by G. Bailey
“Will you let me feed her? Only if you want,” he says, almost stumbling a little on his words as he looks nervous. I nod, watching as he opens one of the pre-made bottles and puts a feeding top on it. Harley comes and takes my daughter from me and starts feeding her in his arms, as he sits on the edge of the bed.
“Why are you here? With me? I don’t know many men that would want to help their roommate with their first baby, and you’ve made it clear that’s all I can be to you,” I say, ignoring the sharp shot of pain I feel at even saying those words. I know my hormones are likely making me a little emotional at the moment, but I’m trying to be normal.
“I’m not going anywhere, I’m here for you. I know she isn’t mine, but I want you to know that I’m here,” he tells me gently.
“Is it because of our kisses? I don’t want you to think you owe me anything. I get that you don’t want to be with me, but please don’t help me out of guilt. I plan to move out as soon as I can–”
“Stop,” he tells me, shifting on the bed, so he can look at me, his eyes daring me to look away.
“All I’ve wanted since our last kiss is to kiss you again. Every damn time I look at you. I haven’t stopped thinking about it, about you. I don’t want you to move out, but there is a month until my last fight.”
“When is the fight exactly? The date?” I ask, wondering if I can get him to tell me, now, but at least I know it’s in a month, not long at all. Izzy said it was weird that none of them had been fighting in the last few months. She said that none of them would talk about it, and that’s suspicious enough. This fight must be something else.
“One last fight, and my family will be free. I just need to win it,” Harley says, but it is so quiet that I’m sure he’s just talking to himself and not me.
“Is that why you’re always working out?” I ask him.
“Maybe I just like to work out,” he suggests, but he doesn’t look at me as he says it.
“Who is the fight against?” I ask him.
“It doesn’t matter,” he says.
“Why doesn’t it? You told me you have never lost a fight, so you won’t lose this one,” I say, hope filling me that he might finally be free of his past. That he might eventually have a future.
“I might,” he says, the words causing me to go silent as I look at him, staring down at my daughter in his arms.
“No,” I reply quietly, and Harley doesn’t say a word.
Chapter 15
Harley
“Why don’t you go and take her into the lounge, and I can get the bags?” I tell Tilly who looks up at me with tired eyes. I’m glad she is finally out of the hospital and home. The new baby has been struggling to sleep with the noise of the hospital ward, and I’ve been by her side, trying to help. She still hasn’t chosen a name for the beautiful baby she is holding, but we have all taken to calling her ‘baby girl’ for now. I know it’s difficult with a new baby, just from helping Maisy and Sebastian with Jake.
“Okay,” she nods, walking off, and I open the door to go and get her maternity bags out of the car. I stop in my tracks when I see a man and an older woman standing at the door. The man is a little younger than me, with dark-brown hair and a serious expression. The woman has long, red hair up in a ponytail, and she must be in her late forties as her roots are going grey. When she looks up at me, I know who she is straight away from her eyes.
“You’re Tilly’s mum?” I ask, and she nods, putting her hands on her hips.
“Where is my bloody, runaway daughter?” she asks.
“Tilly!” the man shouts, looking like he wants to try and push me out of the way, but that’s not happening until I know who he is. If this is Tilly’s ex, I’m going to kill him for turning up here, and I’m sure he can tell my thoughts from the strange expression he gives me.
“Devon?” I hear Tilly ask behind me. I move slightly, so Devon can walk into the house, and he hugs Tilly. I look behind her to see the lounge door open, and I know Tilly must have put the baby in the Moses basket for a nap.
“Don’t you dare run off on us like that again. It took me ages to find you, sis,” he says, and she moves away. I watch as Tilly and her mum stare at each other for a long time before Tilly walks over and hugs her mum.
“I don’t believe a word you said over the phone, not a word, Matilda,” she scolds her daughter, and I finally learn her real name.
“Don’t call me that. Jesus, it’s Tilly,” Tilly says, rolling her eyes and making her brother laugh.
