“I need to talk to Petal,” Luka tells Mom, who is standing at the door looking like she’d like to kill him. I listen some distance away from inside the house.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Mom returns, not bothering to open the door.

“I want to talk to Petal,” he repeats.

“Well, boy, people in Hell want ice water, but they don’t get it, and you aren’t getting near my daughter again.”

“You can’t keep me from her. She’s having my baby.”

“You mean the baby you and that piece-of-shit-in-a-suit daddy of yours want her to kill?”

“I didn’t know she was pregnant, Ida Sue. I’ll be dealing with my father next. Right now, I just need to see Petal.”

His words should make me feel better, but I’m scared. I don’t know how to be a mother. I don’t know how to fight against Luka’s parents. They have money and influence in Mason, and what if Luka’s dad follows through on his threats and hurts my family? It’s all a mess.

“She doesn’t need to see you. You and your parents have done enough. You’ve nearly destroyed my girl. You aren’t getting your hands on her again.”

“I nearly destroyed her? Has everyone forgotten that I was the one she played for a fool? I was the one who had no idea who I was even dating! It was all a lie! All of it! She’s the one who nearly destroyed me, and now I find out that she’s pregnant? You want to stand there behind the door and act like your daughter was completely innocent, but her decisions have nearly annihilated my entire world.”

“I never meant for that to happen, Luka,” I tell him, coming away from the wall to look out at him. “I know you don’t believe me, but I swear hurting you was the last thing I ever wanted.”

I should have done what Mom said and just remained out of sight, but the anguish in his voice kills me. I’ve made so many mistakes, and I’m so scared of making more. Luka doesn’t believe me, but I love him. I love him so much.

“Petal—”

“I need to talk to him, Mom. I’ll be okay,” I interrupt her. I wish I had taken the time to clean up and put makeup on earlier. I feel defenseless standing in front of Luka wearing my old ratty sweat pants and Green Day t-shirt. He has to notice the deep circles under my eyes, too. Seems like I’ve been sick constantly since finding out I was pregnant. They may call it morning sickness, but it never stops.

“Petal, we need to discuss you being pregnant. This isn’t about us anymore. We have to think about the baby,” Luka urges me, and nausea hits me in waves.

“I know what your father said. I know what you think, Luka, but I didn’t plan on getting pregnant, I swear. We only had sex twice, and you used protection. I thought it was safe… I didn’t know, I swear.”

“Come outside and talk to me, Petal. We need to decide what to do about the baby.” His voice softens a little as he tries to coax me outside.

“I’m not killing my baby, Luka. I know I’m young, and I might not know anything about being a parent, but I’ll figure it out somehow.”

“I think we need to get married,” he announces.

I can’t tell if it’s excitement or fear that runs through me now.

“No way in Hell!” Mom yells from behind me. “She’s still sixteen, and I forbid it. Get off my damned property before I have you arrested,” she warns, pulling me back. My eyes lock with Luka’s right before she slams the door, and I can’t do anything but stand there in shock.

Did Luka just ask me to marry him?

* * *

Present:

“I was surprised when Black approached me about taking you out. I didn’t think you knew who I was.”

I have to blink to concentrate on Craig’s words. We’re only thirty minutes into the date, our food has just arrived, and I’m already wishing I was back home. It’s not even because I’m having a bad time. Craig has been nothing but nice, really. He’s not bad to look at, either. He’s got dirty-blond hair and clear blue eyes with a dimple when he smiles. His hair is wavy and a little out of control in spots as if the wind blew through it all day. He’s wearing a suit, which makes me glad I did wear a dress, but I wish I had worn one from my closet. Craig’s also taller than me, which is not a big feat since I’m short. Still, I’d say he’s around six feet tall, has defined muscles, and is broad. Women would be drawn to him, I imagine. Yet, just as I suspected… I feel nothing when he smiles at me.

Maybe there’s something wrong with me. I’m out to dinner with a nice, good-looking guy, and I wish I was home in bed asleep. You would think after the way Luka reacted earlier tonight that I could put the past out of my head and finally move on. Instead, I find myself going over everything Luka did and hoping Black is right. Maybe it is possible and Luka still cares. Maybe he is even jealous, and if he is, there might be a little hope left. Something has to be wrong with me.

“I have a confession to make, Craig. I don’t really know you.”

“Ow! A bullet to the heart,” he jokes, holding his broad hand over his chest. He gives me a look which clearly means I should pity him for the supposed insult. I find myself actually smiling.

“My crazy family has it in their heads that I need to start dating and getting out more. It was either let Black set me up or my mother would have. I wasn’t ready for those kinds of surprises,” I joke.

“Your mother can be quite the character from what I hear,” he laughs. “Does she really have a pet cow named Hamburger?”

“I’m afraid so,” I sigh out. “She’s even trained it to play fetch. I swear that thing thinks he’s a poodle.”

“A poodle?”

“Mom had two miniature poodles she’d go outside and play fetch with, and Hamburger joined in from the time he was a calf. He learned to do all of their tricks. Fetch, sit, lay down, even half-way rollover. He can do them all.”

“You’re pulling my leg!”

“Nope, not at all. I swear, the dang thing thinks he’s a poodle—a very large poodle.”

“I always thought Black was making up the stories he told us about his family,” he says, shaking his head.

“No way. You can’t make up the things my mother does. So, you see why I let Black set me up on a date instead of my mother? I shudder to think who her candidate would have been.”

“Well, I hope I’m at least living up to your expectations, Petal,” Craig says, reaching over to grab my hand. I have to fight the urge to pull my hand away. As it is, I keep the smile on my face by grinding my teeth. “I imagine it’s not easy finding a date after being married to the town sheriff. They’re probably afraid Luka will have them arrested or something.”

“Nah. It’s not like that. Luka and I are friends. We share a son, nothing else.”

Even as I say the words, inside I’m praying I’m wrong. I have this hope inside me now that wasn’t there before. This is Black’s fault. Luka should have hit him harder.

“I’m not sure I could be just friends with a woman who looks as fine as you do, sweetheart,” he says with a lazy smile. His compliment is a throwaway, I’m sure. Still, it’s really nice to hear. About the only person to give me compliments anymore is River, and his usually revolve around the way I color or fix his eggs.

“Yeah right,” I joke back trying to brush it off. It’s been so long, I don’t know how to react to a compliment. I honestly can’t remember getting that many before.

“I’m being completely serious. You are one hot woman, Petal Lucas. A man could lose his head with that dress you’re wearing.” He winks.

“Actually, she’s a Parish. Aren’t you, Petal? She kept my name even after the divorce.”

I look up to see Luka standing over our table, and I’m equal parts happy and irritated.

What does he think he’s doing now? This can’t be normal. Maybe Black is right.

Luka Parish is jealous that another man is taking me out.