Peace, soft and gentle, swells within me, and I know it is up to me to give Drake the support he will need when he has to face the truth that he now seems reluctant to acknowledge.
Whether or not we end up together is still in question, but I’m not going to bolt. Not yet, anyway.
Twenty
DRAKE
We’ve reached the point where I thought we’d stop for lunch, so I slow the ATV and park along the side of the trail. I climb off, remove my helmet and goggles, and turn to Ashley. “Are you doing okay?”
She removes her helmet and goggles and I see tears in her eyes. Worried that she’s upset despite her smile, I tenderly wipe away a tear.
“I’m good,” she says.
I can’t help but wonder if she’s just putting on a brave face for me, although I love her all the more for it. “Are you sure?”
She nods. “Yes.”
I want to believe her, and she doesn’t seem to be in distress, so I take her word for it. I take our picnic lunch and blanket out of the carrying case strapped to the front of the ATV, then take Ashley’s hand and lead her to a shady spot under a group of trees. Occasionally another ATV drives past us on the road, but as I spread the blanket on the grass, then set out the food, I enjoy the relative solitude of being in the forest with the woman I love.
We settle across from each other on the blanket, and as Ashley picks up her sandwich and takes a bite, I study her face. Her beauty takes my breath away, but more than that, it’s the goodness of her heart that I’ve fallen in love with.
If that baby is mine, will having him in our life drive us apart?
The thought makes my heart ache, and I find I need reassurance from Ashley that she’s really in this with me, that we’re a team. I recall her father’s comment that Ashley and I haven’t known each other long enough to know if we’re ready to spend the rest of our lives together, and I realize that this is our first big test.
I wonder if it’s a test we’ll pass.
ASHLEY
“Can I ask you something?” Drake asks as he opens a bottle of water.
The seriousness on his face makes me hesitate. “Okay.”
He swallows a mouthful of water, puts the lid back on, then says, “Did you mean it? The other night when you said you’d stick with me. Did you mean it?”
The peace I felt a short time ago comes over me again. “Yes. I’m not going anywhere.” My tone of voice conveys confidence, although inside there’s a part of me that’s less certain.
Drake’s eyes shine with relief. “Thank you.”
I’m glad my simple statement brings him comfort, but I need him to know how I feel. “I love you and I want to marry you.” But wanting it doesn’t necessarily mean it will all work out. “I’m not thrilled about what’s happening,” I continue, “but I want you to know that I won’t abandon you.” Not yet, anyway.
“Come here,” he says, and I move to sit beside him. His arms go around me and I lay my head on his shoulder. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, do you know that?”
A bird trills a note as I snuggle against him, and my determination to stay by his side through this challenge grows stronger. I don’t want to abandon you, Drake. I love you so much.
On the drive back to our house—I’m pleased that I’m starting to think of his house as mine—I turn to him with a question. “When should we tell our families about…about Colton?”
Glancing at me with a frown, he says, “Let’s see what the test says first, okay?”
I can’t argue with that. Obviously he’s not going to accept the truth until he sees it in black and white. “All right.”
I’m worried about what my parents will think, and I dread the moment I’ll have to tell them that Drake’s player days have led to a child.
“Speaking of parents,” he says. “I was thinking of having my dad over for dinner tomorrow night. What do you think?”
Besides the fact that we’ll have to hide a pretty big secret from him, I think it’s a great idea. “Yeah, that would be nice.”
The next afternoon as I’m tidying up the kitchen, there’s a knock at the front door.
“I’ve got it,” Drake calls from his office, and a moment later I hear the sound of the door opening, and then the cry of a baby.
Certain it’s Megan, I hurry to the door to see what she wants.
“Please, Drake,” she’s saying when I reach the door.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Drake turns to me with a frown. “Megan wants us to babysit.”
I look at Megan and see her scowling.
“It’s not babysitting when it’s your own child,” she says as she pats Colton on the back, which seems to settle him.
I don’t want this to turn into an argument, so I ask, “How long will you be?”
She smiles at me. “Just a couple of hours. I need to run some errands and it would be so nice if I could go by myself for a change.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Drake says.
Giving him a hard look, Megan says, “He’s your son, Drake. Don’t you dare reject him already.” Emotion fills her voice, and I can see how important this is to her.
“I ordered a paternity test kit,” he says. “Let’s see what that says before you start going around calling him my son.”
Audibly sighing, she shakes her head. “I don’t know why I expected anything else from you.”
“Look,” he says. “Even if it turns out he’s mine, you can’t just stop by unannounced and expect me to drop everything to take care of him.” A muscle works in Drake’s jaw. “I have plans tonight.”
Megan barks a laugh. “Plans. Yeah, I remember what those are. Too bad they’re not part of my life any longer. Not since you knocked me up.”
The conversation is devolving fast, but because I’m completely certain the baby is Drake’s, and despite the fact that I hate that Megan is now going to be part of our lives, I decide to try to make peace between them.
“If it’s just for a couple of hours,” I say to Drake, “we can watch him.”
