Chapter Eleven

Shannon

 

My grandmother rarely told me she was coming before she got to my house. I missed her so much when she was gone. But a little notice would be nice. Grandma was the closest thing to a mom I had. She wasn’t like most grandmother’s. She did a lot of traveling on her own with friends; she just wanted to see the world.

 

I hadn’t seen her in six months. But I talked to her at least twice a week. When I told her about being pregnant, I wasn’t too scared about her being judgmental. Grandma wanted me to get married, settle down and start raising a family, but I always thought that was odd, considering she had such a loner attitude.

 

Now seeing her standing in my kitchen, all starry-eyed at Noah, my nerves were starting to kick up. Noah already had too many ideas about what would happen in our future. And it all had to do with the baby. I knew that if I weren’t pregnant, he would probably be gone already. He wasn’t a one-woman kind of guy. And he shouldn’t have had to give up his whole life because of a one-night stand.

 

Right now, he seemed happy enough to be with me. Once the baby came though, and we were up all night with dirty diapers and puking and feedings, how exciting would things be then? When I was no longer this thing that was carrying his baby, would I even be interesting to him anymore? Or would I be kicked to the curb? I didn’t need Noah in order to raise a baby. I was telling him the truth about that; I would be okay on my own.

 

I needed to get him to leave.

 

I took Grandma’s arm to get her attention off of him.

 

“Grandma, he’s just a friend. He’s not – well, he’s not – I mean, he’s…” I felt Noah staring at me, trying to stop me from saying that he wasn’t the baby’s dad. He hadn’t fully agreed to go along with my original story, but he hadn’t said that I couldn’t go along with the fabrication.

 

Grandma looked over her shoulder at him and then back at me and swatted my arm. “You’ve never lied to me before Shannon, don’t start now.”

 

I looked over at Noah, hoping to get some assistance from him, and seeing none. “Don’t you have to go to work?” It’s not like he punched the clock or anything, but I needed him to go.

 

He shook his head and looked too comfortable in my kitchen. He looked like he belonged there. Like he’d been there my entire life.

 

“No. I got some time.” He gestured to my grandma “Why don’t you get her something to drink. Make a pot of coffee,” he suggested.

 

The only thing was though, with Noah, nothing was a suggestion. It was always an order, an instruction, something to be obeyed.

 

I rolled my eyes but went to work making the drinks. Grandma would want strong coffee if she drove through the night to get here.

 

“Make yourself some herbal tea,” he said, probably noticing the bowl of various teas I kept next to the stove.

 

“Good man,” Grandma chimed in. “You listen to him now. He’s right; caffeine ain’t good for the baby.”

 

I rolled my eyes again, knowing the action was irritating Noah, but he wouldn’t do anything about it with Grandma standing right there.

 

“Fine. Tea it is,” I grumbled out and turned to put the stove kettle on. “How long do I have you for?” I then asked while pouring the coffee into the maker.

 

“I figure at least a few days. My friend, Blanche, wants to go to San Diego to visit her daughter, but she won’t fly and hates long drives. So, I said I’d take her. Make a trip out of it. Nice and slow and she’ll be fine. I figure it will take us at least four days to get there, and we’ll stay as long as she wants.”

 

“Sounds like a nice trip. Has Blanche not seen her daughter in a while? I remember you telling me she moved out there a few years ago.”

 

“Yeah, five. Blanche hasn’t seen her in five years.” Grandma nodded. “You remember what that was like, right? When your parents were traveling?”

 

“Yeah. I do,” I murmured but didn’t turn around.

 

“Are they still traveling?” Noah asked.

 

“No. They passed a while back,” Grandma answered for me, knowing I hated saying that sentence.

 

It had been ten years since it happened, and I still couldn’t seem to get the words out without choking.

 

“Oh. Shit. I’m sorry.” Noah looked at me, trying to gauge my reaction probably.

 

“Let me get that date for you,” I said and left them to talk in the kitchen while I went to my computer in the bedroom. I’d put everything on my calendar but hadn’t synced it to my phone yet.

 

Deciding it would be easier to just share the calendar with him, I went back to ask for his email address. He and my grandmother were at the kitchen table laughing.

 

Noah was laughing.

 

Like, in a hearty joyful laugh kind of way.

