Only For A Moment (The McCormicks Book 2)

by Elena Aitken

  “Yes.”

  She’d expected to feel something. Shock. Excitement. Sadness.

  She didn’t feel anything. Not at first anyway. She nodded; she’d already known what Deanna was going to say.

  “How do you feel? Do you have any symptoms yet? It is still pretty early, but there must’ve been a reason you took the test. Have you missed a period already?”

  Deanna’s questions came at her in what felt like a flurry, despite the fact that the other women spoke slowly and calmly. All at once, the reality of what she’d just been told kicked in.

  “Jade?” Deanna stood at her side with her hand on her arm, but Jade only barely registered that fact. “Maybe you should lie down.” It wasn’t a question. Deanna helped lower her back on the exam table so that she was lying on her side with her legs tucked up under her. “Take some deep breaths. Just give it a minute to let the news sink in. I take it this wasn’t entirely planned?”

  The question struck Jade as funny, because Deanna didn’t know her well but she knew her well enough to know that she wasn’t with anyone. In fact, she may not even know that she had been with Mitch. But due to the circumstances, she must know that she’d been with someone at some point. “You could say it’s a bit of a surprise.”

  “Don’t worry. There are lots of options, no matter what it is that you decide to do. And I know we’re friendly and it’s a small town. But I just want you to know that I’m very discreet. Whatever happens in this office will stay here. I hope that puts your mind at ease a little.”

  Jade nodded and sat up. She felt better. The initial shock or realization—or whatever it was that had just washed over her—was gone. “I appreciate that,” she said. “And it is a surprise, of course. I mean, I’ve had a few days to get used to the idea. I know those tests are pretty accurate now. But hearing it from you, it just seems so much more…”

  “Real?”

  “Yes. Real. And I guess I have some decisions to make.” Even as she said that, Jade knew there weren’t a lot of decisions to make. The baby might not be planned, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t make it work. If that’s what she wanted.

  Deanna nodded and wrote something on a clipboard before she sat back down on her stool. “Well, no matter what decision you make, you should start taking some prenatal vitamins. At least for now. And I’d like to see you back here, in a few weeks. Just to discuss things.”

  “Okay.”

  “And Jade? As a friend, if you need to talk…or if you need anything, just let me know. Also, a good friend of mine, Cynthia—she owns the General Store—she went through something similar. In fact, her baby was just born a few months early, but they’re doing well. She might be a good one to talk to.”

  The last thing Jade wanted to do was talk to anybody, at least not until she figured things out herself. At the very least, she probably should tell Mitch first.

  Mitch.

  What was he going to think? What was he going to say? It wouldn’t change anything between them, because there was nothing there to change. But still.

  After she left the doctor’s office, Jade spent the rest of the day walking around town. It was a beautiful summer day and she soaked it all in. She walked up and down Main Street. She watched the mothers with their children: ice cream cones, sticky hands, scraped knees, and baby strollers. Did she want that? Could that be her? She strolled the side streets, lined with trees in front of cute little houses with flowers planted in the gardens. Most of the front lawns had bikes and toys strewn all over them, evidence to the young family inside.

  Cedar Springs was a great place to raise a child. A family. She could be a family. Just her and the baby. After all, she had been raised by a single mother. And although she wasn’t about to use her mother for any parenting examples, it was possible. And in a town like Cedar Springs, that was so friendly and close, so filled with love, she would have support. She could do it.

  She could be a single mom. She could give her baby the type of childhood she wished she had had.

  Her hands went to her stomach. She could do all of that.

  Couldn’t she?

  “I don’t know why Cal had to drive himself.” Ian paced on the driveway before he spun around and stared at Mitch, who reclined in one of the old wooden chairs next to the front door. They’d been outside for close to thirty minutes waiting for their little brother to show up. Late. As usual. This time by days, instead of hours. “We could have gone into the city to pick him up,” Ian continued. “Then he wouldn’t be so—”

  “Late? Of course he would.” Mitch laughed at his brothers’ predictable natures. Not much had changed. Cal, as the youngest, was known for not considering how his schedule may or may not affect others, and it still made Ian crazy. “Relax,” Mitch said. “He’ll be here when he gets here. And about that—where were you thinking we’d all sleep?”

