anything.

  “I have to go. I have to get there, to be with her.” Thankfully the Google search was still on my phone so I could just plug the address into my GPS. “She’s not alone, is she?”

  “No, her mom’s there with her.”

  “Okay, I’ll-”

  “Jace, wait. Tell her I’m sorry. Tell her I only told you because I love her and I happen to think you guys belong together, as a family, even if you are a dumbass sometimes.”

  This time I had to agree with the lady. I was a dumbass. If I hadn’t been I’d be sitting beside my wife, holding her hand, as we saw our baby for the first time on a screen.

  Chapter Eleven

  Cory

  I was crying again. But this time they were tears of joy. And relief. My baby was fine. No matter what else life threw at me, as long as I knew that I could get through anything.

  The technician was just leaving the room when Jace slipped past her.

  Oh. My. God. What was he doing here?

  My mother and I shared a look before she squeezed my hand with a reassuring smile. “Looks like you two have some things to discuss. I think I’ll be on my way.” She kissed Jace on the cheek as she passed him. “Take good care of my baby.”

  He gripped the hand she had on his shoulder, never taking his eyes off me. “You can count on it.”

  “What are you doing here?” I sat up, facing him, my legs hanging over the edge of the bed. “How did you even know where to find me?”

  “The clinic called the bar looking for you.”

  I blushed, knowing I only had myself to blame. “Traffic was a bitch. I was ten minutes late for the appointment. I guess they had my work number on file.” I bit my lip when he didn’t say anything as he stared at me. “I’ll, um, have to change that.”

  “And let me guess,” he said, his eyes trailing over my body. “Your cell phone was dead again, so they couldn’t reach you?”

  “Something like that,” I muttered. Now that I knew how he was here, I needed to know why. And whether he knew. “But they wouldn’t have told you…”

  “About the baby?” He reached for my hand as my eyes widened in surprise. “No, Tracey told me about that.”

  “I’m going to kill her.”

  “Don’t do that.” He smiled. “I’m thinking this baby might need a godmother, no?” His eyes darkened. “Unless, there’s a problem with the pregnancy.”

  “No, no problem. Everything’s fine.”

  He sank forward, looking relieved. “Thank God.”

  I was speechless. He was relieved that I was having his baby? Since when? “I was going to tell you about the baby. I just didn’t want to freak you out in case…” I shrugged when he looked up at me, daring me continue.

  “In case… what?”

  “In case there was a problem with the pregnancy.”

  He jumped up, hauling me into his arms. “Don’t say that. Don’t even think it. There’s not going to be a problem with the pregnancy. I’ll make sure of it.” He stroked my hair, kissing along my jawline. “I am going to take such good care of you. You won’t even have to lift a finger.”

  I’ll admit I melted a little. ‘Cause really, is there anything sexier than a big, tough guy like Jace wanting to take care of you and protect you when you’re carrying his baby? “You don’t have to take care of me, Jace. I can take care of myself.” My hand drifted to my stomach. “And this little peanut too.”

  His eyes drifted to my hand and his nostrils flared. “You will let me take care of you. And this baby you’re carrying. That’s non-negotiable.”

  “I don’t want you to feel obligated to-” He cut me off with a kiss, curling his hands around my face. When we finally broke apart he was staring into my eyes and I swear he got a peek into my soul too.

  “This isn’t an obligation. It’s a privilege. Just like being your husband would be my privilege.”

  Cue waterworks. Damn pregnancy hormones. “I know you said a year or two from now-”

  “Fuck that.” He grinned. “How does day after tomorrow work for you?”

  My jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Hell, I’d marry you tomorrow, but we have to get the marriage license, right?”

  “I guess. But if you’re just marrying me because of the baby, don’t. I’d never try to prevent you from being a part of his or her life, if you want. But that doesn’t mean we have to be partners to co-parent.”

  “Here’s the deal,” he said, holding my hands. “I love you. No.” He shook his head. “That’s not right. I adore you. I worship you.” He chuckled. “I think I’m obsessed with you.”

  God, I loved this man.

  “I think about you all the time. I think about how much I miss you. How much I wish we could be together.” He leaned in, brushing his lips across my cheek. “But lately, that’s not all I’ve been thinking about.”

  I leaned in, not wanting to miss a whisper. “Oh yeah?”

  “I’ve also been thinking about…” His eyes fell, landing on my stomach. “How incredible it would be to have a baby with you.”

  I sniffled as the tears fell, making him smile as he wiped them away. I couldn’t help it. I’d waited a long time to hear him say those words. “Really?”

  He nodded, looking as though he was battling his emotions. “I would have been a shitty father before, Cor. But I was just a kid then.”

  “I know,” I whispered, curling my hand around his face. I wanted him to know that I understood and would never judge him.

  “I didn’t know anything about life. Just what I’d learned growing up in that house. I learned that people leave. Even when they promised to stay. I learned that people drink even when they promise they won’t.” He bit his lip. “And I learned that they beat you down even when they’re supposed to build you up.”

  I pulled him in for a hug, needing to wrap my arms around him. Needing him to know how much I loved him and that I would never leave him again.

  “But being his son taught me to be strong too.” He grabbed my hand, holding it against his chest. “It taught me how to take a beating and get back up when life knocks you down. And it eventually taught me to fight back.”

  “I wish you hadn’t had to go through that,” I whispered, my heart breaking for him.

  “It’s okay,” he said, shaking his head. “I made my peace with the old man before he died.” He tapped his finger against his temple. “I’ve made my peace with my mother too. In here. She couldn’t live with a raging alcoholic. I get that. Do I wish she’d taken us with her? Sure. But I understand why she didn’t. She had no way of caring for us. At least he could keep a roof over our head and food in our bellies.”

  I ran my hands through his hair, thinking how proud I was of him for coming to terms with all the hard blows life had dealt him.

  “The point I’m trying to make is… if I had to go through that shit to learn how not to do it, I’m okay with it. It was worth p
aying the price if it means I can be a better parent to our kids.”

  I smiled. “Kids, plural?”

  He grinned. “Let’s start with two and see how it goes.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  He frowned. “Wait. Not two girls though. I couldn’t handle that.”

  I winked. “Don’t worry, babe. We’ll make sure their boyfriends all know about your black belt,” I said, tugging on the leather belt looped through his jeans.

  “I have a better idea,” he said, looking serious. “I’ll take them to the dojo with me. That way they can kick ass if any one of those jerks comes on too strong.”

  I loved how protective he was of a child we hadn’t even had yet. “You’re going to be an amazing daddy,” I whispered, kissing him.

  He groaned, resting his forehead against mine. “I have a feeling I’m gonna screw up. A lot.”

  “Of course you will. We both will. They don’t come with an instruction manual, Jace.”

  “I wish they did.”

  I smiled at him, thinking about how far he’d come since that smart-assed, tough-talking, crude bastard who’d tried to seduce me the first night we met. “Look at it this way. You were the guy we’ll have to warn her about. You’ll know what to look for.”

  He looked fierce when he said, “She brings home a guy like me and I’ll break both of his legs.”

  I laughed, pulling him in tight. I had no doubt he’d want to, but I’d be there to rein him in. To remind him that our kids would have to make their own mistakes. Just like we had.

  Epilogue

  Jace

  One Year Later

  Cory had just crawled back into bed after feeding Isabelle and I pulled her close, kissing her neck as I pinned her body with mine. “I’ve been thinking, I want to do this again.”