Christmas Baby for the Billionaire (South Shore Billionaires 1)

CHAPTER SIX

SATURDAY AFTERNOON TEA had become a weekly ritual, as long as Tori’s mom wasn’t on shift at the hospital. This weekend was no different from any other, except that Tori was anxious about telling her mom that Jeremy was in town. While Shelley was supportive, she wasn’t a fan of how the pregnancy had happened, during a summer fling. Neither was Tori, to be honest. It would be different if it was an accident in an actual relationship based on love and not just...lust. But they had both agreed that since nothing could be changed, it was about looking to the future.

Now she was sitting in her mom’s living room, nibbling on a gingersnap as her mom brought in a teapot and a little jug of milk, no sugar. Neither of them liked it in their tea.

Tori poured a cup and handed it to her mom, then poured one for herself. She took a sip of the hot brew and felt her muscles relax. There was nothing like a cup of tea to settle her thoughts.

“You’re feeling okay?” Shelley said, looking over the rim of her mug with worried eyes. “You look a little pale. Is your iron low?”

“A little tired, maybe. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. But everything’s fine. I go for my ultrasound in a few days.”

“When?”

“Tuesday.”

“I’m on day shift. I can see if someone will switch if you want company.”

Her mom’s eyes lit up when she said it, and Tori got the idea she was looking for an invitation. But Tori wasn’t sure she wanted company. She almost thought she wanted to go alone and have some time with the baby. It didn’t really make sense; the baby wasn’t even born yet, and she was “alone” with him or her all the time. Maybe it was just because she was overwhelmed.

“That’s okay. I’ll get pictures and everything and show you, okay?”

“Okay. If that’s what you want.” Shelley smiled and reached for a cookie, but before she could take a bite, Tori blurted out the truth.

“Jeremy’s in town.”

Shelley dropped the cookie. It hit the coffee table and sugar sprinkled everywhere.

“The Jeremy? The father?”

She nodded and focused on her cup. “Yeah. He came on business and thought he’d look me up. And found me like this.” She pointed to her stomach.

Shelley sat back on the sofa. “Oh, honey. Well, at least now he knows.”

Tori looked

up at her mom and grimaced. “Yeah. That decision was taken out of my hands.”

“Maybe it’s for the best. I know it’s awkward, but I always thought he should know.”

“I know. And me too, really. I’m just...scared.”

“Scared that he’ll what? Leave you alone? Not be supportive?”

On the contrary. Tori took another fortifying drink of tea. The other day, looking at houses, that kiss... All it had done was remind Tori of how much she’d enjoyed being with Jeremy in the first place. Yes, their relationship had been mostly physical over the summer. But she’d liked him...a lot. While she hadn’t fostered any dreams of being whisked away to a fairy-tale ending, she had cherished their time together and had tucked the memories away as something very special. Her biggest fear was how to negotiate parenthood without letting her heart get involved. He was a good guy, underneath. He could have made things difficult for her, and instead he was taking his time, not making any demands. But for how long?

She was sure that at some point there was going to be a price to pay.

“You’re quiet, so I guess there’s more going on here than you want to talk to your mom about.” Shelley’s eyebrow lifted in a wry expression, but it wasn’t condemning. They were close, but Tori had never really shared all the details with her mom.

“He’s rich, Mom. Like lots-of-zeroes rich. And if he wanted to, he could make things really difficult.”

“Do you think he would?” Concern overtook Shelley’s face and her eyes darkened.

“I don’t want to think so. He’s nice. Caring, really. He hasn’t made any demands. We’re just...talking.”

“Talking is good.”

“He wants to be a part of the baby’s life.”