Forever His Baby

by Airicka Phoenix

  The pang in her chest deepened until it was a physical thrum. It was almost enough to propel her forward, to do something bold like drag his top off and kiss each puckered strip of flesh until he knew they didn’t bother her. It was solely the fear of being pushed away that kept her in place.

  “Lily?” He must have said something, because he was watching her expectantly.

  “Sorry?”

  He took up his mug. “I asked how you were feeling.”

  She shrugged. “I’m okay.” She chuckled sheepishly. “It’s the first morning I’ve woken up without getting sick.” She looked down at her bare legs under Cole’s t-shirt. “I should head home.”

  “I’m about to make breakfast,” he said before she could leave. “Do you think you can stomach eggs?”

  Lily rubbed her rumbling belly and nibbled on her lip. “I think so. I’m actually hungry.”

  Setting his drink down on the counter, he moved to the fridge and began rummaging inside. He drew back out a moment later, arms laden with a carton of eggs, a stick of butter, a carton of milk and a packet of cheese. She watched him take everything to the table and set them down.

  Moving away from the doorway, Lily went to get him a bowl and the whisk. He thanked her and started the process of cracking eggs into the bowl.

  “There’s bacon in the fridge,” he said.

  The preparation of breakfast passed with very little conversation, but there was a comfort in the process. It felt so normal being there in the kitchen with him, moving around him for things and helping set the table afterwards. She was almost sad when it was finished and they were seated opposite each other over scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.

  “Lily?”

  Forking fluffy eggs into her mouth, she looked up. “Hmm?”

  He was studying his plate with a look of deep contemplation. He absently poked his bacon with the four prongs of his fork as he mulled his response.

  “I’ve been thinking.” His gaze finally lifted to meet hers. “You should move in here with me.”

  Lily almost dropped her fork. “What?”

  Carefully, he set his fork down and observed her levelly. “After the other night, it makes sense. I have the room, whereas your parents don’t. You won’t have to call me if you need something, because I’m always here, except when I’m working. And you won’t have to worry about bothering your parents.” He furrowed his brows. “Honestly, I would sleep more easily knowing you’re close, and since Cole left, this place is just too big for me so the company would be nice. Also, I need someone to help me in the office. It’s not strenuous and I would pay you.”

  Struck speechless, Lily could only stare, open mouthed as his words clattered around in her skull.

  “I—I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said at last.

  He seemed prepared for that. “Why’s that?”

  Because it’s hard enough keeping my hands off you, she wanted to say.

  Instead, she replied, “Because you hate when I’m here.”

  Something passed over his face and he dropped his gaze. “That’s complicated, Lily.”

  “I don’t think so,” she said. “I used to see how you would look at me when I came over. It wasn’t exactly welcoming.” Biting back the hurt welling up in her chest, she shook her head. “Cole used to tell me it was because you thought I would eat you guys out of house and home.” She offered him a humorless grin. “And that was before I started eating for two.”

  Sloan stared at her, horrified. “I never said that!”

  She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant about the whole thing. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Lily!” He planted both palms down on the table and leaned forward. “I never said that! I never cared how much you ate, or how often you came over.”

  “Then what was it?”

  His jaw tensed. He sat back, his face a mask of tense frustration.

  Knowing he wouldn’t answer, Lily looked away. “Like I said, moving in with you would be a bad idea.”

  “Please.”

  It wasn’t so much the quiet plea, or how it sounded like it was coming from the pit of his very soul, it was the darkness in his eyes, the way he seemed to be bracing for rejection that speared her straight through the heart.

  He pulled his gaze away from her and glared hard at his plate. “I can’t sleep,” he murmured. “Not since the other night when you called. I keep waiting for the phone to ring again and I … I’m scared out of my mind that next time I won’t get to you in time and…” He broke off, forced five fingers back through his hair. “Maybe what I’m asking is purely for my benefit, but I don’t care. I need you here. I need to know that you’re just across the hall and that I can get to you when you need me.” He raised his head. “Don’t answer right now, but at least think about it—”

  “Yes,” she whispered before doubt and uncertainty could cloud her judgment. “I’ll stay.”