“We need to talk, and you have some explaining to do,” her mother says, and Tilly sighs. I walk over, placing my arm on her shoulder. She doesn’t stop me.
“I’m Harley King,” I offer a hand to Tilly’s mum, who shakes it firmly.
“Linda Fox.”
“I’m Devon Fox, and are you dating my sister?” Devon asks walking over. Something about his name sounds familiar. I remember Izzy telling me she dated one of Tilly’s brothers before we met her.
“Yes, and I believe you dated my sister, Izzy? I remember her saying your name,” I reply as we shake hands.
“You’re one of the new brothers,” Devon comments, but I doubt he wants an answer as a baby’s cry fills the room. Tilly moves away from me and walks into the lounge. We all follow, watching her walk over to the baby, who is in the Moses basket.
“Whose baby is that?” Devon asks, stopping by the door in shock, and their mum is just standing staring at Tilly, who rocks her baby gently. I’m pretty sure the red hair and the way Tilly holds her baby are all the answer he needs, but they both seem to stay quiet, waiting for Tilly to actually say the words.
“My baby,” Tilly says quietly, and Linda makes a small, sobbing sound. She walks over and stands next to Tilly, looking down at the baby. I watch as she lifts a shaky hand and touches the side of the baby’s face gently. Linda reaches into her pocket pulling out a tissue and wiping her face.
“Is the baby Daniel’s? I mean, he should know!” Devon says, and a look of panic fills Tilly face as she glances at me. I can actually see her thinking about running away already, and I can’t let her do that. I won’t let her leave.
“The baby girl is mine,” I say and walk over to Tilly, wrapping an arm around her waist as she tries to hide the shock that she is clearly feeling.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know. I’m sorry I didn’t, but I would appreciate it if you don’t tell my ex about where I am. It would only upset him, Devon,” she says, and Devon nods, looking between us. I don’t know if he believes what we are telling him, but something seems to change as he looks at me. I stand firm as we stare at each other, wondering if he is going to attempt to punch me or do something.
“Fine. He is still not over you, but as long as you’re happy,” Devon eventually says, and some part of me is furious that he is sticking up for that asshole. But, I know he doesn’t know what Daniel is really like; what he tried to do to his sister.
“I am.”
“Well, I want a hold of my niece then, what’s her name?” Devon asks, but Linda doesn’t say a word as she stares at me for a long time. Her stare seems to be figuring something out, and I doubt she is as quick to believe our story as Devon is. I’m just wondering if she is going to say something now, or later.
“Can I have a moment alone with my daughter?” Linda asks, and Tilly nods. Devon takes the baby off Tilly, and I lead him out of the room, shutting the door behind us.
“Fair warning, I promise to shove your head up your arse if you hurt her,” Devon says, his voice low as he speaks, so he doesn’t upset the baby, but the protectiveness makes me like him already.
“Funny, I said the same thing to the guy dating Izzy, now,” I say, and he chuckles.
“She happy?” he asks me just as the door opens. Izzy and Blake walk in, and Izzy stops in her tracks when she sees Devon.
“I wondered when you lot would turn up,” Izzy says, and Devon laughs. Blake doesn’t look happy a
s Devon walks over, and slides an arm around Izzy's waist, giving her a side hug.
“Blake, this is Devon, one of Tilly’s brothers,” Izzy introduces them, and Blake just nods.
“Nice to meet you. Izzy, you could have called and let us know about, well . . .” he looks down at the sleeping baby in his arms.
“It wasn’t my secret to tell, Dev,” she replies.
“It’s still a big one. Dad is going to go mad when he finds out. So, will Ace and Grayson,” he comments, and I guess they must be Tilly’s other brothers.
“How is Grayson? I heard he got married and had a kid,” Izzy asks.
“Yep and divorced. He has full custody of my nephew, now, and is moving here soon,” he says. It looks like the Foxes are moving to town. I hope they realise how much of a fucked-up town this place is. They may regret moving here after all.