  Their old cabin was roomy. It had to be, with four boys running around. But they’d grown up with bunkbeds, and although Mitch was all for having everyone under one roof, there was only so much space, and sharing a room with his adult brothers was considerably different than when they were kids. Especially if he wanted to have a grown-up sleepover.

  Not that there was much chance of that. At least not with Evie because they’d decided to be friends. Real friends. And…well, he’d decided to be just be friends with Jade, too. But that was different.

  “You and Cal can share for now,” Ian said. “No?”

  That had to be the arrangement, because Ian and Gwen had taken over the master suite, Chelsea was in the younger boys’ room, and Mitch had reclaimed his old bunk. “For now.” Mitch shrugged. “Sure. But what happens when—”

  “You have a girl over?”

  “That’s not what I was going to say, but…”

  “Let me know when you have a girl.” His brother taunted him, and if he hadn’t been standing so far away, Mitch probably would have punched him in the arm.

  “What about when Dec comes?” Mitch changed the subject, choosing not to focus on his current lack of female companionship. “We can’t all squeeze into one room. We’re grown men, for God’s sake.”

  “When’s Dec coming? Have you talked to him?”

  “No.” Mitch had to admit, he hadn’t. Not lately anyway. But he knew his little brother, and he knew if they were all gathering at the lake after so many years, he wouldn’t be far behind. There was nothing Declan loved more than family, except maybe his memories of the lake. He’d be there. And they both knew it.

  Ian nodded. “I know. He’ll be here soon. I guess I haven’t really thought about where we’d all—”

  Ian couldn’t finish his thought because the sound of a very loud, very expensive car coming up the road pulled their attention away.

  “Cal’s here.” Mitch pushed up from the chair to join his older brother, right as the brightest, orangest BMW convertible flew around the corner into the driveway. “Do you think he could find a brighter car?” Mitch nudged Ian in the side and they both shook their heads.

  The car came to a screeching halt and true to form, Cal skipped over using the door and hopped out of the car, looking every bit the international male model that he was in his skinny jeans, tight T-shirt, and mirrored sunglasses. “Hey. I like the welcoming committee.”

  “Keeping it real I see, brother.” Mitch pulled Cal into a hug, slapped his back and released him to greet Ian the same way. “Interesting choice of rental.”

  “This?” Cal ran his hand along the hood of the car. “It’s no rental. Now that I’m finally going to be an actor on a hit show, it’s about time I started acting like one.”

  “Whoa.” Ian held up his hands. “First of all, we hope it will be a hit show. Second, starting salaries are usually pretty modest. And third, you didn’t officially get the job yet.”

  Mitch laughed. “Since when have little details like that stopped our brother?”

  “Right?” Cal shrugged. “Don’t worry. I have a ton saved from
my modeling jobs and the royalties aren’t going to dry up anytime soon. Besides, I need wheels to get around, right?”

  Ian shook his head, and Mitch laughed again. “I like it that everything has stayed the same. It’s good to see you, Cal.”

  “It’s good to be here.” He put his hands on his hips and breathed in the fresh air. “Man, it’s been a long time. Too long.”

  Behind him, Ian had a satisfied smile on his face. Mitch knew how important it was to his older brother to bring this back to them. None of them realized how much they missed the lake until Ian had gone back to reopen things up.

  But now that they had it back, Mitch knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere again.

  They walked inside. Cal left his suitcase by the front door and they went straight out to the back deck, where they each grabbed a beer in a toast.

  “To summer,” Cal said.

  “Summer.”

  “Brothers,” Mitch added.

