Midlife Baby (Small Town Lovers)

Levi looked up with a burger perched on the edge of his spatula and smiled. “When did you become such a relationship expert?”

I shrugged off his backhanded compliment. “It’s a professional curse. You hear enough relationship problems and you start to see patterns. Besides, I see all and I know all.”

“Yeah?” Levi looked around. “Do you see where the damn buns are, because I can’t find them?”

I laughed and pointed to the table behind him. “You really are nervous about this proposal. Maybe I should watch the grill and you can go do it now.”

“Nah, I still need to think on it.” He laughed and watched Lacey as she walked across the yard with a bright smile on her face as she greeted everyone who’d shown up. “I’ll think of something special.”

“I have no doubt, my friend.”

“You’ve heard about Margot?” He asked, and I nodded.

“I’ve heard.” And the woman still hadn’t come to me to let me in on the supposed secret. “Everyone is talking about it.” And they still hadn’t let up on the issue of her age or the identity of her baby’s father. They were all taking bets, guessing and gossiping nonstop, and still she left me in the dark.

In the fucking dark about my own damn child. She had to know I’d already heard the news, yet still she said nothing. I knew Margot was a snob, but I didn’t know until this week just how cruel she could be when motivated.

I spent most of the afternoon listening to, not gossip, but concerned conversation regarding Margot and her pregnancy. Lacey wondered if she would still be able to work such long days when her body started to change. Pippa hoped she wasn’t too stubborn to ask for help, and Valona planned to force her to hire an assistant before it was too late.

These women, I realized, were the closest things to friends Margot allowed herself to have. She kept herself apart from people. Not the town, she was quick to volunteer to help wherever she was needed, but she didn’t strike me as the type of woman to just show up at someone’s house to chat or vent about her problems. She handled it all herself, and she thought she could handle this baby on her own—without me—exactly the same.

The more I thought about it the angrier I became. I didn’t mind an independent woman, even a stubborn one determined to do things the hard way rather than ask for help. Hell, I kind of respected that. What I didn’t respect is the reason she kept it all a secret was because she was ashamed.

Ashamed she’d gotten knocked up by a bartender instead of stockbroker.

Ashamed she’s having a baby with a man beneath her station in life.

She was just plain ashamed, and that was something I couldn’t respect, and the moment the barbecue wrapped up as most townsfolk made their way to the park for the movie and fireworks, I went in search of Margot. I had a few choice words for her, and since she forced me to come to her, she would damn well listen to what I had to say.

I spotted her within minutes at the park. She was as pretty as a picture in her yellow dress cinched in at the waist, prim and proper though it showed off her mouthwatering cleavage. She laughed with Carlotta and Chase as if everything in her world was right and perfect, meanwhile I was torn up inside because of her.

“Margot,” I growled. “Got a minute?”

She looked up and I could tell by the look in her eyes and the straight set of her lips that she was about to run away so I grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure you don’t run away, then again you’re not exactly in the position to be running from me now are you?”

She froze at my words, but her eyes widened in fear. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she growled and leaned in closer. “And please lower your voice.”

“Are you going to run the minute I let you go, or will you stand here like an adult and talk to me?”

Her nostrils flared with anger or frustration, I couldn’t tell, and I didn’t give a damn. “How can we talk like adults when you’re gripping me like an animal?”

I laughed. “If I wanted to be an animal I’d toss you over my shoulder and march you out of here in front of the whole damn town. That would really send tongues wagging, which is exactly what you don’t want, right?”

At my words her body sagged in resignation. “Fine, I won’t run.”

I nodded and released her. “You’re pregnant,” I said plainly. “Isn’t there someone you forgot to tell?”

“Don’t worry Grady, I’m not expecting you to do anything.”