“And, Ace? Is he, what . . . fifteen now?” she asks.
“Yeah, and an asshole,” Devon replies, making Izzy laugh.
“He was always like that, even as a kid,” Izzy replies. The baby starts crying lightly, and I hold my hands out, watching as Devon slides her into my arms, and I head to the kitchen to sort out a bottle.
“Isn’t it weird that we now share a niece?” Devon comments.
“My daughter is lovely, isn’t she?” I say to Blake and Izzy who give me wide-eyed, confused looks. Thank god, they quickly realise and blank their expressions.
“Yes, lovely,” Izzy says, and Blake shakes his head, with a small smirk.
“I would stay, but the moving vans are coming today, and I can’t leave Ace to sort the stuff out by himself. I doubt he will even answer the damn door,” Devon comments.
“It’s nice to see you again, Devon,” Izzy replies, and he nods, looking between Blake and Izzy for a second, but I see it.
“I’m glad you’re happy,” he says and then walks to the door.
“She is,” Blake says, his words possessive, and Devon gives him one nod. Some kind of understanding between them.
“Tell Tilly I will be over tomorrow,” he tells me. I have a feeling her family are going to be around a lot now.
Chapter 16
Tilly
“Are you disappointed in me?” I ask quietly as my mum sits down on the sofa, and I go to sit next to her. I’m still in shock that she turned up here, and that Harley just claimed to be the father of my baby. The man who says he can’t be with me is being there for me in every damn way anyway. I doubt he sees it like that, though.
“No . . . just a little shocked, Tilly,” she says, leaning back on the sofa and looking around the room.
“This is a nice house, does your boyfriend own it?” she asks me.
“Yes, and his brother Luke lives here, too. Izzy stays over sometimes.”
“I can’t wait to see little Elizabeth. I’ve really missed her, it must be nice to have a friend around,” she says, and I nod. There’s an awkward silence that spreads between us, and I don’t know how to break it. I can’t exactly say sorry for not telling her and yet, I don’t know what to say to her. I don’t like seeing my mum like this, so worried and confused.
“Is dad okay?” I ask, actually wondering why he isn’t here. My dad is not the type to let his wife fight his battles, and I know from the three phone calls I’ve answered, that he isn’t happy with me.
“He had business to clear up before the move, so he won’t be here until tomorrow,” she replies.
“Oh.”
“Ace misses his sister, so does Grayson,” she tells me, and I nod, knowing I miss them, too. I’ve always been close to my brothers. We aren’t far from each other in age.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you run?” She asks me the second question before I can reply to the first.
“I–” I start to say, and she cuts me off.
“Devon may be an idiot and know nothing about pregnancy, but I had four children. You’re pregnant for nine months, and you didn’t leave our house until about four months ago, so there is no way that little baby is Harley’s unless you cheated on Daniel in France. Now . . . you want to say the baby is early to your brothers or even your dad to carry on with this lie, then fine, but not with me,” she says firmly.
“The baby is Daniel’s,” I say, hating to even mention his name out loud or admitting that even a part of my sweet, baby girl belongs to him. I will spend the rest of my life making sure she is nothing like him at all.
“Why doesn’t he know?” she asks me. I look at my mum, with her red hair like mine and the smart look in her eyes as she thinks everything over. I know I should tell her, but the words don’t seem to want to leave my lips. I end up thinking back to Harley, how he told me everything about him, and he wasn’t frightened to do that. I need to be strong like him. At the end of the day, I didn’t do anything wrong.
“The night I left, he hurt me mum, and he tried to–” I take a deep breath “He tried to rape me. I ran away because I don’t want him anywhere near my baby or me. Harley is just protecting me,” I say.
“Oh, Tilly,” she says and pulls me into a hug. We both stay still for a long time as she cries on my shoulder, and I don’t know what else to say. Part of me feels like crying and another huge part of me just wants to forget France. I couldn’t even speak the damn language, anyway, like my brothers can.
