“I got it Cy.” I pulled the sheet over my head.
Eventually, I heard the front door shut and the clunk of his shoes going down the stairs. Only then did I allow myself to cry. I cried for the love that would never be reciprocated. I cried for my child that wouldn’t know the love of two parents together like April and Jude gave to Maya and Bertie.
But then I remembered Maya, who spent the first seven years of her life without her father and she was a great kid. April had done a great job. Of course, she had money and August to help her. But April told me she’d be here for me. And it sounded like Jude would be too.
I pressed my hand over my belly. “It will all work out, little one.” I hoped to hell I wasn’t lying to my child.
The next day, I forced myself to go through the motions of life again. I rose, showered, ate breakfast and headed downstairs to start making cupcakes. Libby didn’t come until we opened, so I had the kitchen to myself for a few hours. When I thought it was late enough, I texted April.
Cy was here last night.
That seemed to say it all, so I just left it at that.
OMG, are you okay? I’ll be there soon. Christmas shopping can wait.
She arrived just after the midmorning rush left. She came around the counter and gave me a hug. “Tell me everything.”
Libby looked at us curiously.
“Can you watch the front?” I asked her. We were busier now with Christmas a few weeks away, but she was a fast learner and had lots of energy.
She nodded. “That’s why I’m here.”
I led April back to the kitchen where I had a small office. I didn’t want to leave Libby completely alone as the lunch bunch would be in soon.
“I’m so sorry, Petal,” April said, as she sat in the chair near my desk. “I didn’t realize you hadn’t said anything to Cy.”
“It’s my fault.” I sank into my chair feeling so weary. Only this time I was sure it wasn’t the baby. I was emotionally exhausted.
“So, what happened?”
“He was pissed. He thinks I wasn’t going to tell him.”
She arched a brow. “Were you? Because you said you would and then didn’t.”
“Yes!” God, not her too. “I just…I didn’t want to burden him. His mom is fighting for her life. He has a new fiancé—”
“That I don’t get.” April had a look of disgust. “How can he be sleeping with you one night and engaged the next?”
“I don’t think it was that fast, but it’s the woman he was engaged to before. I guess now that he was home, they reconciled.” I rubbed my hand over the piercing pain in my chest.
“It’s good that he was mad, though,” Apri
l said.
“Oh really?” It hadn’t felt good when he was blasting at me.
“It shows he cares. He wants to be a father. That’s good, right?”
I nodded. “He said he wants to come to all the doctors appointments and—” My eyes welled with tears again.
“What?” April asked, her eyes turning sad.
“He said he’d talk to a lawyer about visitation when the child was old enough to travel. In the meantime, he’d travel back here.”
“Were you hoping he’d want to stay?”
“At one time, yes. But I realize that even if he were here and not angry, he and I wouldn’t ever be like you and Jude.”