Chapter 14

There's a knock at the door, and my heart flutters, knowing my mom has arrived for her stay. I open the door to find her standing there, a bag filled with essentials slung over her shoulder. Her face lights up when she sees me.

"Hey, Mom," I say, embracing her in a tight hug. "It"s so good to see you."

"Presley, sweetheart." Her voice is warm and comforting, like coming home after a long day. "How are you holding up?"

"Better now that you"re here," I admit, grinning. "Come on in. You"ve got to see Sawyer."

We walk into the nursery where Sawyer is peacefully sleeping in his crib. The soft rise and fall of his chest makes my own heart swell. Mom leans over the crib, doting about how adorable he looks. She whispers, "Oh, Presley, he"s already grown so much since we saw him a month ago."

"Hasn't he?" I beam with pride, gently brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead. "I can"t believe he"s mine sometimes."

"Your dad and I didn"t want to overwhelm you when we visited briefly after you came home from the hospital," Mom explains softly, not wanting to wake Sawyer. "But we"ve missed you all so much."

"Thank you, Mom, for giving us space to heal and get into our new routine," I reply. "It"s been nice having some time to ourselves, but it"s also been really tough without you guys around."

"Of course, sweetie," she says, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Family is everything."

As we stand there, watching him sleep, I"m flooded with emotions – love, fear, regret. I think about Weston and all the things we"ve been through since our one-night stand and up to today and with this beautiful little miracle. I"m grateful for my mom"s support, but there's still uncertainty with so many unknowns ahead.

"Mom," I whisper, turning my gaze back to Sawyer, "thank you for being here. It means the world to me."

"Of course, Presley." She smiles, giving my hand another gentle squeeze.

"Actually, we need to take Sawyer to the doctor," I mention, my voice wavering slightly. "There"s some stuff that needs to be sorted out."

"Oh, okay," Mom replies, her expression turning serious but supportive. "Let"s get going then."

We gather our belongings and carefully secure Sawyer in his car seat before heading out to the doctor"s office. The drive is quiet at first, the hum of the car engine filling the silence as we navigate through the streets of Ann Arbor. My thoughts are consumed by Weston and our tangled relationship.

"Presley?" Mom eventually breaks the silence. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," I reply hesitantly, sensing the weight of her question.

"How are things with Weston? Are you two... together?" Her tone is soft, probing gently, as if she senses there"s more to the story than what I"ve shared so far.

I let out a deep breath, feeling both relieved and anxious to finally open up about everything. "It"s complicated, Mom," I admit. "We"re trying to figure things out, but it"s not easy. We have a lot to work through."

"Okay, sweetheart. You know what's best for you and Sawyer," she reassures me, placing a comforting hand on my arm.

"Thank you, Mom," I say, my eyes welling up with tears. "I always thought I was this strong-willed woman who could do everything on her own, but now I realize I don"t want to do everything on my own. I"m lucky to have you by my side right now."

As we pull into the parking lot of the doctor"s office, I take a deep breath, bracing myself for the future.

"Mom, there"s something else I need to tell you," I confess, my heart pounding in my chest. "I hired Weston to act as my boyfriend for a while."

Her eyes widen in surprise, but she doesn"t say anything, waiting for me to continue.

"Before that, we had a one-night stand," I explain, feeling the weight of my secret lifting with each word. "I really think that my ex is Sawyer"s father, but there is a very slight chance that he could be Weston's since we were together during that time frame. So, with Weston having the career he does, we need to make sure who's the biological father before we know what's going to happen next. We"re here at the doctor"s office for a paternity test. I want to do the blood test to be able to have the most accurate results possible."

Mom nods, her expression one of understanding and empathy. "Presley, I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you."

"Yeah, it"s been... overwhelming," I admit, wiping away a stray tear.

Mom squeezes my hand again gently.

A cold gust of wind greets us as we step out of the car and make our way toward the doctor"s office. The stark, sterile building looms before us. Mom pulls her coat tighter around her, offering me a small smile.

We check in at the front desk, and the receptionist directs us to take a seat in the waiting area.

"Presley Jenkins?" A nurse calls my name, and my heart skips a beat. It"s time.

"Here," I respond, hoisting Sawyer"s car seat and following the nurse through the door into the examination room.

"Ah, there you are," the doctor greets us with a friendly smile, his white coat crisp and spotless. "I understand we"re here for a paternity test today?"

"Uh, yeah," I mumble, suddenly feeling very small under his scrutinizing gaze.

"Alright, let"s get started then." He motions for me to place Sawyer on the examination table, and I carefully unbuckle him from his car seat, cradling him in my arms. The feel of his tiny body against mine is a small comfort amid the clinical atmosphere.

"Okay," the nurse says, preparing the equipment for the blood draw. "First, we"ll need a sample from you, Presley."

I glance at Mom, who offers me a supportive smile as she takes my hand. Her grip is warm and steady, her touch grounding me in the moment. The nurse efficiently draws my blood, the sharp pinch of the needle barely registering through my haze of nerves.

"Alright, now for Sawyer," he announces, turning his attention to the sleeping infant in my arms. Anxiety tries to set in as I watch him prepare another needle, but Mom squeezes my hand gently, silently reminding me that she"s right here with me.

"Deep breaths, Presley," she whispers, and I try my best to comply, focusing on the rhythm of my inhales and exhales.

As the doctor carefully takes a blood sample from my precious baby, fear, hope, and regret all tangle in the pit of my stomach. But above it all, there"s a fierce determination to protect and care for Sawyer.

With the procedure finally over, Mom and I gather our things and leave the doctor"s office, feeling a sense of nervousness about the impending results. The tension in the car is thick with silent thoughts as we make our way back home.

Once inside, Mom helps me settle Sawyer back into his crib. "He"s such a strong little guy," she says, running a finger down his tiny arm. "Just like his mom."

I smile at her words despite my lingering anxiety. We head to the living room and sit down, each cradling a cup of tea for comfort.

"Presley," Mom begins, stirring her tea thoughtfully, "I know you're going to be strong, just like you always have been. But remember, you don"t have to do it all alone."

I nod, sipping my tea as I consider her words. In the past, I"d always been determined to prove my independence, often pushing away those who tried to help. But now, with Sawyer depending on me, I realize how important it is to accept the support of others.

"Mom…" I say, my voice catches slightly in my throat, and I'm not able to finish my sentence.

She smiles gently, reaching out to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. "You"ve always been so independent, Presley, but remember that it"s okay to lean on others."

My gaze falls to outside of the window, and I think about how I"d clung to that independence, that sense of control, like a life raft. But now, with Sawyer in my life and the uncertainty of his paternity looming over me, I know that I don"t want to be completely self-reliant anymore, at least, not all the time.

"Growing up, I always thought I had to prove myself," I admit, staring outside still. "But now... I"m starting to see that vulnerability isn"t weakness. It"s just... human."

"Exactly," Mom agrees. "No one is expected to face everything alone. We all need someone to lean on from time to time."

Looking at Mom, I feel a rush of gratitude for her unwavering love and support. She"s always been the one constant in my life, even when I tried to push her away.

"Thank you, Mom," I whisper, my heart swelling with love. "I don"t know what I"d do without you."

Her eyes well up with tears as she pulls me into a tight hug. "I"ll always be here for you, Presley."