“Kids need a yard to play in,” Finn said. “Thankfully, we have a few years before we have to worry about that. We should be able to get a nice house by then.”
“I don’t even know what to say.”
“Then don’t say anything,” Finn said. “You know what we need to do? We need to make a list. We need to get organized.”
Emma pursed her lips. “About what?”
“Well, for starters, you need to plan a last day of work.”
“What?”
“No offense, sweetie, but you’re only going to fit in one of those tiny bikinis for another month. Two at the most. Then you’re either going to have to start modeling maternity wear, or your career as a model is over.”
“Omigod,” Emma said, running a hand through her hair as she pulled herself up to a sitting position. “I hadn’t even thought about that. What am I going to do?”
“What do you mean?” Finn was confused.
“That’s how I make money,” Emma said. “How am I going to swing my half of the rent if I don’t have a job? I’m still six months away from graduation. The baby will be born right away after that. How am I supposed to get a job as a teacher that quickly?”
Finn propped himself up on his elbows as he regarded her. “You don’t have to swing half of the rent,” he said. “We’re moving in together. How about we just pool our resources and not worry about splitting everything down the middle?”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
Finn was at a loss. “Emma, I can’t decide if you’re being purposely obtuse or if you really don’t get it.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, sweetie, don’t do that,” Finn said, sitting up and running his hand down her back. “I keep forgetting that you’re sensitive right now. I’m sorry. I just meant that we’re a family. No one is paying half of anything. We’re building a life together. We’re working together, so let’s not panic.”
Emma sucked in a steadying breath. “There’s so much to do. Where do we start?”
“Well, my lease runs out next month,” he said. “Yours is good for two months, so we have that time to decide where we’re going to live. I can put stuff in storage at the security office until we make a final decision.
“We need to get your health in order first and foremost,” Finn said.
“I’m fine.”
“That’s not what your doctor said,” Finn countered. “I may have been in shock, but I heard that. So, you need to start eating more. I put up with your eating habits before, but they worried me. You’re going to start eating more, sweetie, and I don’t want to hear you argue about it. The baby needs a healthy mommy, and I want a big, healthy baby, so you’re eating.”
Emma swallowed hard, nodding.
“We need to start looking at baby stuff,” Finn said.
“Baby stuff?”
“Cribs. High chairs. Monitors. Those things you cover light sockets with so they don’t electrocute themselves.”
“I don’t think we have to worry about that stuff right away,” Emma hedged.
“No, but we should start looking,” Finn said. “Only the best for my baby.”
Emma smirked, something suddenly occurring to her. “Do you want a boy or a girl?”
Finn shrugged. “I don’t care,” he said. “I just want a healthy baby. What do you want?”
“They both come with their own set of hardships.”
“What hardships?”
“Boys are harder to potty train,” Emma said.
“I’m sure we’ll manage.”
“Girls are more verbal, and they have more feelings.”
“I know that,” Finn said, kissing Emma’s forehead to bolster her. “Girls are also sweet, and they carry around dolls, and they want you to drink tea.”
“Did Ally have tea parties when she was little?”
“Yes, and attendance was mandatory,” Finn said, smiling at the memory. “We all had to dress up, too.”
“Did she like dolls?”
“Don’t all girls like dolls?” Finn asked.
“I don’t know,” Emma replied. “I never had a doll.”
Finn frowned. He kept forgetting how rotten her childhood was. “Well, if we have a girl, she’s getting as many dolls as she wants.”
“And we’ll make Ally come to all of her tea parties,” Emma said, giggling.
“See, now you’re thinking,” Finn said. “Do you know what else we have to do?”
“What?”
“We have to tell my parents,” Finn said. “They’re going to be pretty excited about having a grandchild.”
“They won’t be disappointed?”
“Why would they be disappointed?”
“Because … well … we weren’t exactly planning for this,” Emma said. “Won’t they think I’m irresponsible?”
“Emma, my mother has been begging for a grandchild for years,” Finn said. “She doesn’t care how she gets it. Although, if you know what’s good for you, you’re going to find a way to deliver her a girl right off the bat. She’s not going to have nearly as much fun dressing up a boy.”
Emma rubbed the back of her neck thoughtfully. Finn couldn’t read her mind, but he had a feeling he knew where it had travelled. He reached over and pushed her hand away so he could massage the knot.
“That feels good,” Emma murmured.
“I’m thinking we should probably set up weekly massages for you, too,” Finn said.
“That’s expensive.”
“I don’t care,” Finn said. “Only the best for my family.” Finn dug his fingers into Emma’s back, causing her to moan. “Do you want to tell your mom?”
Emma stilled. “She’s probably already left town.”
“We can find out,” Finn said.
“I … I don’t know.”
“Well, you just think on it,” Finn said. “You don’t have to make any decisions today. The only thing you have to decide right now is what you want for breakfast.”
“Oh, I’m not really hungry,” Emma said. “I’ll just have half a grapefruit.”