  “I can come in with you,” Sloan offered as he pulled into her driveway an hour later.

  Lily shook her head. “I should tell them alone.”

  He nodded slowly and glanced towards the house. “I think I’m just worried that you might change your mind.”

  “I won’t,” she promised. “I’ll phone you as soon as I finish talking to my parents.”

  He gave a reluctant nod and climbed out of the car. He opened her door and walked her to the door.

  “Feeling okay?”

  Lily chuckled. “Nervous, which is ridiculous, because I’m nineteen and already pregnant. Moving in with a guy is probably not the worst thing my parents have had to deal with the last few weeks.” She offered him a gentle smile. “But they adore you. I know they will think this is the best idea since the invention of the wheel.”

  “The fact that they think I’m the baby’s father will probably help,” he added.

  Lily sighed. “Yeah, there is that.” She raised her eyes to his face. “I hope you’re going to go home and rest.”

  He stuffed his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “Maybe. I was actually thinking of maybe starting on Cole’s room. That way it’ll be ready for you.”

  “Sloan, you need to rest!” she protested. “You could cause irreparable damage to your back. The room can wait a day, or two.”

  “But I can’t.” He pushed a strand of hair off her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “I want you home, baby girl.”

  While she hadn’t been wrong, she hadn’t exactly been right about her parent’s thoughts on the idea of her moving in with Sloan.

  Her dad was appalled.

  “He should marry you first!”

  Her mom was delighted.

  “I think it’s wonderful.”

  In the end, it took Lily to remind her father that Sloan had asked her to marry him and she was the one who had turned him down. Only then had he relented and accepted the idea.

  “The town is going to have a field day,” he muttered.

  “She’s living with the father of her child!” her mother soothed.

  “Out of wedlock,” he pointed out. “That isn’t what I had in mind when I told the boy to do the right thing!”

  “It’s a different time,” her mother countered. “No one hardly gets married anymore.”

  Her father narrowed his eyes. “Would you like to tell Father Peters that?”

  Her mother pressed her lips together.

  “If it makes you feel better,” Lily chimed in. “If Sloan asks me to marry him again, I will definitely consider saying yes. So long as it’s not in a bathroom.”

  Her father sighed. “Lily, you’re a grown woman. You really don’t need our permission if this is what you want to do.”

  “I’m not asking for your permission,” Lily said. “But I would like your blessing.”

  “Of course, sweetheart!” her mother said at once.

  Her father stepped around the coffee table and brushed a kiss to the top of Lily’s head. “You always have our blessing, Lily pad. And
remember,” he pulled back to peer into her face, “this will always be your home.”

  “Will you please stop picking things up?” Sloan took the lamp from Lily.

  “It’s just a lamp,” she said with a laugh.

  Tucking the lamp securely between two boxes, he glowered at her. “Who moves things for a living?”

  “The boy has a point, sweetie.” Her dad came up behind her, a box in his arms. “Let us do this. Why don’t you go keep your mom company?”

  “I’m not made of glass,” she mumbled, but only halfheartedly.

  Nevertheless, she left the men to finish emptying her room and joined her mother in the living room.

  “Got shooed away?”

  Lily shook her head. “You’d think I was made of fine china. I got snapped at earlier for moving an empty suitcase from one end of the room to the other.”

  Her mom chuckled. “Wait until your water breaks. You want to see a grown man fall to pieces, that’s the time.”

  Lily laughed. “He’s already all but padded every sharp object at the house like I’m a toddler learning how to walk. He wouldn’t even let me pack Cole’s old things. He spent the entire night putting everything in the basement.”

  Her mom closed the magazine and set it aside. “How is Cole?”

  Lily honestly had no idea. Despite having called him no less than a dozen times the last week, he hadn’t returned any of her calls, not even the one about visiting that weekend. It irked her, but more than that, it hurt; her best friend had completely forgotten her.

