Chapter Eighteen

 

 

 

Stephanie

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Are you kidding?” I asked Kevin the following Friday as I sat back in my chair, exasperation evident in my tone. He sighed into the phone.

“We’ve entered an order of protection for Christopher. She’s not allowed within a thousand feet of him and that includes his residence and the daycare. I’m going to call Jared now but I wanted you to know. The trial has been set for May twenty-ninth.”

I nodded and let my head drop to my free hand. “Okay. Thanks, Kev. Let me know if I can do anything.”

“Will do.”

We hung up the phone and I opened the Hart file on my computer so I could make notes, also adding in that the DNA had confirmed that Angela was Chris’s biological mother.

The week had been insane. Angela reappearing had caused a whirlwind of paperwork on the DCS end but also a whirlwind of emotions on the personal end. One of the things that I didn’t quite understand was why Angela didn’t have a reason for leaving her son in the garbage. She didn’t even have a bad excuse- just no excuse. We still had absolutely no answers.

I had spent all day Sunday at Jared’s place, nursing a small hangover while doing nothing but watching movies, eating junk food, and talking about the most random things. I had cuddled with Chris but also Jared on the couch. Nothing felt out of the ordinary really, but I had bit back the questions I wanted to so desperately ask about his friendly neighbor.

Jared went back to work as planned and Chris hated his first two days of daycare. Jared dropped him off at work and then doubled back to meet me for coffee every day that week. It didn’t make a lot of sense for him to go to work, get coffee, and go back to work, but I appreciated the effort. I loved that baby but having our coffee dates back in the morning was something quite amazing.

Once I was done entering my notes and Kevin had been given adequate time to notify him, I dialed Jared’s cell, a number I had memorized at that point.

“Steph,” he answered after one ring. “They let her out. Where did she even get the money for bail?”

“I don’t know but she isn’t going to go near Chris. Just make sure the daycare is aware that no one but you is allowed to see or pick him up.”

“I already did that,” he said quickly, the frustration obvious in his voice. “Except I included you in that, too. Just in case.”

I smiled as I leaned back in my chair. “Everything is going to be okay, Jare. Deep breath. You have a meeting at two, so get your hand out of your hair.”

He let out a huff of laughter. “Is there a camera in here or something?”

“I can’t give away all of my secrets, Hart.” I heard his office phone ring and I sat up. “Go work. Everything will be fine. Call me later?”

“I will. Thanks for talking me down, Steph. You seriously make everything better.”

“Ditto, Jared. Bye.”

I put the phone in its cradle and went back to what I’d been doing before Kevin called. What I had been working on was something completely amazing.

I was scheduling an appointment get the adoption process started for Bettina Kelly.

After all of the petitions I had filed, all of the work I had done, all of the uncertainty we’d all faced over the past five years, I had left court that morning after finally having her mother’s parental rights terminated. That cleared the way for Bryson and Carin to legally make her a member of their family. When I had called Carin to give her the news, she immediately burst into tears. She told me that she couldn’t even blame the hormones because she was just happy.

I had just hung up that call when Robin said my name quietly. I looked away from my monitor and saw her standing in my doorway. She walked inside, a solemn expression on her face, and worry hit me immediately.

She sat down at the chairs in front of my desk and stared at me for a moment. I inspected her face and realized how tired she looked. I mean, she and I worked a lot and usually looked exhausted but this was more. It wasn’t just lack of sleep. After a beat of silence, she let out a long sigh.

“I have breast cancer.”

Her words caused my jaw to drop and I blinked at her several times, unsure of what to say. Finally, I managed to croak out, “What?”

“Yeah.” She nodded and leaned back in the chair. “I’ve been going through a lot of tests for the past few weeks and the biopsy confirmed. It’s still early, stage zero or stage one, they aren’t completely ready to classify it, but it’s there. That’s why I’ve been making sure you’re trained up on everything. I’m going to need your help.”

“Anything,” I replied vehemently. And I meant it. I would have done anything to help the woman who was not only my boss but one of my friends, too. I stood and came around the desk so I was sitting in the chair next to her. “Tell me what you need.”

