Sheriff’s Pregnant Ex by Leslie North

11

Caitlin apologized as she mopped up coffee she’d slopped over the rim of the cup. It wasn’t like her to spill, but the entire morning that been like that. She’d delivered an order to the wrong table, dropped a stack of plastic glasses, and shot ketchup across the counter when she was refilling bottles.

“Off day, hon?” Aurora asked when Caitlin met up with her during a brief lull.

“I guess,” Caitlin said, feeling off in every way. What was wrong with her? The short answer to that question was Brian. It had been almost two weeks since that day at the lake. After his pointed rejection of her later that night, she’d thought everything was over between them. She’d even tried to figure out how she could move out of his house.

But then she’d realized he was happy to be with her so long as she didn’t come between him and his job. They spent their off time together at home and their nights in each other’s beds. It was an arrangement that could work for a while. And he continued to do little things for her. Make breakfast, rub her tired feet, kiss her on the back deck while watching the sunset. All good, but she couldn’t help wanting more. She wanted all of his attention, not just the little bit that he felt he could spare. But he’d made it clear that his work came first.

“I always get dopey when it’s that time of the month,” Aurora said with a laugh. “Marc says I’m a hazard then and shouldn’t come to work.”

Time of the month?Caitlin felt everything inside her slow down. How long had it been since she’d had a period? She started to work her way back mentally. She’d had one not long after she found out that Seamus had stolen her money and skipped town. She remembered the timing clearly because the injustice of having cramps on top of that had struck her. That was…too long ago.

“You just went white. What is it?” Aurora’s hand closed over her arm.

“I missed a period,” Caitlin said. Could she be pregnant? She didn’t have any of the signs that women talked about, except being a little tired, but she’d figured that was just from working so many hours on her feet.

“Okay, that’s not that unusual.” Aurora spoke in a mother’s soothing tone.

“For me, it is. I’m super regular.” Down to the minute every month.

“It could just be stress, but if you want to run to the drugstore for a test, I can cover while you’re gone.” Aurora said.

“Yeah, maybe I’d better. I…” Caitlin was already pulling off her apron, but she stopped. “You know what’ll happen if I buy a pregnancy test in town. Everyone will gossip about me, and since they know I’m living with Brian…” If she was pregnant, the child was Brian’s. There was no other possibility.

“I’ll go buy one,” Aurora volunteered. “No one will think anything of that. I’ll be back in a flash. Can you handle things?”

“Sure, and thanks,” Caitlin said and redid the ties on her apron.

She tried not to count the minutes while Aurora was gone as she forced a smile and worked the floor. Fortunately, the breakfast crowd was clearing out, and most of the tables were empty when Aurora returned with a white paper bag in her hand.

“Come with me.” Aurora headed for the office in the back. “Alex,” she called to the dishwasher. “You’ve got the floor for the next twenty minutes. Take orders and get drinks for folks.”

Caitlin saw the look of shock on the dishwasher’s face, but he also seemed excited about getting out of the steamy kitchen. He was through the swinging door seconds later.

“I may have to promote him,” Aurora said. “Come in here.” She closed the door to the office and gestured to the connected employee bathroom. “Go pee on that stick and then come back out. I’ll wait for the results with you.”

“Okay.” Caitlin went into the restroom. Normally she didn’t like being bossed around, but right then she needed Aurora’s direction because her brain was swirling. She followed the directions on the box, washed her hands, and waited for the test to show results.

“Well?” Aurora called through the door.

“I think it needs another minute.” Caitlin opened the door with the stick in her hand. She couldn’t stop staring at it, but she didn’t have to wait long. A clear plus sign showed in the indicator window. “Oh, wow,” she whispered.

“Congratulations, honey!” Aurora immediately wrapped her in a hug. “You’re going to have a baby.”

Her friend was practically jumping around in her excitement. Caitlin’s emotions were more mixed. She put the test in the trash and sat down, trying to come to grips with how her life had just changed.

“You don’t want a kid?” Aurora asked softly, picking up on Caitlin’s mood.

“I do. I’ve always wanted a family.” She’d always wanted to do it right. Raise children who were secure in their parents’ love and not picked apart constantly as she had been. And she liked kids, too, especially rambunctious toddlers. Those were her favorite. “It’s just the timing. I don’t know if I’m ready for kids. I mean, I always thought that would come after I got my life pulled together and was settled in my own business. I wanted to be financially stable and have it all figured out, you know. And I guess I thought I’d be married.”

