She blushed when she realized he was watching her. Pulling the shirt on, she turned back to the mirror to finish applying her makeup. He probably should’ve felt guilty, but all he could think about was her pink bra. She looked good in it, and he could imagine her looking even better without it.
She interrupted his PG 13 thoughts, which were careening wildly toward an R rating, when she said, “I need to talk to him before the party.” The tremor in her voice was slight, letting Billy know she had almost regained her composure. She was doing better than he was.
“I know.” He didn’t intend to sound harsh, but he hated everything about it. He hinted that he wanted to be there with her, but Bridget had ignored him. She was no longer the scared sixteen-year-old girl who needed him. She was strong, and Phillip no longer had the power over her he used to.
Bridget reached for Billy. This time she touched his cheek and looked into his eyes giving him a weak smile. “You don’t need to worry, Billy.” That didn’t banish his uneasiness. Nothing would, not when it came to Katie and her.
Billy reached out for Bridget, placing a hand on her waist and pulling her close. Tucking her head under his chin, resting his cheek on the top of her head, he let her scent and her softness comfort him. “You don’t have to see him…”
Billy prayed she would take this chance to back out. He wanted an opportunity to tell that man off.
“Billy, please, stop. This is hard enough.”
“Are you going to tell me everything that happened between you two?” he asked.
“Yes.” Her voice wavered, but her reply was firm.
“Tonight.” It wasn’t a question.
“Okay.”
“We’re also going to talk about that kiss. We have a lot to discuss.”
Bridget sucked in a deep breath and nodded against his chest. “Tonight.”
Without looking at him, she pulled away.
Chapter Fourteen
November 1995
Bridget
Bridget woke early after the most restful sleep she’d experienced in months. The stress of hiding her secret from her father had kept her up most nights.
Sliding out of bed, she stood and stretched. Her shirt rose above her belly, exposing her new outie belly button. As she peered at herself in the reflection of a large window near the bed, she noticed the big and the subtle changes her body had made. She rubbed her little bump, already madly in love with the human growing inside. Five months left until she would meet the little one. Only five months to figure out what she was going to do.
Last night, she had been too tired to look around, so this morning was her first real look at the studio apartment. It was one long, open room with a small kitchen area. The only walled area contained the bathroom and coat closet that also held a stacked washer and dryer. It was charming, and she loved it. The walls were brick with four tall windows across one wall, bringing in natural light. The furniture was outdated but in good shape. She imagined what she’d do with it if she lived there. It was strange to feel more at home in this space than she had in her father’s house. The apartment was warm and inviting, even if it was a little bare.
Her stomach growled, giving her a warning. If she didn’t get something in her stomach right away, she’d end up dry heaving into the toilet. Though she felt better than she had the first three months, she still suffered from morning sickness. It wasn’t nearly as bad without the constant weight of worry sitting in her gut like a brick. Billy showed her compassion after just meeting her. His actions gave her a renewed hope for her future.
The first time her eyes met Billy’s, time stopped. He scared her, but at the same time, he drew her in. She was aware of his every movement. She knew he had been watching her. She wanted to do the same but was afraid of getting caught. She got the sense that she’d known him before, but she would remember someone like him.
Billy.
At the very lowest moment of her life, his offer of food and a place to stay lifted her.
She dug through her bag for saltine crackers, popping in two at a time, curbing the hunger and nausea at the same time. With a stomach that was slightly settled, she hopped in the shower, put on fresh clothes, and made her way down to the diner through the back door.
As Bridget stepped through the diner’s back door, she waved at Chuck, whom she was surprised to see after their late night. Without asking, he handed her a plate of eggs, hash browns, and toast and told her to go sit and eat. She didn’t argue. If it wasn’t for the baby, she might have, but her baby came first, and she was starving.
She sat on the same stool as the night before, looking around, hoping to see Billy, but he was nowhere in sight. Diane placed an arm around her. “You look a little better this morning.” Bridget could only nod with her mouth full. Another waitress rushed back and forth between the kitchen and the dining area; too busy to stop, she gave Bridget a warm smile. “Lauren, this is Bridget, the gal I told you about from last night.” News traveled fast.
“Nice to meet you, Bridget,” Lauren called over her shoulder.
Still chewing, Bridget gave her a small wave.
Within minutes, Bridget’s plate was practically licked clean. She took it back to the kitchen, dropping it in the sink. She looked around the kitchen then back at the increasing pile of dirty dishes. Everyone was too busy to pay attention to what she was doing. She slid an apron over her head and got to work. Halfway through the pile, Diane stepped up to Bridget and bumped her hip. “Thanks! You saved me. Our dishwasher called in sick this morning, and I was not looking forward to rushing back and forth between cleaning dishes and waitressing.” Bridget smiled and blushed. Bridget didn’t say it, but it was the least she could do.