Robin reached out and squeezed my hand. “Nothing right now. I’m going to go through a lumpectomy in a few weeks and I’ll be out for a few days. When the chemo starts, I’ll be out here and there, too. I’ll just need you to fill in from time to time.”

“Of course. Don’t worry about anything like that.”

“There’s no one I trust more to keep this place going.” She sighed and pushed to her feet. “I’ll tell the others at the next meeting but don’t worry your pretty little head too much, Gibson. They caught it early and you’re stuck with me.”

“Good.” I forced a smile and stood, too, watching as she left my office like it was no big deal. The second she was out of sight, my smile dropped.

My stomach felt completely sick and I did the only thing I could think of that would make me feel better.

I called Jared again.

He answered after a few rings and I could tell he was smiling.

“Now I really think you have a camera in here. I literally just dismissed the meeting.”

“Just imagine what I see you do on your lunch breaks, Hart,” I teased, causing him to laugh quietly. The small peal of laughter made me feel better instantly. “Sorry to blow up your phone so much today.”

“What a ridiculous thing to apologize for. Your phone calls are the best part of the day.”

My whole body warmed at the compliment and I had to resist sighing out loud. When I didn’t respond right away, Jared picked up on it.

“What’s wrong, Vanilla Latte?”

“I just received some bad news here at work.” I twirled the phone cable around my finger. “Between that and Angela being released, I’m in a funk.”

He didn’t speak right away. When he did finally say something, his voice was soft. “Let’s end the day and week on a better note. Come by tonight. I’ll make you dinner.”

I let out an unladylike snort. “You don’t cook.”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong, Ms. Gibson,” he replied, his voice with mock formality. “I can grill a mean steak and just got my barbeque spring-ready again a couple of days ago.”

“Okay. I can’t wait to taste this amazing steak. I’ll stop and grab some sides we can have and be there around sixish.”

“Sixish works. See you in a bit, Steph.”

I hung up the phone and I tried to get back to work but it was useless. My mind was completely and firmly settled on anything but the work in front of me. I saved everything I was doing right before five and decided to head to the store.

The few people that were still in the office bid me a good night and I joined the crowd of individuals who were already in the elevator. The elevator stopped six more times before we made it to the bottom and climbed out of the crowded metal box.

I pulled into the parking lot of a Safeway near Jared’s place and grabbed a small hand basket when I walked through the doors. The store was already starting to get busy with people who were doing the same thing I was.

There were a few potatoes in my basket and I was standing in front of the asparagus when an arm dropped across my shoulders.

“Why are you even pretending to consider something healthy? We all know it won’t happen.”

I glanced to my left and smirked at the newcomer. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, telling me that he’d been in class for the day. “It won’t be so healthy once I smother that asparagus in butter. Hey, twerp.”

“Says the woman who is still shorter than me when she’s wearing those ungodly tall heels.” Austin hugged me to his side, only emphasizing the fact that he was taller than me. “Who are you making dinner for? Lyssa?”

I shook my head and reached out to grab a bundle of asparagus. “A friend of mine that you don’t know.”

My brother plucked my handbasket out of my grip and stuck it into his cart, ever the gentleman our mother had raised him to be. With his arm still draped across my shoulder, the two of us began walking towards the dairy section.

“A friend? Of the male variety?”

I elbowed him slightly, causing him to let out a grunt of pain. “You know that I’m the older one, right?”

“Doesn’t mean I won’t do my brotherly duty, Steph.” He dropped a kiss to the top of my head and I turned to grin at him. Before I could reply, someone spoke in front of us.

“Vanilla Latte.”

Austin and I both turned our heads and it was pathetic how my heartbeat immediately quickened at the sight of Jared Hart. My lips curved into a smile.

“City Roast.”

He was still in his suit for the most part except he’d ditched the tie and jacket and his hair was a crazy mess. The best part, though? He was wearing a baby carrier and had Chris strapped to him so they were chest to chest.

The entire grocery store probably heard my ovaries explode.

