“Ready for cake?” His green eyes shine at me with tenderness.
“Sure.”
“I thought you said the baby hates chocolate,” Tina says, then she slaps a hand to her mouth, and freezes.
My face drops and the room goes quiet other than Thea yelling for her cake.
“Cake, Daddee. Cake.” She yanks on the sleeve of his shirt with her spaghetti stained fingers.
Sawyer is staring at me and though his mouth is open like he is going to speak no words are coming out.
“I’m sorry, Cam,” Tina whispers. I shake my head with a weak smile. It’s not her fault. Not like she spilled the beans on purpose.
I look back to Sawyer. “Can I talk to you in private?”
“V, can you get Thea some cake please.”
“Yeah, man. You got it.”
Sawyer nods at him and his chair makes a screeching sound as he pushes it back. I follow him out to the front porch where he is leaning over the railing looking down at the ground. I can’t tell what’s going through his head. I’m sure he is feeling a range of emotions. I’ve had months to get used to the idea of being a mother. Sure he is already a father but he didn’t sign up for this with me.
“How long?”
“What?”
His head snaps up. His dark hair lays over his forehead and those green eyes cut into me like daggers. “How long have you known?”
“Almost two months give or take a week.”
“How far along?”
“Around three and a half months.”
“It’s mine?” The words come out as more of a statement, but I answer him anyway.
“Yes. Listen…” I don’t get to finish because he is cutting me off.
“Were you going to tell me?”
“At first, no, but then you showed up to move my couch, and I panicked. I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again. Hell, I didn’t even know your name and you didn’t know mine. It was one night but then a second night happened, and I didn’t hear from you at all for weeks and you came into the shop today with Thea. I thought maybe I’d come here tonight and see how you were with her and that I would make up my mind. But I knew at some point no matter what happened here that I would have to tell you. So, yes, Sawyer. I’m pregnant and you’re the father. Whatever you decide I will understand.”
“Whatever I decide.” He laughs bitterly.
“Well…yes. I don’t expect anything or want anything from you. I mean, sure I’d like you to be involved if that’s what you want but if it’s too much…”
“What do you want, Camreigh?”
“What do you mean?”
Sawyer steps into my space and backs me up against the side of the trailer
. “What if I told you that I want you. What would you say to that?”
“Want me how?” I ask him, but I believe I know the answer.
“You—the baby. I want both of you. The first time around with Thea’s mom, I did things the wrong way. We may have started that same way, but I’m willing to give this a shot. You, me, the baby, and Thea.”
“You don’t even know me.” Though deep inside of me there is a part of me who longs to have a family of my own. My family is dead and gone other than Char and Cooter. My baby and Tina are all I have in this world who matter to me.