Indy nodded.
“Do you know whose it is?”
Indy rolled her eyes. “Richard’s. I’m not such a slut that I can’t keep track of who I sleep with.”
Kate shook her head. “I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t know how far along you are and thought maybe it was Griffin’s.”
The thought sent shivers dancing down her back.
“Does he know?”
“Richard planned it. He screwed with the condoms to get me pregnant on purpose.”
“What an ass. What are you going to do?”
Indy cradled the warm cup in her hands. “I don’t know. That’s why I’m here.”
“How far along are you?”
“Don’t know that either. I’m having an ultrasound tomorrow to find out.” She took a gulp of coffee. “Will you come with me?”
“Of course. I’ll call my mother to watch the kids.”
A long, steadying breath calmed Indy. “Thanks.”
“What do you think you want to do?”
Indy lifted her shoulders a fraction. She couldn’t even commit to being confused. “I think I want this baby, but I’m scared. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Does Quinn know?”
“No. Griffin’s the only person I told.”
Kate’s eyebrows shot up.
“He bought the pregnancy test and stayed while I peed on the stick.”
“Really?” Kate drew the word out like she’d heard some astonishingly interesting piece of news.
“Don’t do that. We had our fun, but we’re over. He has his house. I have my commission. Plus, he’s out of town indefinitely for work.”
“Too bad.”
“It’s for the best.” That’s what she’d been telling herself for days.
“You have to tell Quinn.”
“I know. I’m waiting until after the ultrasound.” Hopefully by then she’d be struck by a bolt of wisdom leading her to the right decision.
The following day, Indy and Kate waited for an ultrasound tech in a dimly lit exam room.
“Did you sleep at all?” Kate asked.
“Not much. A lot on my mind.”
“It’ll be okay.” Kate reached out and held Indy’s hand. “You’re not alone.”
The warmth and strength of Kate’s touch loosened tight nerves. The technician entered and introduced herself. Indy couldn’t concentrate on anything. Her brain filled with white noise.
“Lay back and ease the top of your pants down a bit.”
The tech tucked crinkly paper into the waistband of Indy’s open jeans and then squirted clear gel onto Indy’s abdomen. The warm slime slid across her skin.
Indy closed her eyes and waited, unsure of what to expect. Kate patted her hand in reassurance.
“Here you go,” the tech said.
Indy opened her eyes. The computer monitor faced her. A small blob appeared on the screen.
“That’s your baby.”
Indy’s heart rate increased. Small flickers on the screen indicated a heartbeat. Her grip on Kate’s hand tightened. That’s my baby. The reality hit her, and in that moment she was lost. She couldn’t go back or consider abortion. Her baby was a real, live person inside her.
The tech turned the monitor back and said, “I need to take some measurements and then the doctor will be in to talk to you.”
Kate leaned over and kissed Indy’s forehead.
A little while later, the tech finished, wiped excess gel from Indy’s stomach, and printed some papers. She left and the doctor came in, so Indy sat up.
“Hi, Indy. How are you doing?”
“I’m good. This is my friend Kate.”
Kate squeezed her hand. “I’ll wait outside.”
“No, stay.” Indy tugged her back.
The doctor nodded. “According to the measurements we’ve taken, you’re seven-and-a-half weeks along.”
“Huh?”
“You have time to decide what you want to do. There’s no immediate rush, but the sooner, the better.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s not an exact science, but we’re usually pretty close.”
“I’ve decided to have the baby. My baby.”
The doctor made notes in Indy’s file. “Okay. Congratulations, Mom. Take your prenatal vitamins daily and make a regular appointment for next month. Call if you have any problems.”
They shook hands, and the doctor left to see other patients. Indy buttoned and zipped her pants. Kate pulled her into a hug. “Are you sure about this?”
“Hell no.” She laughed, and tears streamed down her face. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“Good. You’re supposed to be scared. What now?”
“I have no idea.”
They walked back to the car and Indy’s phone rang. Griffin again. She wanted to answer it. Wanted to tell him about her baby on the screen. The beautiful blob that was all hers.
Instead she hit Ignore.
She had no right to burden him. They went their separate ways. Now she needed a plan.
Later that evening, she stroked the filmy paper showing her baby’s first picture. The date of conception felt off. She stared at the little white numbers and finally grabbed her calendar. She counted back seven weeks. Three days more. Four. She counted days instead of weeks and arrived at the same destination.
She had somehow gotten pregnant the one week she didn’t have sex with anyone.
A week and a half earlier, Richard. A week later, Griffin.
The doctor had said it wasn’t an exact science. But what if?
She shook her head. Richard compromised the condoms. Griffin always had his own. It was probably a glitch in timing. She carefully put the picture in her purse.
In bed later, she rubbed her belly and wondered if her baby knew how scared she was. She wondered if she’d be a good mom.
The more she thought and wondered, the more she realized she needed to figure out her life.
“You can’t do this.” Quinn’s voice practically squealed.
“Why not? I have nothing here.” Indy grabbed a shirt, studied it, and tossed it in the Goodwill pile.