Drake frowns at me, but I can see he’s wavering. Maybe it’s because I’ve committed to being in this with him, but after a moment he agrees with me. “Fine.”
“Thank you so much,” Megan says—to me, not Drake. Then she hands the baby to me.
He still has the wonderful smell that I remember from when I held him the week before, and I find I’m looking forward to spending some time with him.
“I fed him an hour ago,” Megan says as she hands Drake the diaper bag. “There’s formula in there.” She tells us how much to give him, and I immediately worry that I’m going to do something wrong.
“You’re a natural,” she says to me, which boosts my confidence. “Thank you again.” Then she turns and walks away.
Drake closes the door behind her, then turns to me as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Now what?”
I know this isn’t what Drake wanted, but if this baby is his, it’s only right that he help out. “Now we take care of baby Colton.”
“My dad’s going to be here in a few hours.”
“I know. Megan should be back well before then.”
He snorts a laugh. “So she says.”
Slight alarm tingles my neck. “You don’t think she will?”
“She’s not the most…reliable…person I know.”
Colton begins fussing, so I bounce him gently in my arms. “Then why did you agree to watch him?”
“Me?” Drake’s eyes are wide. “You’re the one who offered to watch him.”
“But if you knew she was unreliable, why did you agree with me?”
Shaking his head, he laughs. “I’m not going to stop you from babysitting if you want to.”
What have I gotten myself into? “He’s your baby,” I begin, but when I see the expression on Drake’s face—denial, frustration, anger—I stop talking.
“Why do you keep saying that?” he a
sks. “Just because she said it doesn’t make it true. For all I know, I’m not the only man she slept with a year ago.”
While that could be true, I see a resemblance between Colton and Drake, which lends credence to her claim.
“Whatever,” he says under his breath. “I’m going to do some work in my office for a while.”
Watching him walk away, I’m frustrated at his refusal to show any interest in the baby at all because I want to believe my husband-to-be has it in him to be a good father.
Maybe when the test comes back positive he’ll be more interested.
I can only hope that’s true, and I decide to cut him some slack. It’s a lot for anyone to take in, but it worries me that his paternal instinct seems to be lacking.
Twenty-One
ASHLEY
I’ve fed and changed Colton, and now he’s finally asleep. Megan’s been gone nearly two hours, and I’m ready for her to come back and take over the care of her son.
Babies are a lot of work.
Drake’s been in his office nearly the entire time the baby’s been here, but as annoyed with him as I am, I decide not to say anything. Instead, I go into his office and find him staring at a spreadsheet filled with numbers.
“What are you up to?” I ask as I come up behind him and begin massaging his shoulders.
“Just going over some numbers.” He pulls me onto his lap and kisses me. “What about you?”
I smile. “I got the baby to go to sleep finally.”
His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t reply.
“Your dad’s going to be here in an hour,” I say. “Maybe we should start getting the food ready.”
“Yeah.” He doesn’t smile.
Wanting to get things moving, I stop massaging his shoulders and leave his office. In the kitchen, I take out the ingredients for the pasta salad I’m going to make, then I hear Drake approach.
“Do you need some help?” His smile is apologetic.
I don’t like the tension that’s been between us lately—well, since Megan showed up—so I push a smile onto my face and say, “Yes. Thank you.”
Drake comes around the counter and wraps his arms around me. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he murmurs into my ear.
I can’t help it, I melt against him. “We’ll figure this out.”
“I know.” His tone of voice makes me wonder if he’s beginning to accept the truth. I hope so.
We work together for half an hour, but then the peace we’re feeling is shattered by Colton’s urgent crying.
“I’ll get him,” I say as if there was any other option. Feeling frustrated that his care has fallen completely on me, I lift him from his crib and snuggle him against me until he calms down.
“It’s okay, Colton. Everything’s going to be okay.” I recognize that I’m saying this to myself as much as to him. Still, it makes me feel better. After changing his diaper, I carry him into the kitchen and hold him while Drake works.
Watching Drake, I wait to see if he’ll acknowledge Colton. It takes several minutes, but he finally looks up from his task and his eyes go to Colton. I’ve turned the baby around so that he’s facing Drake.
After several moments, Drake meets my gaze and says, “Maybe we should try to call her.”
I know he means Megan, but I’m disappointed that that is what he’s thinking.
What do you want him to do?
But I know what I want him to do. As much as I don’t like what’s happened, I need to know he’ll be a good father. After all, he’ll be the father to my children. Still, I know he’s right. Megan should have been back by now. And Drake’s father will be here soon.
“I’ll get her number,” I say.
Moments later, Drake is on his phone waiting for Megan to answer. “She’s not answering,” he says with a frown.
“Maybe she’s on her way.”
Scowling, Drake shakes his head. “No. I told you she was unreliable.”
“What should we tell your dad?”
Drake’s scowl deepens and his shoulders tense. “This is why I wanted to refuse.” Anger laces his tone, making it clear he thinks this is my fault. But I’m not about to take the blame.