  For her mother, however, Lily kept a straight face. “He’s good! He’s having a blast at university. I don’t think he’s ever going to leave.”

  “I’m surprised.”

  Lily frowned. “What about?”

  Her mom shrugged. “That he hasn’t said anything about you and Sloan, or the baby for that matter. I thought for sure he would.”

  It took a great deal of effort not to wince in guilt.

  “Yeah, well, like I said, he’s having too much fun.”

  The lie was a clump of hot coals coming up her throat, but it was easier than telling her mother that Cole had found a life away from her and no longer wanted anything to do with this part of his life. But she smiled at her mother like the reality wasn’t suffocating her.

  Oh the lies, she thought gloomily. Each one felt like a gingerly set wine glass on top of a pyramid of wine glasses just waiting to shatter and crumble. She still hadn’t told anyone who the father really was, except her parents, and even they didn’t know the truth. But it was only a matter of time before someone put the pieces together.

  “Yoohoo! Is anyone home?”

  Lily blanched even before the buxom figure trotted into the room. Speak of the devil!

  Georgia May, followed by Josie Coon and Stephanie Noelle charged in, a giant, wicker basket clutched in Georgia May’s manicured hands. She smiled blindingly at Lily’s mom, then at Lily.

  “I hope I’m not disturbing,” Georgia May said as she sashayed deeper into the living room. “I was baking my famous blueberry muffins and I realized I made too many, so of course I had to share with all my neighbors.”

  “That’s very nice of you, Georgia May,” Lily’s mom said kindly. “Your muffins are just delicious.” She glanced at the other two behind Georgia May. “Hello, ladies.”

  “Hello, Karen!” Stephanie said, trotting forward. “How are you?”

  “Fine, thank you.”

  Beaming, Georgia May set the basket onto the coffee table and took a step back, hands clasped in front of her. “So, we couldn’t help noticing that you’re moving some things out. I hope everything’s all right?”

  And there it was. The real reason behind their visit. Lily would have laughed if she wasn’t struck with the unexpected urge to grab the basket and pitch it into the woman’s face.

  “Thank you for your concern, but yes, everything is fine. Would you ladies like to sit down? I could put on a pot of tea.”

  Her mother was so much better at being civil, so much better at the polite game. Lily decided she would let the other woman do all the talking until the vultures departed.

  It didn’t work that way when Georgia May’s gaze pinned Lily.

  “Lily!” She hurried over in her six inch heels and flopped down next to Lily on the sofa. Stephanie and Josie took the one opposite them, sitting so close to the edge of their seats that it was amazing they didn’t fall off. “How are you feeling?”

  “You mean before or after you told the entire town I was pregnant?” Lily wondered. “Speaking of, isn’t there some law against reading other people’s personal medical records?”

  The glow in Georgia May’s eyes dimmed a notch, but her smile remained firmly in place. “Oh, honey, I would never read personal documents. The whole thing was such a horrible accident. Susan Bray came in to see Dr. Phillips after you left and we were talking. Well, clumsy me, I accidently dropped some files, yours being one of them. I had to read them so that I could get them in the right folder. Yours didn’t have your name on it so I had to ask Dr. Phillips which of his patients was pregnant. Susan overheard me. Like I said, horrible accident. I feel simply awful.”

  “Uh huh,” was all Lily could say.

  “It is nothing to be ashamed of, Lily!” Stephanie said. “Why, it’s the twenty first century. Girls get pregnant all the time outside of wedlock.”

  Josie nodded. “Of course, you and Cole are just perfect for each other,” she added. “I’m sure he can’t wait to get home to you.”

  Lily felt her teeth grind together and wondered if they could hear it. “What does Cole have to do with anything?”

  The three women exchanged glances.

  “Oh, sweetheart,” Georgia May cooed. “You don’t have to keep it a secret. We all know.”

