The Moment of Truth

He’d put the town’s welfare first. The choice didn’t surprise Josh. He’d like to think that he’d have done the same. And wasn’t sure he’d even have had the foresight to think about the town.

Sam squeezed his shoulder. “Let me know about Thanksgiving. And no matter what happens, you’re family and my door is open to you. Anytime. Night or day.”

Without waiting for a response, Sam walked back to his truck, got inside and drove away.

In business terms, Josh had just been closed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

FOR ALL THE RUSH, the move went much more smoothly than Dana would have expected. She and Josh went shopping for groceries Friday night before separating to do some last-minute things at their respective places. And by noon on Saturday, having taken off the weekend from her volunteering duties, she was in the new house. By four that day, Josh’s things were there, too.

He’d hired someone to clean both of their old houses, to ready them for new tenants, and was off overseeing the work, while she was supposed to be unpacking. Part of his economic plan was for them to share household items, and when she’d told him that she wanted to put things away so she’d know where to find them, he’d easily agreed.

“If he’s going to be this agreeable, this whole living together thing won’t be too bad,” she told the kitty and two dogs, who’d been following her around all afternoon. She’d made a quick stop to visit with a family who was interested in adopting a rescue dog just after lunch, but she’d been home ever since.

A home that had been overflowing with people—none of whom knew about the baby yet. Lillie had been with her all morning, helping her direct traffic and choose where everything should be placed as it was brought in off the truck. And Lori, Sharon, Jerome, Jon and Abraham had stopped in that afternoon. Mark, who’d been in the truck with the Swartz men, got all their computer and television networking hooked up for them. Jon offered to replace the sliding-glass door in the back with French doors. She gratefully accepted his offer.

She hadn’t yet told her four-legged family that there’d be a man living with them. Hadn’t so much as gone into Josh’s room yet. As she’d unpacked, she’d left his boxes stacked in the hallway outside his closed bedroom door. He’d be lying in his own bed alone. He could make it.

Other than Cassie and Zack, who’d had to know in case they were concerned about a pregnant woman having volunteer counselor duties, she hadn’t told anyone yet. The fact that she and Josh were moving in together was enough of a shock to deal with. No one other than Jerome had even known that she and Josh were an item. She’d needed to keep the rest of her news to herself for a few more days.

Late that afternoon, alone in her new home for the first time all day, she unwrapped plates and glasses and put things away. “This is our home now,” she told the motley crew watching her. Her home. Her first home. She’d called her mother. Told her she was moving in with her boyfriend, a man she loved with all of her heart. Because she couldn’t move without letting Susan know her new address.

She’d cried for ten minutes after she hung up. She hadn’t told her mother about the baby yet, either.

She’d meant to. She’d meant to tell everyone else. And then she hadn’t.

At least she wouldn’t be alone over the next nine months, whether Josh loved her or not.

She had friends. And a man who was going to support her and be a great father to her baby. So why in the hell were there tears dripping down her face and onto the dishes she was trying to put away?

* * *

SHE WAS IN THE HOME. Had turned over the keys to her duplex. His temporary rental was also empty. The first phase of Josh’s project was almost complete.

Maybe tomorrow, they could go shopping for baby furniture. Get the nursery set. So if Dana decided to kick him out when she heard who he was, if she refused to take another thing from him, at least she’d have the basics.

Have you told your mother yet? she’d asked as they were setting boxes outside his bedroom door. She’d been talking about their moving in together.

Of course he hadn’t. And the look on her face had been reminiscent of an expression he’d seen Michelle wear more times than he could count. He knew what it meant now. Disappointment. Hurt.

On his way back to the house Saturday evening, he pulled off to the side of the road and hit his mother’s speeddial number.

“Josh? Is everything okay?”

“Fine, Mother,” he said, sitting up straight in the seat. “I bought a house....”