The morning flew by, and before she knew it, Billy walked in through the back door, surprise showing on his face. “What are you doing?” he asked. Her stomach did a quick somersault. His facial features, which looked so harsh last night, seemed softer somehow. He slid his hand through his shoulder-length hair still wet from his shower. She slowly released a breath, letting her brain catch up so she could answer.
“Attempting to pay you back.” She lifted her fingers one by one as she counted each thing he did for her, making sure he knew she kept track.
“You don’t owe me anything, but I appreciate it. This is a huge help. Why don’t you come with me so we can talk some more?” He waited for her to dry her hands and pull off the apron before guiding her to his office. Billy closed the door behind her, offered her a seat, and sat across from her behind the heavy metal desk.
He looked at her belly then met her eyes. “How you feeling today?”
“I had the best sleep I’ve had since…” Out of habit, she rubbed her stomach as she spoke. She couldn’t remember the last time she slept so well. Before her mother got sick, she guessed.
“After we talked last night, I came up with a few ideas—you know—about your situation.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m going to check out the shelters.”
His brows furrowed as he shook his head. “I don’t like that idea.” Before she could respond, he said, “This is what I was thinking. You work here on the weekends and during the dinner rush. You can live in the studio apartment for as long as you need. The pay isn’t great, but you can eat your meals for free here. I do have one condition, though.” Bridget sat up straight, curious as to what he was going to say. “You have to finish high school.” He leaned back in his chair to wait for her to respond.
She wasted no time. She was on her feet, walking around his desk. He looked confused as he stood to meet her. She wrapped her arms around him. Her whole body shook as she released all the pent-up stress and worry of the past few months. He held her, letting her cry it out. In the short time she’d known him, her affection for him doubled. “Thank you. I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’re offering me. I swear. I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you. I’ll be the best employee you’ve ever had,” Bridget promised.
>
He held her face in his hands, wiping her tears with the pads of his thumbs. “You owe me nothing, Bridget. You will never owe me. I want you to take care of yourself and your baby.”
“I am. I will,” Bridget promised as she stepped away. “Thank you, Billy,” she said one last time.
Chapter Fifteen
March 1996
Billy
“Chuck, add extra vegetables and salad to the order.” Bridget narrowed her eyes at Billy. She was two days past her due date and getting grumpier by the minute. “Don’t give me that look. The book said you need more vegetables.” Billy pointed to what he referred to as the “Pregnancy Bible”. On the advice of one of the regulars, he bought it a few days after he met her.
She picked it up, chucked it across the dining room and turned back to scowl at him. “If I want more vegetables, I’ll ask for them.” He expected her eyes to shoot lasers and her head to start spinning. Up until a few days ago, she was upbeat and happy. But the cute, friendly girl disappeared behind a massive belly, swollen ankles, and an ugly temper. The poor thing looked miserable. Today was the first time she had agreed not to work. He’d been begging her to take a break for weeks, but her stubbornness always won out.
“Never mind, Chuck. Bring out her greasy food that has no nutritional value,” Billy teased. If he thought she was pissed before, he was sorely mistaken.
Bridget wobbled off the stool and headed to the kitchen with barely a glance back at him. She was cute when she was pissed. It was hard to tell she was pregnant from behind, but once she turned to the side, there was no mistaking it.
Billy couldn’t help himself, he followed her and stood near his office as she made herself a huge salad and sat on a chair next to the back door. “Happy?”
As a matter of fact, he was. This was the most entertained he’d been since she showed up months ago. In a matter of weeks, she became part of the family, and all the regulars loved her.
At least once a day, someone left a gift for the baby. She hated it, not the gift itself but people buying her things. Bridget was adamant about supporting herself and her baby girl. It was one more thing he admired about her. The list was getting long. In a matter of weeks, being around her had changed Billy’s mood. He only knew because Diane loved to point it out. He couldn’t help it. He liked her. He liked helping her. He felt...needed.
Even though she hated gifts, he and Diane snuck looks at the Sears Catalog she carried around that had items she wanted, circled. With every paycheck, Bridget bought something from her list. A few months ago, all the employees put their money together and bought her a crib and the bedding set she had her heart set on. Under her angry glare, Billy could tell she appreciated it. She thanked them, but it was hard for her to accept the gift. After much arguing, she even allowed him to set it up in the apartment. At least once a week, while she was at school, he left an item from the catalog on her doorstep.
Neither mentioned it.
Mid-bite, Bridget dropped her fork onto her plate and grimaced. “I think I’m done eating. I’m not feeling so good.”
Oh my God. This could be it. He ran to the dining room to pick up the pregnancy bible and looked up labor pains. Billy flipped through the book, reading the signs of labor. It didn’t appear it was time yet, but he wasn’t going to leave her alone tonight.
Diane stopped him on his way back to the kitchen. “She was complaining about her back hurting earlier.”
“That girl!” He gritted his teeth. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
Diane chuckled at his annoyance. “We need to take turns staying with her until this baby comes. I can take tonight and you can do tomorrow. Of course, we’ll have to make something up so she’ll let us stay.” Diane shook her head at the thought.