  They drank deeply and spent a few moments in silence, looking out over the lake.

  “Damn, it’s good to be back,” Cal said. “Australia has some nice beaches and of course the ocean is amazing, but there is nothing like this.” He shook his head in wonderment and gazed off into the distance.

  Mitch and Ian exchanged looks. Mitch couldn’t remember ever seeing his little brother so reflective. “So…Cal…what’s up?” Mitch asked.

  “What do you mean?” He turned and leaned on his elbows.

  “What are you doing here?” Ian asked. “I mean, what are you really doing here?”

  Cal looked between them, clearly trying to assess what they were after. “I’m here for the show.” He focused on Ian. “Your show. Besides, even if I wasn’t, can’t a guy come home now and then?”

  “Of course,” Mitch said. “But this is different. Things were going so good in Australia. I mean, judging by the car in the driveway, they were going really good. Why mess with it?”

  Cal shrugged. “Bigger and better, brother. Things were getting stagnant over there. It was time for more. Haven’t you ever wanted a change?”

  Mitch had. It was an answer he could relate to, and despite the fact that he knew there was more than what Cal was telling them, he dropped it. At least for the moment. “Absolutely,” he agreed with him. “I’m glad you’re here. Even if you are five days late.”

  “Four,” Cal protested. “Besides, I had some things to take care of in the city. I had to stop in and see Mom.”

  “Mom?” Ian asked. “You saw Mom?”

  “Of course. I haven’t seen her in way too long.” Cal laughed. “How is that even a question?” He shook his head. “No wonder I’m the favorite.”

  Ian punched him in the shoulder and Mitch laughed. It was an ongoing, mostly friendly rivalry between the oldest and the youngest as to who was the favorite, and it was a battle Mitch had learned ages ago to stay well clear of.

  “Hey,” Cal changed the subject. “Where’s Chelsea? I couldn’t believe it when Dec told me she was here. I gotta say, it’s about time you guys got over yourselves and got to know the girls. They’re awesome.”

  Another sore spot. Cal and Declan were always closer with their half-sisters. Much closer, because Ian and Mitch had flat out refused to get to know them when they were younger.

  “They are great,” Mitch said. “Well, I’m sure Amber is. We just haven’t met her yet.”

  “And Chelsea is…well, she’s certainly a handful,” Ian said. “But I’m sure you know that.”

  Cal laughed. “For sure. Where is she?”

  “She’s working.”

  “Working?” Cal almost spat out his beer. “Chelsea? Last I heard she was…well, Dec said she was a little lost.”

  Mitch tilted his beer in Ian’s direction. “A little time spent with big brother changed all that. She seems pretty focused now.”

  “If you can call working a regular job focused.” Ian grinned. “But she is doing better. Let’s go down to the Paw and say hi. Then I’ll take you over to the Dockside.”

  “So much to catch up on.” Cal laughed. “And don’t forget to introduce me to your woman. I don’t remember Gwen from when we were kids.”

  He looked to Mitch, but he only shook his head. “Even if you did, she’s a totally different person now.” Mitch’s eyes met Ian’s before he looked back to his youngest brother. “You’re going to love her.”

  “Of that I have no doubt,” Cal said. “What about you, Mitch? I suppose you have your usual bevy of women on rotation.”

  “Not Mitch,” Ian interjected before he could respond. “Our brother here has turned over a new leaf.”

  “A new leaf?”

  “So it seems.” Ian and Cal exchanged glances. “More of a one-woman man,” Ian continued. “He just needs to find the woman.”

  Mitch threw his empty beer can at Ian’s head. He laughed and ducked it easily.

  “Let’s go.” Mitch walked back into the house and to the front door.

  There was no point arguing with him, because Ian was right. He did need to find the right woman.

  The problem was, he was pretty sure he already had.