“Try again.”
“I don’t eat a lot in the morning.”
“Well, you do now,” Finn said. He leaned forward and kissed the back of her neck. “How about we change our plans today?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“I’m going to take you out for a big, greasy breakfast,” Finn said. “Don’t you dare argue. You’re going, and you’re eating.”
Emma sighed, resigned.
“And then we’re going to go and look at baby stuff for ideas.”
Emma’s eyes brightened. “We are?”
“We can’t buy anything until we know if we’re having a boy or a girl,” he cautioned. “I don’t want a bunch of unisex stuff. If it’s a girl, I want a big pink room – and no son of mine is living in a pink room.”
Emma snorted.
“It will be fun,” Finn said. “I promise.”
“Okay.” Emma’s smile was bordering on giddy. “I’m a little excited.”
“Do you know what, sweetheart? I’m a little excited, too. Now get your fine ass in that shower. I have a quick call to make, and then I’ll be in there to wash your back.”
“Who are you calling?”
“I just want James to know that I’m not coming in today,” Finn said. “I’m sure he doesn’t expect me, but I just want to tell him that everything is okay.”
Finn also had a favor to ask of his brother, but he wasn’t ready to tell Emma about it just yet.
“SO, why are we the ones doing this?” Mandy asked, moving off the elevator and scanning the plaque on the wall. “It’s down here.”
“Finn doesn’t want Emma unnecessarily upset,” James said, following her down the hotel hallway. “He wants us to feel out the mother. After all Emma has been through over the past few weeks, I think we can handle … this.”
“I’m not promising I won’t rip this woman’s hair
out,” Mandy warned. “I don’t care if she is Emma’s mother. I don’t believe she didn’t know what was happening to her daughter.”
“I can’t promise I won’t hold her down while you make her bald,” James said. “Let’s just get this over with. I’ll take you out to a nice dinner – if you’re good – after.”
“Do I get to pick where?”
James narrowed his eyes. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’ll tell you after we’re done with this … woman,” Mandy said. “I might need a really big and expensive dinner. Here it is.”
Mandy knocked on the door. The woman who opened it was an older version of Emma, without the same light and sense of warmth. Time had worn Sheila Archibald down. Sometimes karma did catch up with people.
“Can I help you?” Sheila asked.
“I’m James Hardy. Finn Hardy is my brother.”
“The same Finn who is shacking up with my daughter?” Sheila asked.
“That would be the one,” Mandy said.
“And who are you?” Sheila asked, looking Mandy up and down.
“This is my wife,” James said. “Can we come in?”
“That depends, what do you want?”
“We want to talk to you,” James said.
Sheila didn’t look convinced, but she opened the door and ushered the couple into the room. “Let me guess, you’re here to warn me away from my daughter?”
“We haven’t decided yet,” James said.
“I have,” Mandy grumbled.
James rubbed the back of her neck to contain her. “We’re here to find out what you want.”
“What makes you think I want anything?” Sheila asked, sitting down at the small table on the far side of the room.
“Because you just showed up out of nowhere after not seeing your daughter in – what – six years? You can see why that might be cause for alarm,” James said.
“I don’t want anything but to spend some time with my daughter.”
“Then how come you haven’t tried to contact her since you stopped at her apartment?” Mandy asked.
“How is that any of your business?”
“Emma is part of our family,” James said carefully. “We don’t want her hurt, or upset.”
“And why would I upset her?” Sheila asked.
“Well, let’s face it, you’re not exactly Mother of the Year,” Mandy said.
“How dare you!”
“How dare you?” Mandy exploded. “Emma wants to believe the best about you, but I know you knew what that animal you married was doing to her. Don’t even bother denying it. There’s no way you couldn’t have known. You just sacrificed your children to his … appetite … and then when the going got tough, you took off and abandoned them.”
“They were adults,” Sheila said. “You can’t abandon adults.”
“Emma wasn’t an adult,” Mandy said. “The state used the two weeks she was still a minor to take her into custody and run some rather … invasive … tests on her.”
“She was an adult,” Sheila countered.
“We’re not here to argue about this,” James interjected. “For the record, though, I happen to agree with my wife. I think you knew, and I think only a disgusting person would put her own happiness ahead of that of her children.”
“Is that why you’re here? You’re here to accuse me of atrocities that should have been forgotten years ago?”
“No,” James said, shaking his head. “We’re here to make sure that you’re aware that any … shenanigans … where Emma is concerned are not going to be tolerated.”
“Oh, whatever,” Sheila said.
“Your daughter is pregnant,” James said. “I’m sure she would rather have told you herself, but it’s very important that you understand, if you upset her – if you make her sad for even a moment – then we’re going to drum you out of this town and make it impossible for you to return.”
“Emma’s health is our priority,” Mandy said.
“And you think it’s not mine?” Sheila asked.