When I finally got over how adorable the sight in front of me was, I realized that his handsome face was lacking its usual happy expression. In fact, he looked almost angry. His eyebrows were slightly pinched, his lips were pursed together, and his shoulders were tense. It wasn’t until his narrowed eyes flicked between me and Austin that I understood.

Jared was jealous.

Austin obviously didn’t get the jealously, though, and instead just saw man with a slightly hostile expression on his face. His arm tightened and he pulled me even closer to him. I brought my hand up to pat his chest, letting his know it was okay, and didn’t miss the way Jared followed the movement.

“Jared Hart, I’d like you to meet my brother, Austin Gibson.” I tipped my head so I could look at my brother. “Austin, my friend Jared who also happens to be Marco’s boss.”

I watched as the tension and irritation immediately drained from Jared. Surprise flashed across his face for just a second before all of his features softened and he gave my brother a friendly smile.

“Oh, hey. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Austin removed his arm from my shoulders so he could offer Jared his hand. “Nice to meet you. Marco has nothing but good things to say.” He nudged me with his elbow. “Is this the friend of the male variety that you’re having dinner with?”

I rolled my eyes and shoved my brother slightly. “You’re such a pest.”

“You love me.” Austin moved a bit so he could peek at Chris. “Oh, he’s a cute little guy. How old is he?”

“Eleven weeks today,” I replied proudly and my brother turned to look at me with his brows raised. I hadn’t told anyone in my family anything about my friendship with the baby I found or his father but my brother was smart. I saw the second the dots connected in his head.

“Is this the baby you found?”

“The baby she saved,” Jared corrected softly as he looked down at the top of his son’s head. “One and the same.”

“Huh.” Austin stared at me with an unreadable expression on his face before pasting the charming smile back on it. “Well, I better finish my grocery shopping and get home or the two ladies in my life will have my head.” His hand came up to ruffle my hair while I tried to duck away. I finally managed to sidestep him and grabbed my basket out of his cart.

“Give Lila a kiss for me.”

He nodded at me before jerking his chin in Jared’s direction. “I’m sure we’ll see you soon, Jared.”

“Yeah, good to meet you, Austin.” Jared nodded at my brother as he walked away and then focused his green eyes on me. “Hi, Steph.”

“Hey, handsome.” I put my basket into his cart and moved so I could see Chris’s face. He was sucking on his fist while staring at nothing and he gave me a wide smile when his eyes focused on me. I used a finger to stroke his little cheek. “There’s my sweet boy.”

“This is the only way the two of us can grocery shop harmoniously. I’m pretty sure I look like a giant idiot, though.”

I straightened up and shook my head. If only he understood how completely sexy it was to see him carrying the baby like he was. I wasn’t the only one who noticed, either. I’d seen no less than three women cast glances his way in the few minutes since we’d run into each other.

“I think it’s amazing.” I fell into step next to him and both of us were quiet as we pulled a few more things off the shelves. The only time we spoke was to ask if the other needed something and we headed off to the registers.

I started putting our items onto the conveyor belt and couldn’t contain my smile when I saw the chocolate mousse cheesecake he’d put at the bottom of the cart. When I looked up and met his eyes, he just shrugged his shoulders.

“Chris picked it out. Only the best for his Stephy.”

Jared managed to swipe his debit card before I knew what was happening and he just smirked when I glared at him. I pushed the cart out to his car and loaded the groceries into the trunk while he put Christopher into his seat amongst the baby’s protests. When Jared straightened up and closed the back door, he sighed.

“He hates the car now. This is what he does the whole way to work in the morning and the whole way home.”

I chuckled and reached out to squeeze his upper arm. “He’ll grow out of it. In the meantime, play music and see if that helps soothe one or both of you. I’ll meet you at your place.”

He nodded his head and stood next to his car as he watched me cross the parking lot. Once I was in my own vehicle, I followed behind him all the way back to his building.

I barely noticed anything during the drive because all I could think about was how jealous Jared had been when he saw me with Austin. That knowledge thrilled and confused me at the same time. I knew I needed to ask him about the woman I’d seen him with the week before but the fear of rejection was real.

Too real.