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“That was so much fun,” Riley said as they made their way up the sidewalk to Blake’s grandfather’s house. Kate and Drew’s wedding rehearsal had gone smoothly, and the rehearsal dinner following it had just been a big family and friend get together. “I’m not normally one for big crowds, but that was the most fun I’ve ever had at a rehearsal dinner.” She knew having Blake with her was a huge part of why she’d felt so relaxed. He had a calming effect on her.
“Thanks for inviting me,” Blake said. “Your family is great. I really enjoyed getting to know them better.”
He’d hit it off with her parents immediately, and her dad had even pulled her aside at one point and mentioned that he thought Blake was “good people.” It meant a lot that they approved of him. She might have limited experience dating, but she knew enough to know that if the guy you’re dating gets along well with your family, you should consider it a blessing. “You’re welcome. I can’t stay here too long. We’re having a sleepover at Kate’s.”
“Bachelorette party?” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “Should I be worried?”
She laughed. “I think the wildest thing we have planned is to steam our dresses and watch some old movies.”
He unlocked the door and led her inside.
Journey met them at the door, happy to see them.
Riley reached down and scratched behind the dog’s ears. “I’ll have to bring Cocoa for a playdate soon.”
“Want anything?” Blake asked, loosening his tie. “Water? Soda? Juice?”
“Coffee?” she asked.
“I should have known.” He grinned and took the coffee canister out of the pantry. “You’ll be happy to know that I got you something for just such an occasion.”
“What?”
He motioned toward the refrigerator. “Open it.”
Riley opened the door and squealed. “You bought my favorite creamer.”
“I saw your face the other night when I had nothing but milk to put in your after-dinner coffee. You know what this means though, right?” He stopped what he was doing and wrapped his arms around her.
“What?”
He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. “It means I even think about you when I’m at the grocery store.”
She beamed. They’d seen one another so much over the past week. Between training for the dog therapy program and going on dates, they’d gotten to see each other almost daily. And Riley couldn’t be happier. “Well I’m glad. I like being thought about.”
Once the coffee was done, Riley poured herself a cup.
“I can fix it for you,” Blake said.
“That’s okay. I kind of like feeling at home enough to make it myself.”
Blake smiled. “And I like that, too.”
They took their coffee into the living room and sat next to each other on the couch.
Blake turned toward her. “You know, Riley. I want to make sure we are clear about something. I’m not seeing anyone else. Only you.”
She’d figured that to be the case, but getting verbal confirmation was nice. “Me neither.”
“I’m really excited about what we have. For the first time in forever, the future seems bright.”
“I think so, too.” Riley sipped her coffee and nestled against him. “I can’t stay long. But I’ll see you tomorrow at the wedding.”
Blake nodded. “Looking forward to it. Except for one thing.”
“What’s that?” she frowned.
“I just hate to see a wedding where the Maid of Honor upstages everyone else.”
She playfully slapped his arm. “Don’t be silly.”
“I’m being serious.”
The knock at the door startled them both and Journey let out a single bark.
“Just to prove to you how at home I am, let me get it.” Riley jumped up and headed to the front door. She opened the door just as the person was knocking for a second time.
An older woman with frizzy gray hair stood on the porch, holding a sleeping child. “Is Blake Taylor here?”
Riley turned to call for him, but Blake was already on her heels. “I’m Blake. Come on inside.”
The woman looked exhausted. She motioned to a diaper bag and car seat on the ground next to her. “Can one of you get that?”
Riley bent down to grab it and followed them inside to the living room.
The woman carefully put the child on the couch. The little girl never stirred.
“I’m Florence Shipley. Anna Shipley’s aunt.” She peered at Blake.”
He frowned. “Is this Anna?”
The woman snorted. “What kind of game are you playing?”
Riley felt like she’d suddenly been thrown into the Twilight Zone. But she could see that the woman was distraught. “Could I get you some water or something?”
The woman shook her head. “Is this the girl you dumped Anna for?” she asked Blake, motioning toward Riley.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I’m very confused. Who is Anna?”
“As if you don’t remember.” The woman began to get very agitated. “I’ve come here from Charleston. This angel baby I brought with me is Hope. Hope Taylor.”
Riley’s stomach lurched. Blake had a daughter?
Blake stood up and began pacing. “I’m telling you, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“All I know is that my niece told us she dated you for several months, that the two of you had planned to get married, and that you are Hope’s father. Anna couldn’t deal with any of this and she’s gone. Poof.” The woman snapped her fingers. “Left me with this baby. I’m old. I have health problems and a sick husband. I can’t raise any more young’ens. Wouldn’t be the right thing for me or for Hope. Your name is on the birth certificate as the father.”
Blake sputtered but the woman held up a hand to stop him. “When she couldn’t track you down when Hope was born, she had to go to court to establish you as the father. Don’t pretend like you didn’t get those documents in the mail.” She smirked. “Welcome to fatherhood.”
The woman picked up her purse. “I’m glad now that I didn’t call you first. My husband told me it was poor taste to show up here and leave Hope with you with no warning. But I figured a man who turns tail when his fiancée ends up pregnant is easier to deal with when you have the element of surprise on your side.”
Riley’s mouth was drier than a cotton ball. Blake had been engaged and had a child. And here she’d been thinking he was the kind of guy she could trust. His whole story about not having had a serious relationship in nearly a decade didn’t pan out. It didn’t get much more serious than a fiancée and child.