“Oh, thanks. Now I’m nothing.”
Indy sighed. “You’re not nothing. But you have your own new life as Mrs. O’Leary. You don’t need me. Dad and Lydia can use some help.”
“You’re running away again.”
“I’m not running away. I’m taking time to figure out my life. And what do you mean again?” She folded the last of the clothes she intended to take with her. The rest of her belongings were either headed into storage or being given away.
“Every time life gets too serious, you run.”
She sighed and sat next to her sister on the bed. “The difference is, this time I need to get serious. I can live rent free with Dad. I won’t have to blow any of the money I got from Griffin, which is a good thing, since I’m now jobless.”
“I still think you should be able to sue them.”
“It’s not worth the fight. The agency accused me of sleeping with a client, which I did. Besides, the market’s slow and they suspected I helped Griffin find the house. Wouldn’t you be upset if someone cost you that kind of money? If I make an issue of it, I could cause myself more problems.” She stood and closed the suitcase.
“When are you coming back?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t want to have this baby in Hooperville. I’ll take a break and figure out what I’m going to do. Then I’ll be back.” Maybe by then I’ll be over Griffin. At least Quinn had the presence of mind not to mention him.
“Should I tell Griffin? He asks about you.”
So much for the presence of mind. “No.”
“I don’t understand why you won’t talk to him.” Quinn gathered her coat and purse.
The sickening feeling curled in her stomach again. It hurts too much to think about him. I miss him every day. “He doesn’t need to know my plans. We broke up. He should mov
e on.”
She desperately wanted to ask where he was and how things worked out with the video game, but she knew if Quinn saw any sign of interest, she’d be all over it.
“Can I at least tell him you’re keeping the baby?”
“Why would he care?”
“Sometimes I wonder too, but he does.”
She hugged Quinn. “I’ll see you soon. Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
Indy blinked back tears. This would be the first time she hadn’t lived near Quinn since she brought Quinn to Chicago for college. Although walking away was hard, Indy needed a place where she could clear her head. There were no distractions in Hooperville. And maybe she’d even be able to repair some kind of relationship with her father. She walked Quinn out to the porch and gave her one more hug.
She went back inside, but before she closed the door, the bell rang. She swung around to see Richard standing on her porch. She hadn’t spoken to him since before her dad’s accident. She thought she’d escaped his craziness.
Learning from her previous mistakes, rather than letting him in she grabbed a sweatshirt and went out to meet him. “What do you want, Richard? I thought I was pretty clear when I said I want to have nothing to do with you.”
“I think I have a right to know if you’re having my baby.”
“I’m having the baby.”
“I knew you’d make the right choice. Come back to me, Indy. We can be happy together.”
Her stomach turned again. She remembered his words from their last visit: I have a right to my baby.
The last thing she wanted was for her baby to be one of the ignored status symbols he collected.
“I don’t want to be with you.” She hugged herself against the cold.
He ran his hands up and down her arms. “Can we go inside and talk? I want to be this baby’s father.” His voice got tight. “I have rights.”
She might not be the best mother, but at least she’d try. She had no doubt Richard wouldn’t be a good father. She’d known him to ignore calls from his kids so he could get laid. He missed recitals and games with lame excuses.
“You don’t have a job. How are you going to support yourself?”
“How do you know I lost my job?” She feared the answer. The same sinking suspicion crept through her.
“I just know. I make it my business to know what happens in your life.”
Even without proof, she knew he’d done it. He told her boss she slept with a client. He’d gotten her fired in the hope of getting her back.
“I’m sorry, Richard. We’re done.”
“We’ll never be done, not really. Not as long as we have a child. And if you fight me, I’ll fight back.”
A little light went off in her head. An exit. Safety. “You’re not the father.”
He stumbled back. “What?”
“You’re not the father.”
“You’re lying.”
She shook her head. “Hold on a minute.”
She quickly ran inside and grabbed the ultrasound from her purse, praying this would work. Being tied to Richard forever was unimaginable. His trying to take her baby even worse.
Back on the porch, she handed him the ultrasound. “Do you know what this is?”
“Of course. I’m not that out of touch.”
“Then look in the corner. At the date of conception.” She waited. He continued to stare blankly. “Do the math. The date is a full week and a half after the last time we slept together. You’re not the father.”
He handed her the ultrasound back and sputtered for a minute. “How?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. I think you should leave now. I’m busy.”
He took a half step away. His face crumpled with something beyond sadness. “Good-bye.”
She should feel guilty for lying. She knew she should, but she didn’t. Maybe a little for making Richard sad, but not really. Her baby’s health and well-being had to come first. Richard was not in her baby’s best interest.
She watched Richard walk down the block to his car. She waved to Eddie, who had come out to watch her interaction with Richard. The moving truck pulled up, signaling the start to her new life.
Chapter 12
Griffin kicked at the sand in front of the villa while the phone rang in his ear. When Ryan answered, he said, “Merry Christmas.”