“How is it that you can feel comfortable pretending he’s not your baby?” I walk around the counter and stand right next to him, then lift Colton so that he’s face-to-face with Drake. “Can’t you see it? Can’t you see how much he looks like you?”
Drake turns away with barely a glance at the baby. “I’m going to set the table.”
I watch him go, frustration simmering just below the surface.
When the doorbell rings half an hour later, I look at Drake with raised eyebrows. “What are you going to tell your father?”
“I haven’t decided.” Then he smirks. “Or maybe that’s Megan.”
I know he doesn’t believe that. After several tries, she still hasn’t answered her phone.
Drake opens the door. “Hi, Dad. Come on in.”
I’m standing near the edge of the living room with Colton in my arms.
Scott Drake walks towards me, his eyes going between me and the baby. “Who’s this little guy?”
Not knowing what I’m supposed to say, panic slithers up my spine. Frantically, I look at Drake for guidance.
“Ashley’s babysitting for a friend of hers,” Drake says smoothly.
So that’s how we’re going to play it. I’m disappointed he didn’t tell his father the truth, but I’m not going to contradict him. It’s up to him to break the news.
Scott gives Drake a sideways look. “I hope the two of you don’t wait too long to give me one of those.” He chuckles softly. “I’m looking forward to grandchildren.”
Blood rushes to my face, and I turn away slightly.
Scott obviously notices. Laughing, he says, “I’m just teasing, Ashley. There’s no rush. The two of you should take a good long time as newlyweds before you jump into having a family, if you ask me.”
Well, that’s not going to happen. I smile to show I’m not offended.
“You’ll be a grandfather before you know it,” Drake says.
My gaze shoots to him, and I wonder if he’s about to tell his father the truth.
“The meat’s almost done,” Drake says, putting an end to my wishes.
A short time later, the three of us sit down to eat. I hold Colton on my lap, which makes it challenging to eat. Even though I occasionally babysat my brother’s children while I was in college, I’m nowhere near being adept at holding a baby while eating.
I nibble at my food, and when I see that Drake has finished eating, I decide that it’s ridiculous for me to struggle when he could step in and help. I push back from the table, then carry Colton directly to Drake. When I stop next to him, he looks startled.
“Can you hold him so I can eat?” I see him glance at his father before he meets my gaze.
“Uh, yeah. Sure.”
I hand him the baby and watch as he awkwardly positions him on his lap. Satisfied for the moment, I go back to my seat. Taking my time, I eat my meal and watch Drake with his son. It’s as if he’s holding an object on his lap rather than a human being.
“Seeing you with that baby,” Scott says, then he chokes up. “I wish your mother was here. I know she would be so happy for the two of you.” Scott looks at me and smiles. Then he looks back at Drake and Colton. “That’s a cute baby right there, just like I know your babies will be.” Scott’s gaze bounces between Drake and the baby. Chuckling softly, he says, “In fact, that baby looks kind of like you, Drake.”
Except for the occasional gurgle coming from Colton, the room is completely silent.
I can’t stand it anymore. “Maybe you should tell him.”
Scott’s gaze jerks to me. “Tell me what?”
Twenty-Two
DRAKE
What the hell, Ashley?
Furious that she’s pushed me into this position, it takes everything in me not to glare at her. Th
e baby on my lap begins fussing, which notches my irritation higher.
“Tell me what, Drake?” Dad asks.
This isn’t how I wanted to break the news to him. Especially because I’m not even sure this baby is mine. Why stir up a bunch of problems when there’s no need to?
Reminding myself to unclench my jaw, I tear my gaze away from Ashley, whose expression is implacable. Then I meet my father’s eyes. “I have something to tell you.” The baby squirming in my lap reminds me of just how serious this is. “Before I tell you though, I want to make it clear that I’m not even sure that this is true.”
Dad’s forehead is creased as he listens to me. “What are you talking about?”
Sighing audibly, I look at Ashley once more, then turn to my father. “About a year ago I dated a woman named Megan.” The baby begins to cry, maybe because he can sense my discomfort. Gently, I bounce him on my knee. “So, the other night Megan stopped by.” I wonder if Dad is filling in the blanks. He’s quiet, so I go on. “Anyway, this is her baby.” Silence stretches on. “She claims he’s mine.”
Dad doesn’t say anything. Instead, his face shows a mixture of interest and disappointment. “I don’t know what to say.”
Ashley gets up and walks towards me. The baby is still fussing. “Do you want me to take him?”
Hell yeah. “Sure.” I hand him over and watch Ashley as she carries the baby into the kitchen and fixes a bottle.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” Dad asks.
I don’t want to drag this out any longer. “I ordered a paternity test kit. I want to make sure he’s mine before I tell people.”
Dad nods. “I’m not happy about you keeping this from me, but I suppose I understand your reasons.” He frowns deeply. “But, damn it, Drake, what were you thinking?”
Drake and Ashley: The Complete Story Page 54