  “Well, of course it’s Cole McClain,” Josie chimed in. “The timing adds up.”

  “It’s smart that he’s getting his education,” Stephanie added. “That way, when he gets back, he can take care of you and the baby properly.”

  Lily stiffened all over. “Cole has nothing to do with any of this.”

  No one was listening to her.

  “You know,” Georgia May pursed her pouty lips. “I just realized that Cole never gave anyone a place to contact him. It’s such a shame. I would have loved to take some of my muffins over to him. Poor boy probably hasn’t had a decent meal in ages. You know what?” She turned wide, gleaming eyes on Lily. “I bet I can get his number from the school office. I’m sure he’ll just love the surprise.”

  “The school office won’t give out that kind of information.” Sloan appeared in the doorway, sweaty and gorgeous in his jeans and black wife beater. “But if you like, Cole will be home for Christmas.” He wiped his hands on his bandana. “That’s when we were going to surprise him with our news.”

  Absolute silence descended on the room as the three women digested this information like vampires on a fresh kill.

  “Our news?” Josie chirped.

  Sloan grimaced and peered guiltily at Lily through thick lashes. “Sorry, baby. I know you wanted to wait until we told Cole first, but I got a little excited.”

  Lily couldn’t form words even if she had wanted to.

  “Are you saying the baby’s yours, Sloan?” Georgia May pounced on the juicy tidbit.

  Sloan continued to watch Lily, his expression sheepish, but watchful.

  “Yes,” Lily blurted. “It’s Sloan’s baby.” Her heart leapt at the dark flicker across Sloan’s face. She cleared her throat. “Now you ladies know, thanks to Sloan’s inability to keep a secret.”

  Sloan moved forward, stopping when he was behind Lily. He bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

  “The van’s ready, love.”

  “You’re moving?” Stephanie jumped in.

  Sloan rested his large hands on Lily’s shoulders, burning her through the material of her shirt. “I want Lily and the baby close in case they nee
d me.”

  Stephanie and Josie gasped in unison. Georgia May patted her chest, looking star struck.

  “That is just the sweetest thing!” Josie moaned.

  “Karen, you just have to invite us to the wedding!” Georgia May proclaimed, turning to Lily’s mother. “Oh! You must have it in December when Cole arrives!”

  Josie gasped, practically leaping out of her seat. “A Christmas wedding! How romantic!”

  “Oh, no, we’re not—” Lily was ignored.

  “Can you imagine? Lily dressed like a winter princess in a beautiful white gown…” Stephanie squealed slightly, giddy in her own day dream.

  “We’re not—”

  “A little too late for a white dress, isn’t it, Steph?” Josie giggled.

  “You just have to have roses,” Georgia May interrupted. “White and red. It will be gorgeous.”

  “I don’t see why not,” Stephanie protested. “She would only be, what…?” She paused to do the math. “Five months, give or take.”

  “I think the pregnancy would add to the fairytale,” Georgia May decided.

  “It would be symbolic!” Josie clapped her hands. “A new beginning.”

  Lily cast her mother a pleading look. She was the only one who hadn’t spoken and the way she was listening to the other woman go on, Lily had a feeling her mother wasn’t going to be much help.

  Behind her, Sloan squeezed her shoulder. “Let them have their fun. I want to get you home.”

  It seemed like everyone in the room stopped speaking at the exact same moment and his words rang through the silence.

  The women loved it. They sighed and aww’d as Lily got to her feet. She said goodbye quickly and let Sloan usher her from the room just as the conversation went back to talks of her wedding.

  “I don’t know whether to thank you for being such a great actor, or be worried,” Lily mumbled as they made their way down the short hall towards the front door.

  Sloan stopped walking and twisted around to face her, his face void of expression. “It wouldn’t have taken them very long to track Cole down,” he replied evenly. “Did you want him to hear it from them?” He glanced towards the front door where Lily could just make out her father stuffing the last of her things into the back of the truck. “Cole’s not stupid. If those three could do the math, he certainly can.”