“You can’t just leave this baby here,” Blake said. “What am I supposed to do with her?”
“Raise her.” The woman made her way to the door. “Good luck to you. I’ve left my contact information in her diaper bag, along with her birth certificate and social security card. Even though I can’t keep her, it doesn’t mean I don’t care about her. Good luck.”
Blake followed her out the door, still arguing.
Riley sank onto the couch next to the sleeping child. She looked a little younger than River—definitely not more than a year old. What had just happened?
Blake came back into the living room, a defeated expression on his face. “Riley, this is some kind of misunderstanding.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I trusted you when you said you hadn’t had a serious relationship.” She pointed to Hope. “That looks pretty serious to me.” She stood up. “And you left her mom when she was pregnant? That’s despicable.”
Blake shook his head. “I don’t know her mom. I’m not this child’s father.”
Riley rolled her eyes. “Give it up.” She grabbed her purse from the kitchen. “Don’t bother calling me. Looks like you’ll be busy for the next eighteen years anyway.”
“Riley.” Blake started to follow her to the door.
She whirled around. “Stop. Why don’t you just take responsibility for this? You think this woman just made up a name to put on the kid’s birth certificate? And then traveled across the country to find you? She seemed pretty certain.”
“It is some kind of mistake.”
“So was this.” Riley’s hands shook as she hurried out the door and to her truck. She was thankful she’d driven to Blake’s and parked there so they could ride to the rehearsal and dinner together. She should have known better than to put her trust in him.
It looked like her fears were right. She had the same poor judgment about men as her birth mom had. Thankfully, she’d seen the light before it was too late.
**
Blake paced the living room, trying to wrap his head around the bomb that had just gone off in his life.
A baby?
Definitely not his baby.
He sat down on the couch next to Hope. This was like a bad dream. Only one person could help him sort it out now that Riley was gone. He picked up the phone. “Susie?”
“Hey there.” His stepmother’s voice was warm and as usual she sounded happy to hear from him. Hopefully that would remain true after tonight.
“I need you and Dad to come over here, please. Something’s happened,” his voice cracked. “Hurry, please.” No way he could even explain this over the phone.
“We’ll be right over.”
“Don’t knock on the door or ring the bell, please. It’s unlocked.”
He hung up and sighed. Susie and Dad were going to freak out. He leaned his head against the back of the couch. Everything had been going so well.
Hope stirred.
“Don’t wake up, don’t wake up, don’t wake up,” he whispered.
She stopped stirring and was quiet.
Eventually though, she would wake up. And he’d be left with a child. She wasn’t his, but in this moment, she was his responsibility.
Ten minutes later, he heard the door open. He stood up and greeted them in the entryway.
“What’s wrong?” Susie asked. “You look like you’re about to be sick.”
He managed a smile. “The craziest thing has happened.” He put a finger to his lips to keep them quiet and led them to the living room.
“Son, there’s a baby on your couch.” Dad looked at him quizzically. “Are you babysitting?”
“If only it were that simple.” He quickly filled them in on Florence Shipley’s visit.
“And you really have no idea who this Anna Shipley is?”
Blake held up his hands. “I promise. I definitely do not know who that is.”
Susie sat down next to Hope and admired the sleeping child. “When was she born?”
Blake fished the documents out of the diaper bag. “Looks like she was born almost exactly a year ago.” He froze. “A year ago . . .”
Zach.
“Watch her. Let me go grab something.” He went into Grandpa’s office where the packet from the Charleston Area Men’s Rescue Center sat unopened. He grabbed the box and went back to the living room.
“What’s that?” Dad asked.
“Some of Zach’s things.” He tore the box open and emptied it onto the floor, then began sifting through. The letter addressed to him sat in the middle of the pile and Blake tore it open. The letter was dated just after Hope’s birthday. He scanned it, then sighed. “I think I know why Zach had a relapse last year. Listen to this: Í’m going to be a father and it terrifies me that my child will turn out like I have. Blake, you have to help. There’s no way I can do this. I lied to Anna anyway, and pretended to be you. I do that sometimes when I can’t stand being me any longer.”
Blake put the letter back on the pile. He should have known.
“Well that and a paternity test will clear you of any responsibilities to the child,” Dad said quietly. “If that’s the way you want to handle it.”
“What should I do?” asked Blake. He looked from Dad to Susie.
“Son, there are some instances where a parent has to stay quiet. This is one of those times. This is your call to make, your life being impacted.” Dad scratched his jaw.
“Your father is right,” Susie said. “But whatever you decide to do, you’ll have our full support.” She reached over and stroked Hope’s smooth forehead. “Do you want to bring her to our house tonight to sleep? We’d be glad to help with her.”
Blake grinned. “I appreciate that. I think for tonight we’ll just stay here. I have some thinking to do. And some praying to do.”
Susie nodded. “I’d say you do. We will do the same.”
Once Dad and Susie left, with the promise of coming back early the next day, Blake made a pallet on the floor with a soft blanket. He gently moved Hope to the pallet, thankful she didn’t stir.
Journey circled the living room, then curled up a few feet from the baby, casting a watchful eye on her.
Blake reached down and gave the dog a pat. “What do you think, Journey? Is this part of our path? To raise a child?”
He grabbed a blanket and pillow from his room and settled on the couch. There was one person in the whole world he wanted to discuss this with, and from the look on her face as she stormed out, she wasn’t interested in speaking to him.
Blake closed his eyes and started a long conversation with God.