Delta's Baby Surprise (Special Forces Elite 1)

“What happened last time?” Aria asked looking up from the math work in front of her.

“Yeah, Mom,” Emma echoed, “What happened last time?”

I half wanted to say that last time Aria was brought into existence just to wipe that smug look off of Emma’s face. I didn’t however.

“Em caked so much makeup on me, some people thought I was a rodeo clown,” I said instead.

“Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad,” Emma said crawling up from laying on my bed. “I’ll just supervise to make sure you are doing it right.”

“I think I can do it without supervision. I am a grown woman, that does her own make up every day. How about you go take Aria to the kitchen and start dinner.”

“Actually,” Em said looking sideways at Aria, “I was thinking we would order pizza tonight and watch some movies?”

Aria nodded her agreement with that plan.

“Fine,” I said waving the two off as I made my way down to the bathroom to finish getting ready. “But nothing scary. I don’t want her up all night with nightmares.”

I couldn’t help thinking again about the night I had met Barrett as I did my own hair and makeup. That night I had felt so out of my skin dressed and done up to Emma’s liking. I secretly hoped that wasn’t what he was expecting this time around.

Perhaps he had liked that young, innocent girl that he had met eight years ago. The one willing to go into a private room and let him have his way. If that was the case, he was going to be disappointed. If anything I was more prudish than I was back then.

For the eleventh time that night, I had to repeat my mantra. This wasn’t a date. It shouldn’t matter if Barrett was disappointed with the woman who greeted him at the door. I was only doing this to get to know him better, to tell Aria something of her father one day. There would be nothing else to this night.

Twelve

Barrett

I had returned home from work happier than I could remember being in a long time. Not only would I be having a date with Lilly tonight, I had finagled picking her up at her own house.

This would give me a chance to set eyes on this mysterious child of hers. I had hoped she would have brought up at least an acknowledgment of having a kid this afternoon but she didn’t.

It could have just simply been because single mom’s didn’t tend to announce that sort of a thing to a guy who showed interest. I was feeling it was more due to the fact that she didn’t want me to ask questions and connect the dots.

I knew it was an irrational thought, but I was sure that if I saw the child tonight, I would know for sure if it was mine or not.

After a quick shower and a change into some more comfortable clothes, I set off for Lilly’s house. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was for this night. I supposed it was just the anticipation of seeing the child.

I pulled up to the parking garage

of Lilly’s complex. Taking a deep breath I stepped out of the car. I took the elevator to the right floor, but before I could even get down the hall to her apartment, Lilly was already slipping out with the door shut tight behind her.

“I saw you coming so I thought I would just save you the trip,” she said by way of explanation.

“Oh,” I said not very good at hiding my disappointment. “I didn’t mind walking the whole way, though.”

“I know. I just…I don’t know if I told you…but I have a daughter. I don’t go out much.” she said clearly wanting to move on from the subject.

“A daughter? Really?” I did my best to pretend like I didn’t know nor did I have suspicions that the child was born right around our last meeting.

It was a setback in that I didn’t get a peek like I had hoped, but I relished in the knowledge that it was a girl. I had a daughter.

“You know,” I said, when I figured she probably didn’t believe my pathetic attempt at lying. “I think I remember reading something about that in your medical record.”

“Actually that probably sounds pretty bad,” I corrected instantly.

“No,” she said hiding her laugh. “It’s totally normal to be going out with a guy who knows my whole medical history.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better,” I said as I walked her over to the passenger side of my BMW, “not your whole record. Just certain parts of it.”