She knew Brian cared for her, maybe even loved her, but he’d never said that he wanted more than meeting up on weekends after she moved back to Austin. Would he make time in his life for their baby? Would he even want one at this point in his life?

“Are you worried about Brian? I’m guessing it’s his.”

“Has to be,” Caitlin said. “We’ve got something going, but we’re a long way from ‘let’s raise a child together.’ I have no idea what his reaction is going to be.”

“Yes, you do.” Aurora smiled at that. “You know Brian. He’s the kind of man who will be there for you and his baby, no matter what.”

“True,” Caitlin said, even as she wondered if it was really true. He was dependable, sure, but he was there for the town first. “I’m sure he’d try to be there for us.” Suddenly, she realized that she’d become an us as soon as she read the pregnancy results. She and her child together. Would that include Brian? And how would they work it out? Because raising a child without a partner seemed daunting.

Not to mention, where would they raise the child? She didn’t want to live in Darby Crossing, and Brian had no interest in moving to the city with her. They’d have to split custody. What if he insisted that she stay in town? She nearly shuddered at the thought. Despite how nice most people had been to her since her return, she still didn’t feel entirely comfortable here. Maybe that all originated with her parents, but Caitlin couldn’t get past it.

And she didn’t want to give up the dream she and Maggie had of opening their own tattoo business. Thanks in part to Brian, it looked likely that their money would get returned, which would make the dream achievable again. She didn’t want to give that up when they were so close.

“It’ll work out,” Aurora said. “I feel sure of it.”

“I hope so. I just don’t see how at the moment.” Caitlin appreciated her friend’s optimism, but she wasn’t so confident herself.

Aurora glanced at the clock. “We’ve left Alex to man the floor for too long. I’m going back out to deal with the lunch crowd. You take as long as you need.”

“I’m okay.” Caitlin stood up. “I better get back to work since I’m about to have two mouths to feed.” She went for a joking tone but didn’t quite pull it off.

The second she walked back to the front of the diner she saw Brian slide into a booth by himself. He dropped his hat on the seat next to him and rubbed a hand over his face, seeming weighed down by something. He was like that with his work, and she suddenly felt reluctant to add to his sense of responsibility.

“There’s my favorite waitress,” he said when she approached his table. He smiled at her and she felt the glow from that ping inside her. It made her think that everything could work out between them, but she knew that was a false hope. Telling him about the baby would change everything between them. She felt consumed by a wave of fear and knew he could see it on her face.

“What is it, darlin’?” He kept his voice low.

“Nothing,” she said, too brightly. “Everything’s fine.” She’d tell him soon, but not here, where other people could overhear every word that passed between them. “Are you going to be home this evening? Because there’s something we need to talk about.”

His eyes flicked over her face for a second before he stood up and grasped her wrist. Before she could react, he was pulling her through the kitchen and out into the back parking lot.

“By the look on your face, whatever it is can’t wait. What’s got you worried?” he asked, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders.

“I don’t know how to put this exactly.” She paused, gathering her strength for the two words to come. “I’m pregnant.” She paused for a moment, waiting to see if lightning would strike or something. When it didn’t, she continued. “It must have happened that night at the motel, so it’s definitely yours.”

“You’re pregnant.” His hold on her tightened. “Are you sure?”

“I did a test this morning. I know this isn’t what you—” She stopped when he whooped loud enough to echo off the nearby buildings.

“That’s amazing. You’re amazing,” he said before kissing her and pulling her into a hug. She gladly pressed herself against him. “God, a baby. We’re going to have a baby.”

“Brian, are you sure you’re okay with this?” His grin and obvious excitement were not what she expected. Good things made her nervous—she didn’t know how to trust them.

“You bet. I know we’ve got some things to work out, but I’m all in. I’m a little blown away, but I’m so, so happy.” He kissed her again and rested his forehead against hers. “And don’t worry, darlin’. We’ll figure it out together.”

She wanted to believe him, but she was worried about everything they’d have to sort through. Brian would be a wonderful dad, but what if, despite his best intentions, he kept choosing work over her and their baby? She was afraid of the idea of raising a child basically on her own. Her idea of family meant that the kids always came first, always knew they were the most important thing. Brian let his work take him away so often, and she didn’t want their baby to ever think he or she came last. She’d had way too much of that in her own childhood.