Chapter 28

Ava had graciously offered to let me crash at her place for the night. We ordered pizza and sat in her kitchenette, watching reruns of old game shows. It was comfortable. There was no pressure. I had to figure out what I was doing with the rest of my life, how I was going to support my child and where to go from here. But for just one night, I could relax with my best friend and forget all about Jason.

I was hurt. I knew I should have told him much earlier, maybe as soon as I had learned of the positive pregnancy test. I should have given him the chance to digest the news without the trauma of gun violence. Things had just been moving so fast. There hadn't seemed like a good time, and when the news had come out, there had been more important things to focus on.

I dreaded going back to the cabin and having a "discussion" with Jason. I knew that I had messed up, and I didn't want to see that bone-deep disappointment in his eyes. We had made a mess of things. Our precious baby that hadn't even been born yet would be starting life in chaos. I resolved to do the best I could for my child, whether that meant leaving Singer's Ridge or finding my own place.

Ava had only one bed, so we shared it. I drifted off, wondering what my life would be like as a single parent. I woke to the sound of harsh banging on the door.

"What's that?" Ava shot up out of bed, racing the six feet to the front door in a panic.

My first thought was Angie, that she had found me and would finish what she started at the cabin. My second thought was that somehow, Ava had run afoul of another man and that I had inadvertently inserted myself into another drama. Ava peeked through the door and relaxed, instantly placing one hand against her chest. She pulled the door open to reveal Jason, standing in the hallway with flowers. Ava took one look at him and sighed.

"I guess I'll go do my laundry," she said, moving past the father of my child, into the hallway. She disappeared down the corridor, no laundry basket in her hands.

I rose from the bed, feeling ugly and bedraggled.

"I can't take this anymore," Jason said, throwing the flowers onto the counter. "I love you, Lindsey. Please come back home."

My heart sang. I raced into his arms, tears beading up in my eyes. All my worries and ruminations about the future came crashing down around me in that one instant. He was here. He had followed me to my friend's doorstep, and he loved me.

"I want this baby," he said. "I love the baby, and I love you."

We kissed. Under the dim hallway light, in Ava's pathetic kitchenette, we kissed long and hard. All the stress of the past few days melted away in a genuine show of affection. He loved me, and he wanted our baby.

"Come home with me?" He begged again when we parted.

I nodded. "Let me grab my things."

I went to the bathroom to change back into my clothes, while Jason fetched Ava from the laundry room. Together, we climbed back into our vehicles and drove home, where we were meant to be. After we had parked, Jason helped me up the porch steps. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I was perfectly capable of walking myself. Lack of balance due to a "delicate condition" would come later. He walked me to the couch and sat down beside me, taking my hand in his.

"I'm sorry I acted like an asshole," he said.

"No." I shook my head. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"It was just a shock," he said. "I was so worried about you, and I didn't know how to process what you had said. And you know, everything else."

"I understand." I patted his hand. A lot had happened in a short amount of time.

"I want to be there for our baby. Angie signed the divorce papers, and there's nothing to do now but wait."

I felt my heart soar. Jason, my Jason, would soon be free and available to start a new life with me. All the awkwardness between us dissolved into something like tenderness. We spent an hour on the couch, confessing our feelings, clearing out all the cobwebs that had collected in the two months we had spent together. When we finally went to bed, we were committed to establishing our life together. There weren't any firm plans, but we knew that we would be together. We would raise our baby as a family, and we promised never to keep things from each other again.

I fell asleep in his arms, in the bed where we had made love time and time again. For the first time since Angie had barged into the cabin, I felt safe. He transported me to a place where anything was possible. I knew that it would all work out. His arm around my shoulders and his chest against my back were an anchor protecting me from the storm. Whatever would come next, we would face it together.

The next day, I woke to find Jason already awake. Instead of leaving the bed, he had remained to stroke featherlight fingers up and down my arm. It was a delicious feeling, as if the entire world had narrowed to include only us, only this room. I opened my eyes and kissed him, a warm and meaningful kiss that dispelled all doubt.

"I'm going to take the day off," he said.

I felt the familiar roiling in my belly and raced to the bathroom before emptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet. It seemed like the baby hadn't gotten the memo and would continue to be feisty. Jason followed me, drawing a cup of water from the tap for me to swish my mouth out.

I gave him a thankful smile, on my knees, gripping the porcelain throne.

"It's that bad?" Concern showed in his voice.

I accepted the water and rinsed, spitting into the bowl. "It's okay."

"How long has this been going on?"

"A couple weeks," I said.

"Why did you keep it from me?" he wondered.

"At first I thought it was food poisoning or some sort of dizzy spell reaction to various hair chemicals," I admitted. "Then when I took the pregnancy test, I wasn't sure how you would react. We hadn't even said ‘I love you' at that point."

He nodded, trying to not push more. "What do you need for breakfast? Eggs and toast?"

"Some crackers would be nice," I tried.

He helped me to my feet and walked me into the living room, taking care with each step. It was adorable to watch him being so tender, so solicitous. He had obviously never been around a pregnant woman and had no idea how to act. In his ignorance, he treated me like a China doll. I let him take care of me. For once in my life, I let someone in, giving up my fa?ade of invulnerability. He poured me a Sprite and got my box of crackers from the cabinet.

He got the television from the bedroom and set it up in the living room. We snuggled together and watched romantic comedies.

"We can turn your room into a nursery," he said, kissing the back of my hand.

"That's what I was thinking," I agreed. "You could make a crib."

"I would like that," he said. "I could use your gift card from the hardware store."

"I'll have to find a new job," I said reluctantly. I couldn't afford to buy the hair salon, and with the baby on the way, getting out to clients' homes might not be feasible.

"You could stay home," he suggested. "I make enough money to support us."

It was a perfect suggestion. I imagined rising with the dawn to soothe the baby, cooking meals and cleaning the house. It might work for a while, but I always knew that I would want my career back eventually. I wasn't a lawyer or a politician, but doing hair made me feel important. I loved the way I could change someone's outlook, giving them more energy and confidence. I would miss that if I had to give it up.

I told Jason my jumbled thoughts, and he understood completely. Although we were devoted to each other, we both had the right to live our lives how we wanted. And I just so happened to want to live it by giving my customers' confidence through transforming the hair on their heads.

"We'll figure it out," he said. "Let's just focus on your pregnancy and getting a beautiful, healthy baby first."

I grinned widely, capturing his lips in a wholly kiss to display my love for him.