“You just need to think long and hard about what your end game is here,” James said. “Because if anything you do comes back to hurt Emma? You’re going to wish you’d never met us. I promise you that.” He turned to Mandy. “Come on, wife. You can pick wherever you want for dinner. Let’s just get out of … here.”
Twelve
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Emma looked around the baby shop, unsure.
“Of course I am,” Sheila said, her face flushed with excitement. “I’m going to be a grandmother. I love the idea of shopping together.”
When Sheila had shown up on her front doorstep Friday morning, Emma had been shocked. Finn had already left for work, eliciting a promise from Emma that she would eat more than fruit, and then left her to her endless lists and planning. She was happy with her tasks, and had been considering staying in her pajamas all day, when her mother showed up.
To Emma’s surprise, not only did Sheila already know about the pregnancy, but she also seemed effusive and excited at the prospect.
“We’re not buying anything until we find out if it’s a boy or a girl,” Emma said. “We’re just kind of looking right now. We need to find another place to live, so buying stuff now just means we’re going to have to move it twice.”
“Oh, where are you going to move?”
“We haven’t decided yet,” Emma said. “Finn wants to buy a house, but he wants to wait until he has a bigger down payment saved up. That means we need a three-bedroom apartment until then.”
“Are you going to stay in the same complex?”
“Finn doesn’t like it,” Emma said.
“Does Finn get to decide everything?” Sheila asked.
Emma frowned. “I know you two got off on the wrong foot … .”
“It’s not that,” Sheila said. “It’s just … you keep saying that Finn wants this, and Finn doesn’t like that. What do you want?”
“I just want a happy life with Finn,” Emma said.
“He seems like a … strong man,” Sheila said, choosing her words carefully. “I’m sure he’s a much better man than your father.”
“Every man is a better man than him,” Emma said. “I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Okay,” Sheila said, holding up her hands in surrender. “We won’t talk about him ever again. It’s not like I have fond memories of the man.”
Emma straightened her shoulders. “I think I like a natural wood crib.”
“That’s nice,” Sheila said. “That would be good for a girl and a boy. You should be careful of the spindles, though. If they’re too delicate – and these are a little thin for my taste – they’ll break. Especially if you have a boy.”
“Really?”
“Boys are hard on furniture,” Sheila said. “You never destroyed a thing as a child. Your brother shredded entire books because he liked ripping paper.”
Emma searched her memory, but she couldn’t ever remember having a book in the house when she was little. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Her mother had a hidden stash of Harlequin romances, but there had never been any children’s books.
“See, it’s good I have your perspective,” Emma said. “I don’t know anything about kids.”
“None of Finn’s siblings have children?”
“Not yet,” Emma said. “I don’t think Mandy and James are going to have any, and Sophie and Grady seem on the fence, too. Jake and Ally haven’t been dating all that long, although she seems gung-ho on the idea of kids. She’s already been shopping for my baby.”
“Yes, I met Mandy and James,” Sheila said. “I think it’s wise they don’t have any children.”
Emma stilled. Her mother had admitted how she found out about the pregnancy, and while she found Mandy and James’ interference rather invasive – she understood why they stepped in.
“They’re warm people,” Emma said.
“They didn’t seem warm to me.”
Sheila pursed her lips. “I’m sure I will,” she said. “How long have they been married?”
“Just a few months,” Emma said. “They’ve been together for about a year and half now, but they’ve known each other since they were kids. Mandy and Ally were best friends back then.”
“And they all grew up together up north somewhere?”
“It’s a little town called Barker Creek.”
“Have you been there?”
“No, they don’t go up too often,” Emma said. “Sophie has been there. She was horrified. She’s a city girl at heart, and she said it only had one stoplight and six bars. She also said they had a buck pole.”
“What’s a buck pole?”
“It’s some wooden thing downtown where hunters hang dead deer during hunting season.”
“Why?”
Emma shrugged. “I think it’s a country thing.”
“It sounds gross.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to see it either.”
Sheila shook off the offending visual. “Have you met his parents?”
“Yeah, they’re great,” Emma said. “They came down for Mandy and James’ wedding. His mom is so cute, and his dad is just a doll.”
“Well, it’s good that you like them,” Sheila said. “If you’re going to marry into their family, you need to like your in-laws.”
Emma ran her hand over a stitched comforter, averting her gaze. “We’re not getting married, at least not right away.”
“You’re not?”
“No,” Emma said. “We’re just moving in together right now.”
“But … .” Sheila worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “Don’t you want to get married?”
Emma’s heart flopped. “Of course, but … .”
“He didn’t ask you, did he?”
“No.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“I think it didn’t occur to him,” Emma replied. “This is a lot to absorb all at once. I think he’s handling things pretty well – all things considered.”
“But you should be married when you have a baby,” Sheila said.
“Says who?”
“It’s just proper, Emma,” Sheila said. “A family is a mother and father who are married.”
Deadly Addition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 9) Page 9