  Chapter Seven

  It was a beautiful day. Like most days at the lake, the sun was shining and even though it was still early, Jade could tell it was going to be another hot day. She was glad she had put on a new pair of shorts and a white linen sleeveless blouse over her bikini. She had thought about cancelling on Mitch and his promised fun day in the sun. Even now, as she walked down Main Street toward the Dockside, she contemplated turning around and going home more than once. But what was the point? There was no reason she shouldn’t have a little fun, except one very obvious one. But it was only obvious to her.

  But she decided not to think about that. And not to say anything to Mitch. At least for one day. Nothing was going to change in one day, except maybe she would be able to relax and have a little fun before she had to make what could potentially be the biggest decision of her life.

  Besides, nothing would be gained by telling Mitch about the baby now. It would only ruin their day together. And more than anything, she really needed to not think about it. At least for a day.

  Her hand went absentmindedly to her stomach the way it had been for the last few days. It was still flat. Nobody would be able to tell. Jade had spent hours the day before looking in the mirror, examining herself from all sides. She could’ve sworn there had been a bump there the day she’d been trying on clothes. She knew now that that was stupid; there was no way she had been showing. It was probably just her subconscious mind letting her in on the secret.

  So far she’d been able to push the idea of a baby out of her head, at least while she was working. In fact, losing herself in her work had been good because it gave her a chance to think about anything other than the fact that she was going to be a mom.

  A mom.

  That’s just what she was going to do today. Lose herself in the moment. Even if it was only for a moment.

  The minute she spotted Mitch on the dock, her heart leapt into her throat. She told herself it was only because he looked so damn sexy standing there next to the boat where they’d shared…well, where they had most definitely shared. But now there was another reason her body and mind were going crazy in his presence. A big reason.

  No.

  She wasn’t going to think about it. Not today. Instead, she’d focus on how damn sexy Mitch was and try to remember why they’d decided it was best for them just to be friends.

  Why had they done that again?

  Right, because Mitch told her she wasn’t his type and as far as she was concerned, men were nothing but trouble.

  Damn, was that ever more true than it ever had been. She shook her head with the irony of it all.

  Besides, Mitch was dating Evie. And Evie was a nice woman. A woman she could see herself being friends with. A woman who did not deserve to have a new relationship with a man ruined.

  Besides, she didn’t need a m
an, she reminded herself.

  A man was nothing but trouble. A man would only hold her back.

  Right.

  They were the same things she’d repeated to herself for years. The same things her mother had drilled into her head. The same things her mother had said about having children.

  Jade groaned. She was not doing a good job putting her troubles out of her head. Not even a little.

  “Good morning, beautiful.” Mitch pulled her in for a quick hug and a chaste kiss on the cheek, the same way she’d seen him greet Gwen. Like a friend. “Are you ready for this? A fun day in the sun?”

  Jade smiled. “You’ve sure talked it up. Are you sure you can deliver?”

  “Oh, don’t worry about that.” His cockiness sparked something in her gut. “I always deliver on my promises.”

  Heat flared in her cheeks and she had to look away.

  “Well, let’s get going then.”

  She walked toward the boat and was just about to hop in when Mitch’s arm on hers stopped her. “Wait.”

  Jade froze under his touch.

  “There’s just one thing I need to know.”

  Had Deanna said something? Was her secret out already? It was a small town, after all. There was no doubt that word traveled quickly and it would be next to impossible to keep a secret like this one. She should have known better than to try to—

  “Do you have sunscreen?”

  “Pardon?” Jade turned and stared at him. “Sunscreen?”

  Mitch’s face was a mask of seriousness as he nodded. “It can get pretty hot out on the water and I don’t want you burning.” He trailed a finger down her bare arm. The touch sent a shiver completely through her. “A sunburn seems like such a small thing, but it can really ruin the fun if you’re not careful.”

  She smiled slightly. He had no idea what kind of small thing could ruin their fun. “Don’t worry. I won’t ruin any fun today.” She winked and hopped into the waiting boat.