“Hey, Griff. How are you?” He sounded tired, abnormal.
“Good. How are you?”
A shaky breath whistled in his ear. “Okay.”
“Liar. What’s wrong?”
Silence answered. He could see Ryan pacing, his only expression of worry.
“Do I have to call your mom and get her on your ass?”
A slow, quiet chuckle. Progress. “I’m stressed. Quinn’s had some complications. The doctor put her on bed rest. I’ve been running like crazy with the bars, trying to keep busy with her out of work.”
“Shit, is there anything I can do?”
“No. Indy’s here to help out.”
Indy. The name burned through the center of his chest. He wanted to ask about her, what she was doing, if she planned to keep the baby. But he knew better. Over the past months, Ryan had told him they couldn’t talk about Indy.
“Ry, I know we don’t ever talk about it, but you know if you need money . . .”
“No, we’re good.”
More silence.
“Griff, I’m scared shitless. I’ve never felt so completely incompetent. There’s nothing I can do. What if we lose the baby?”
Griffin knew his friend had been holding in the stress so he wouldn’t burden his family. Always the rock, that one. “You won’t.”
In the background, he heard Quinn’s voice. “It’s Griffin,” Ryan told her.
“So, how’s the beach?”
And just like that, the serious conversation ended. Griffin hoped his reassurance, although baseless, helped. “Hot. Sexy women in string bikinis. How’s the snow?”
“Same as it is every year. Quinn wants to know when you’re coming home.”
“A couple more weeks.”
“It’s been a long vacation, especially by your standards. I’m surprised you’ve trusted both your business and your new house to be run by other people.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes stepping back can give you a healthy perspective. Being out of the spotlight has actually been good for my image. Kendra is in heaven. The only publicity about me is what she’s put out.” He paced in the sand.
“That’s good. Look, sorry to cut this off, but the family’s on their way over. We’re hosting Christmas dinner.”
“Wow. You better go then. Give your beautiful wife a kiss for me. Tell the family I said hi.”
“They’re gonna wonder why you’re not here.”
“Tell them I needed a vacation.” He’d only admitted to Ryan that he’d left because of Indy.
They disconnected, and Griffin imagined the noise and chaos of an O’Leary family holiday. He missed them. He smiled at the thought of Quinn dealing with all of them running over her house. Indy would love the instant party.
He walked out on the beach to let the water lap at his feet. Maybe he should go find a date for dinner. The quickest way to forget about a woman was to get a new one. It had always worked in the past.
He hadn’t found anyone who sparked his interest for months. More good news for Kendra, not so much for him.
Three months had passed since Griffin left Chicago. He stepped out of his car into the blustery cold wind. He hadn’t missed the winter.
Indy was a different story.
He hadn’t heard from her since they’d spoken outside the hospital. She wouldn’t return any of his calls, so he’d quit calling. He hadn’t expected her to call either. Avoidance was more difficult in person.
Looking up and down her street, he didn’t see her car. He rang the front bell. She didn’t answer, so he walked down the dark gangway to the back. A small light shone in th
e kitchen. He peered through the window. The room looked different. Then it hit him.
Her cows were gone.
He didn’t want to call her cell. She probably wouldn’t take his call. In person would be better. Griffin went next door to see if Eddie had any information.
When Eddie opened the door, he looked at Griffin for a moment. “Yeah?”
“Hey, Eddie. It’s Griffin. Indy’s friend. Do you know where she is?”
“She moved back home. She said she needed to hang with her pop for a while. If you’re still friends, you shoulda known that.”
“You’re right. Thanks.” Griffin turned back toward his car. She stayed in Hooperville? It didn’t make any sense. Ryan had said she was here at Christmas. Maybe she and her father made amends, but it didn’t seem plausible. Especially since she was pregnant. Somehow, he didn’t think Walt would like the idea.
Unless she wasn’t.
He hadn’t given the idea any real consideration. Indy wanted to have the baby. Regardless of what she said about options, in her heart, she wanted to keep the baby. Griffin had assumed she was still pregnant. He’d even researched what she would look like.
Shit. He didn’t have it in him to drive to Hooperville. Even if he did, what would be the point?
Hey, Indy, I know it’s been three months and I can’t make any promises, but I want you to move back to Chicago.
He didn’t know what to say to her. He’d hoped for inspiration. The way things had ended between them had left him unsettled.
He’d thought about her daily. He avoided Chicago during the holidays and went to Aruba instead. Nothing worked. His time on the beach had been filled with images of Indy in a bikini. Instead of lapping water and rushing waves, he heard her laughter.
He drove to O’Leary’s. Ryan would know where to find Indy. Although Ryan had been under orders from Quinn not to talk about Indy, he had to tell Griffin something. He wasn’t some crazed stalker; he just wanted to talk to her.
The lot was crowded but not packed. When the bar door opened, music drifted out. He pushed through the crowd, the music washing over him, louder than usual.
Then he heard her voice. A freight train rattled in his chest. Indy. He plowed through the people between him and the source of music.
A Good Time Page 18