Two

Did I just here a baby cry? It doesn’t exactly sound like an infant, but the child’s not very old either.

Larry pats Jesse on the shoulder as she comes through the back. “I’ll get him. You enjoy your visit.”

That girl creeps me out. She disappears up the stairs and I glance over at Jesse. He’s grimacing into his coffee and looks up at me rather sheepishly. “There’s something I didn’t mention last November.”

My stomach tightens. He’s married, has a kid and Larry is the babysitter. Shit!

“I have a son.”

“And his mother’s at work?” I am so fucking stupid.

“Not exactly.”

Oh God, it’s not Larry’s. It can’t be. But she’s possessive, and they’re comfortable together. I think I’m going to be sick.

“Actually, I don’t know where she is and don’t really care.”

Doesn’t know where she is? It takes a moment for his words to register and then I blow out a breath and relax. I really shouldn’t let my imagination run away with me.

“She didn’t want him. I did. We made a deal. She wouldn’t get an abortion and I’d take full responsibility.”

His blunt statement leaves me nearly speechless. “Wow!”

“I mean, it was a shock when she got pregnant, but her reaction had me rethinking why I was even with her.”

“Well, a lot of women respond differently to a surprise and unexpected pregnancy,” I say, a little bit in defense of this woman. I don’t know her, of course, but it’s ultimately the woman who has her life altered for nine months, and beyond if they keep the child. I’ve had friends who got pregnant when they least expected it. Some had tears of joy, over the moon with happiness, and others in near panic mode, wondering what the fuck they were going to do, and others with every emotion in between. Really, nothing can alter your life quicker than finding out you’re suddenly pregnant.

Jesse shakes his head. “It was more than that. Things hadn’t been good for a while, but that’s what did us in. We broke up before she was in her second trimester and she couldn’t wait to get that thing,” he lifts his hands, making the quote signs with his fingers, “out of her. That’s all I heard the entire time, making sure I didn’t go back on my promise after I made her carry the baby all that time.”

“Wow!” I say again. I guess it was more than shock at the situation. What woman feels that way about her own child?

Well, that’s a stupid question. Most of my siblings at one time had mothers that weren’t very mothering. Me included.

“I was there at the delivery and when they tried to give him to her, she just looked at me and said to just take him and leave her alone, and that I’d gotten what I wanted and I was never to contact her again.”

As horrible as it is for the baby’s mom to feel that way. At least he has a dad who loves him. One parent was better than none.

“It’s not like I was ready to be a dad, but it’s the hand I was dealt and I wouldn’t trade my son for anything in the world.”

This makes me smile. Parents who want their kids and love them. His green eyes are warm and there’s a small smile on his lips. This is a guy in love with his kid and my heart melts like ice cream over a warm brownie.

Larry returns a moment later, carrying a chubby little boy on her hip. He’s got the biggest green eyes, curly blonde hair and an adorable smile. My heart melts just a little more.

Jesse takes him and sits back on the stool, setting his son on his leg. “Deirdre, this is Cam.”

Cam grins up at his dad and shakes his legs, bouncing on his bottom, clearly happy with his current circumstances.

Well, she didn’t run, yet. I wanted to get to know her better, maybe take her out, before springing Cam on her. I probably don’t have an ice cube’s chance in hell now. Then again, if she can’t accept Cam, then she isn’t for me anyway.

And, I can’t believe I just told her almost everything. She didn’t need to know that Cam’s mother is a heartless bitch. I could have just left it at me wanting my son and Sheri didn’t.

“What a darling.” Deirdre smiles and leans forward, rubbing the knuckle of her finger against Cam’s cheek.

Cam leans toward her, arms out, completely shocking me. “He must like you.”

Deirdre laughs and picks him up. She has him standing on her thighs facing her. “Well, I think I like him too. What a handsome guy.”

“Really! Cam doesn’t go to strangers. Ever.” Usually he cries when someone other than me, my parents, Larry, or his afternoon sitter picks him up. Maybe he’s finally growing out of that stage.

“I should take him.” Larry’s lifting Cam before I can form an objection. “He needs to be fed.”

It’s his lunchtime and it’ll be easier to talk to Deidre without Cam between us. At least physically. He’s certainly there now. I’m just afraid to find out if she’s going to bolt the minute she has a chance. Instead, she sits back and sips her coffee.

“Single dad, gallery owner and a teacher. You’ve got to be busy.”

“Yep, and it explains my lack of social life.”

She chuckles. “School is my excuse. I just don’t have time. I’ve needed this break.”

“No plans while you’re in town?”

She shrugs. “Nothing set. Just seeing what the day brings.”

“Maybe we can have dinner or something?” I try not to hold my breath, but I really expect an evasive answer, like we’ll see what happens.

“That would be great.” She grins and my stomach unclenches.

“Jesse,” Larry calls as she comes down stairs carrying Cam. “He doesn’t want to eat right now and I’ve got to get lunch if I’m going to be back in time for you to go to Baxter.”

I glance at my phone. It’s about eleven. She can’t feed Cam, eat and be back before 12:30?

“Not a problem,” I take Cam from her and check his head and cheeks. The only time Cam doesn’t eat is when he’s getting ill, or teeth, and both bring on a slight fever. But his face is cool. “Can you bring his food down so I can keep an eye on the front of the shop?”

“Sure thing,” she agrees and practically runs up the stairs.

The bell above the door tinkles and I glance through the opening from the back to see two customers enter.

“Do you mind?” I ask Deirdre. If I were alone, I’d take Cam with me, but lately he’s been reaching for everything. Last week he got his hands on a pot, which was too heavy for him to hold, but he moved it just far enough to the edge of the shelf that it fell and crashed on the floor. I’m going to need to keep him from the front of the gallery as much as possible.

“Not at all,” Deirdre says as she takes Cam from me.

Cam grins and goes to her and I’m so glad that he’s gotten over crying when someone unfamiliar wants to hold him.