 

I stopped cold, my heart clenching at the sight. If I didn’t do something quick, he would completely embed himself in my life.

 

“Hey, you okay?” Noah noticed me and got up from the table.

 

Tears I hadn’t realized formed spilled down my cheek. “Yeah.” I swiped them away. “I just need your email address. I want to link my calendar with you,” I said, shaking my head. “But it might be better that I don’t.”

 

“Shannon.” Grandma touched my shoulder. “Why don’t you go lay down for a little while? You look tired, and all these baby hormones can be a lot to take at first.”

 

As though the baby had heard her, my stomach rolled.

 

“Bathroom,” Noah said and hurried me to the bathroom and stayed with me while the water I’d drank earlier made a reappearance.

 

When it was over, he sat me on the toilet lid and wiped my face with a towel from the rack.

 

“I’ll leave you with your grandma. Get some rest, okay? We’ll talk about whatever’s bothering you when I pick you up from work. Tina’s going to drive you, and I’ll pick you up after.”

 

They had a nice neat little plan, didn’t they?

 

“You two can’t control my life,” I said, trying to sound angry but heard only a pitiful whine.

 

“No, but I am going to make sure you’re safe and healthy,” he said in a tender voice I hadn’t expected from him.

 

I dodged his stare. “I don’t think I can do this with you.”

 

“That’s a conversation for later,” he stated flatly. “Now, go lay down. I kept you up too long last night. Tina said she’d cook you up something. She’ll wake you when it’s ready.” He helped me up and walked me to my bedroom.

 

“I don’t want a nap,” I said, climbing into the bed and laying down.

 

He laughed. “Fine, then just lay here with your eyes closed.”

 

“That’s a nap,” I grumbled out.

 

“Who knew you’d be as adorable as you are sexy.” He kissed me and tossed a blanket over me. “I’ll see you later tonight.”

 

I waited to hear the door click before I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I really was making this a big fucking mess. I wasn’t supposed to be with him. He was supposed to walk away if he found out about the baby. Not nestle himself in my life.

 

The bedroom door opened and I threw myself back on the pillow.

 

Grandma laughed. “He left. Well, he’s outside at least.”

 

I hadn’t heard his bike rumble off, which meant he was close by.

 

“I’ve never seen you give yourself over to a man, or anyone, before.” She sat on my bed and took my hand.

 

“He’s very convincing,” I muttered.

 

She laughed again. “If he’s anything like your grandfather, and so far, he’s exactly like him, I think I know what you mean.” She winked and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

 

I could smell the cigarette smoke on her. I wished she would quit.

 

“Now, I’m going out on the back porch to have a smoke. Noah already told me no smoking anywhere near you, so you don’t have to mention it. He’s looking out for you, baby girl, the best way he knows how. He looks a little rough around the edges, but I feel like inside him there’s chocolatey goodness.”

 

I laughed. “You think everyone has chocolate inside.”

 

She grinned. “When you find the right person, everything is sweet as candy. Now you get some rest, and I’ll get something cooked up when I come back in.”

 

The rumble of a motorcycle started up, and we listened as it faded off down the street.

 

“I know you’re worried. And I know you don’t want anyone to know he’s the daddy. For what reason, I don’t know. So he’s got lots of tattoos and rides a motorcycle.”

 

“Gram, it’s more than just riding a motorcycle.”

 

She wiped a strand of hair from my face. “Hmmm, whatever else he’s cooked up in, I don’t think he’s the kind of guy to sweep you up in it. He’s a protector, that one. I can tell.”

 

I rolled my eyes. “You’re on his side already.”

 

“I’m on your side. But this baby is going to need a daddy, and he doesn’t seem all that willing to just walk away. I mean, shit, Shannon. He knew you were having morning sickness just by the look on your face. What sort of man does that? And stays with you while you upchuck?”

 

Okay, she had a small point there.

 

“If I told you how we met—”

 

She put her hand up, stopping me. “I don’t care. All I care about is you being happy and healthy, and that this child is happy and healthy.” She patted my stomach. “Now, do what he said and take a damn nap.” She got off the bed and went to the door. “Or I’ll let him tan your ass right in this house.” She gave me a sharp nod and disappeared.

 

He’d corrupted my grandmother in ten minutes.

 

I had no chance.