“No. I’ll stay tonight, and she doesn’t have a choice.” Billy marched into the kitchen determined to tell her what’s what.
She was gone.
“Where’d she go?” Chuck pointed up and returned to flipping hamburger patties on the grill.
Before heading up the stairs, Billy called Freja to let her know that she could get a hold of him at Bridget’s. “That’s a good idea. Tell her ‘hi’ for me. And give the poor girl a break; you’re acting like an obsessive older brother.”
“She’s alone…”
“I know. I know. Go be with your little, pregnant friend. Call me if anything happens.”
“Love you.”
Freja laughed into the phone. “Love you, too.”
He tucked the book under his arm and ran up the stairs two at a time. Billy made the mistake of not knocking and caught Bridget trying to pull her shirt off. “Here let me.” It didn’t faze him to see her; it was more fascinating than anything to see someone so tiny with such an enormous belly.
She shrieked at his voice and turned away. “Billy! Don’t look.” It was too late. He saw. Then it hit him; she’s sixteen and had her shirt off in front of him.
“Sorry!” He turned around while she finished changing.
He could hear her struggle and grumble under her breath. This baby better come soon, before she started tearing people apart. He wondered how she handled school when she was like this. “Do you have a bag ready?”
She humphed and asked, “Bag?”
“Hospital bag,” he clarified.
“Oh. Yeah. I’m not done packing. I’ll do it tomorrow. I’m too tired now.”
“I’ll help you.” Billy didn’t want to have to do it when she was already in labor, assuming Bridget asked him to come with her. Not that he was going to wait for an offer; he was going regardless. Even though he had no experience with babies, let alone a woman in labor, he’d been studying. Bridget asked Diane to come with her, but he and Diane had the same amount of experience. Diane might be motherly, but she had no desire to have kids of her own.
“Billy. Go. Home.”
With his back still turned, he smiled at her agitation. “I think I’ll stay tonight if you don’t mind.”
“I do. I’m tired and grumpy.”
“So am I,” he said cheerfully.
“Ugh. Fine.” A pillow hit him in the head, followed by a blanket.
He was relieved she let him win this one with barely an argument. She must really not be feeling well.
After making a bed on the couch, Billy waited for her to fall asleep before he started packing a bag for her and the baby. His bag was already set and waiting in the truck.
Bridget and he had created a baby corner near her bed. The corner had a crib, dresser, and a rocking chair. Two bookcases filled with books from garage sales divided the space between her bed and the baby’s. A curtain hung to one side, keeping the area dark so Bridget wouldn’t have to keep all the lights off when the baby was sleeping.
In the short amount of time she’d lived there, she had transformed the apartment into a little home. He enjoyed his time with her after work. He’d built furniture, hung out and watched movies on the old TV, and helped her with homework.
It fascinated him to watch her belly grow and to see her glow with happiness. At times, sadness hung heavy over her but never for long. He wanted to ask more questions about her parents and the father of the baby, but every time he brought them up, she found a way to avoid his questions.
Billy let it go, hoping one day she would trust him enough to talk about it.
His affection for her had only increased. She tugged at his heartstrings with her cheerfulness and bravery. She worked her little heart out day after day, rarely taking a break. She was up first thing in the morning, helping with the morning rush until she had to go to school. She came straight home and after a snack and a nap, she worked the dinner rush then did her homework until she crashed. Not once had she complained, even when he started telling her what to eat for the baby. He also made her take a walk every evening. Doctor’s orders. She huffed at his bossiness but never complained.
This girl was going to be a mom soon and a great one. As her due date drew closer,
then passed, his excitement increased. He couldn’t wait to meet her baby girl.
Girl. She’s having a girl.
He smiled to himself. A week after she arrived, he drove her to her first doctor’s appointment. Scared, she asked him to come into the exam room with her. It was awkward until the doctor put a Doppler on her belly and they heard the heartbeat for the first time. Billy took her hand and squeezed it as he experienced one of the most incredible moments of his life. She was growing a human being. He never put much thought into it before, but that day he saw it for what it was, a miracle. A few weeks later, they did the same thing as she got her first glimpse of her daughter on the ultrasound machine.
Bridget smiled as they watched her little girl wiggle around for the camera. He cried big crocodile tears. It was Billy’s first time experiencing anything like that. When they returned from the doctor, he framed the ultrasound picture and hung it up behind the register. She smiled every time she passed it. And soon, Bridget’s baby girl would be on the outside. That part scared him. He’d never even held a baby before. Diane talked him into secretly taking a Dad-to-Be class, where he learned how to bathe a baby and change diapers among other things, but they only used dolls.
Bridget startled him when her eyes popped open and she sat up abruptly. He followed her eyes to the wet spot on her pajama bottoms. “I think I just peed myself.”
Billy jumped up and ran around in a circle before he pulled himself together. “Your water broke.” His voice was unusually high pitched.
“How do you know?”
“The book.” Billy pointed to the infamous holder of all pregnancy knowledge.
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