Chapter Eight
Harrison
Leaving the doctor’s appointment was a mix of relief over knowing giving birth to my beautiful baby was not a death sentence, joy over knowing said baby was growing perfectly, and anxiety over how to handle juggling my career and raising a child all alone.
And, of course, in order to keep myself from texting Lucas and starting something that could never be, I had erased his number from my contacts that first week. Shit, I hadn’t even gotten his last name, and I was pretty sure looking up culinary school graduates with the first name Lucas wasn’t a fruitful option. I’d have to figure that hot mess out later.
I sent a quick text to Maria at the out-of-town convenience store as Vivian got back in her car and drove away. I’d donated to quite a few fundraisers for her single parents group and their new center, but never once had it crossed my mind she might someday be a source of new-dad support. We set up a time to meet for coffee, or, in my case peppermint tea, thanks to the list of limit this and that the doctor had given me.
As I meandered to my truck, I thought about snagging some cookies to go from The Diner, which from the looks of the parking lot, was packed. Maybe I’d just have Jaxon run out and get me some later.
When Vivian had begged me to take him on a few weeks ago as an errand runner and all-around assistant, I’d been torn. I knew that when Jaxon slinked back to town, broke, Henry was at a loss of what to do with his son, but I enjoyed the solitude that was my craft. I’d agreed as a temporary thing, but he turned out to be more of an asset than I had imagined a down-and-out spoilt brat could be, so I was glad to have him onboard—even if he drove me bonkers half the time.
I looked in the window of The Diner to see how many people there actually were and, true to my original assessment, there were a butt ton, but that wasn’t what kept me staring inside. No, what froze me in place was Lucas, or as my stupid dream self often called him my Lucas. He was in the diner with a hot man. Of course he had a date, or, worse, a mate. He was too amazing to be alone.
I just stood there like a deer caught in the headlights as the hot man whispered in his ear, laughed then smacked him playfully on the shoulder. The entire time, Lucas’s eyes focused on mine. He stood and started for the door, and my fight or flight kicked in, my legs moving me swiftly to my truck, focusing on the flight option.
“Hey, Harrison.” Mrs. Fredericks surprised me, causing me to jump back a little bit. I actually felt relief at the interruption. Leaving, as had been my gut response, was not going to accomplish anything and stopping to talk to her would give me a bit of time to compose myself.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you like that. I was just wondering if you had any more of those cradles like the one you donated to the school auction last month. I have a grandbaby coming.”
“Congratulations.” I hugged her because with Mrs. Fredericks, hugs weren’t optional. Ever. “I don’t have one, but I can make one.”
“That would be lovely. I didn’t know about my future grandbaby when I was at the auction and almost bid on it as a what-if.”
I remembered that auction. It was to fund the new playground, and the tax letter I got from the school indicated they earned well over my normal price for the item although I didn’t undervalue my work. That was one thing about Mapleville. They cared about their kids. Which held new meaning for me now that I had one coming.
“Good news is, by not buying it then, you will get the bargain price of what I normally charge and not the inflated auction price.” I grabbed a card out of my front pocket where they lived, fingertips brushing against the prenatal vitamins the doctor sent me home with, and handed it to her. She knew where to find me, everyone did, but Granddad had always insisted on business cards, and it was now habit.
She beamed when I gave her the good news about pricing. Not that Mrs. Fredericks needed to worry about money. Her family was one of the founding families of the city, and they had a lot invested in the area still.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize I was keeping you from a date.” The old lady winked at me, and I turned back to see Lucas a few feet away, his scent only missing me because of the cool breeze.
“He’s not my date.” I shrugged because it was sadly true. “His date’s inside, but yeah, I know him.”
My desire to flee dissipated when he took a step closer, introducing himself to Mrs. Fredericks who, for some reason, found a simple handshake with the sexy alpha blush inducing. I wasn’t even registering their words. All I could think was that he was there—with me, even if it was for a fleeting moment.
As she headed into The Diner, I just stood there, rubbing my beard, trying to figure out the best way to handle things.
“Harrison. It’s good to see you.” His voice washed over me, and I stepped closer, needing to scent him.
“Hi, Lucas. Sorry I left and didn’t call and erased your number off my phone.” And out it all spilled. Well, not all of it. He still didn’t know about his child growing in my belly.
“I offended you that much?” He looked more hurt than playful, and it felt like a sock to the gut.
“No.” I shook my head furiously. “I-I had fun. More than fun, and I knew that was all it could be, so it was easier to try to forget. And now you have an omega, so the point is moot.”
“No. Omega.” He was more forceful than the words required. I tried not to let that give me hope that he was both available and interested. Really, it wasn’t even about that anymore. This was about the human we had created, even if their creation was unintentional. “My assistant.”
“Oh.”
“And I’m here. Now. In Mapleville.”
I could see that, but I still didn’t know what his presence meant. Mapleville wasn’t a tourist destination, although there were a few cabin rentals.
“You moved here?” I asked hopefully.
“I’m here for the foreseeable future ”
Not the answer I wanted, but it was better than a week-long getaway.
“I’m part of that show they’re doing.”
“Oh, the restaurant doohickey.” I needed to pay attention to town gossip better. Most all I’d heard about the show had already fallen out of my brain.
“Yeah. That one.” He inched forward, and I willed him to close the distance between us.
“You doing craft services?” If so, those people were lucky. That man could mash potatoes like nobody’s business.
“Not really. I cook for the show.”
I’d half thought it was a show about restaurant makeovers, but now I believed I had part of that wrong. Not that it mattered. Not at the moment. What mattered was enjoying the time with Lucas before I ruined it all with my announcement, which I had to make. He needed to know. This baby was his, too.
“Sounds good.” I kicked a stone on the ground. I so sucked at this.
“Can I hug you? Would that be okay?”
My head snapped up at his request.
“I think that would be good.” I stepped into his open arms, and he pulled me in close.
“What is that?” he asked, tapping the top of the prenatal bottle mushed between us.
“Oh. Those are prenatals. Turns out I didn’t sneak out of your apartment alone.”
Not how I planned to tell him. Not. At. All.