“Where is Daniel? He isn’t coming here, is he?” I ask, knowing that if she says he is, I will have to leave. I don’t want to, I don’t want to leave Harley. That arrogant man makes me like him more and more every day.
“No, he stayed. He wanted to come, but he couldn’t leave his work. Honestly, he moved out not long after you and only saw Devon weekly,” she tells me, and part of me is relieved that he wasn’t in their life.
“He is evil, mum, he hurt me once before and used to control me. Everything from what I wore, to where I could go, and when I was away from him, he was obsessively calling my phone and accusing me of cheating on him when I got home,” I tell her, and her eyes widen.
“He won’t come here because if he does, I’m going to kill him, and your dad is going to help,” she tells me. I don’t doubt her; my mum can be scary as hell at times.
“Dad doesn’t need to go back to prison, and I don’t want to lose my mum, either, but Harley won’t let him near me. You’ve seen the man, he is built like a machine, and Daniel would have to be mad to try and go near me,” I reassure her.
“He is a handsome man and a good man to be at your side like this. He’s a keeper,” my mum says, waggling her eyebrows.
“And a complicated man,” I respond, making her smile.
“The best ones always are, but he is there for you. Most men would run,” she says, and I know she’s right.
“Harley wouldn’t run, he isn’t like that. His very nature is to be protective. He brought all his brothers up since their dad died,” I tell her.
“That poor boy,” my mum says.
“And then, took Izzy and me in, knowing about the baby, too,” I say. Mum nods, looking around the room and to the Moses basket. Harley bought the Moses basket and set it all in here for me. He put my favourite bed blanket on the sofa, and there is even a drink left out for me on the side. He must have done all this, getting ready for me to come home.
“Does he know about Daniel?” she asks me quietly.
“Yes, he was the first person I could actually tell. He makes me feel safe, and he understands me. Well, we understand each other . . . I can’t explain it,” I say.
“I don’t have to understand it, only you two do. You know I’m a big believer in fate, and sometimes fate leads us to the only person who can understand you, sweetheart,” she says, placing her hand over mine.
“Mrs. Fox, I mean Linda,” Izzy says as she opens the door and runs into the room. My mum stands up to hug her and Blake comes in, shutting the door behind them.
“Oh Elizabeth, it’s so lovely to see you. You have grown so much since I last saw you,” my mum says as Izzy
pulls away.
“I missed you, too,” she says with a big smile.
“You look the image of your mother, she would be so proud of you. At university and settling down,” she tells Izzy, who gives her a small, sad smile. I know she misses her mum every day, but my mum is right, they do look alike.
“Now . . . who is this handsome man?” Mum asks Izzy, who laughs as Blake comes over.
“My boyfriend, Blake . . . Blake, this is Linda, Tilly’s mum.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Blake says as he shakes mum’s hand.
“The pleasure is all mine,” mum says and winks at Izzy, who laughs. Blake looks a little worried as we all start laughing.
My family is here.
Chapter 17
Tilly
“You have a baby, that baby?” My dad repeats for the third time since I explained everything and pointing at my daughter in her pushchair by the door. Harley is standing next to her and gives me a sympathetic look. I haven’t even had a chance to introduce him, yet. I know my mum told him and has been trying to calm him down all morning before we got here. I guess it’s not every day you find out your only daughter has a baby that you didn’t know about.
“Yes,” I repeat.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” he asks me, standing up with his hands on his hips and glaring down at me. My dad is a scary person, and he is as big as Harley is, with his muscular arms and serious expression. All the kids at school used to be scared of him, except for Izzy, who knows he is just a big teddy bear . . . usually. Except at times like this.
“Darling, Tilly isn’t a child anymore, and yes, she should have told us, but does it matter? We have a granddaughter,” my mum says, her tone soothing. It always seems to be able to calm my dad down.