Page 43 of The Christmas Eve Delivery

And she had no idea who I was. How was I going to be the man she thought I was and still push this resort through? She was going to hate me.

Even more so now that she was pregnant. How could I have the mother of my child not want me around?

And I was convinced that was definitely going to happen until I got her to see that my plan was really going to help this town, while her Historical Society and their lame attempts at getting people grants to help renovate and restore their homes and places of business was only going to cause more grief and stress.

She led me into her apartment within the inn. I set my thoughts on the resort aside. I needed to focus on her and our child.

“So, I was thinking,” she said.

I hadn’t been listening to her, too busy tripping over my own thoughts.

“If I got enough grant money, I could expand the apartment. I would like to build a kitchen on this side so that I wouldn’t have to constantly be running back and forth.”

“Moving a kitchen is not a small expense,” I said.

“Well, I wasn’t exactly thinking of moving the kitchen. The kitchen was designed to be a commercial-grade kitchen. Thatjust never happened. Anyway, I was thinking I have three guest rooms at the end of the first floor hall on this side of the building that I could take over, and close off the entire end of the hallway, expanding the apartment.”

As she spoke, she tried to define spaces with her hands. She pushed air and kind of boxed in spaces with her hands. It didn’t exactly make sense, but clearly, there was something in her mind that she was picturing.

“I would have the apartment and the two ADA-accessible guest rooms on this side of the first floor. Then on the other side of the first floor, get that kitchen updated and upgraded so that it can be a viable commercial kitchen, and outsource a small cafe for lunch and dinner. They could even take over breakfast service, or add after hours room service.”

“That’s going to be a hefty investment,” I said.

“I know,” she admitted. “Upgrading the kitchen and putting in a small restaurant are part of my long-term planning.”

“And building a kitchen in your apartment? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to find a small house and live off property?” I asked. “Especially now with a baby on the way.”

She cut a sharp glare in my direction. “This is my home. This has always been my home. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

“You honestly can’t imagine living in a little house with a white picket fence, and a yard with a swing set for the kid?” I asked.

I had grown up in a little house with a picket fence. The fence had been falling down, and the swing set had been tethered with rusty chains to cinder blocks so that it didn’t fall over. But I had the freedom of running around outside. I had a yard to play in.

The inn didn’t have a yard. Where was our child going to play? Where would we put a swing set and a slide?

“I don’t know. I never really thought of it. I mean, this is how I grew up,” she said. “If I needed to play, I could go to the park.”

“How are you planning on running this place and taking our child to the park at the same time?”

She stood in the middle of her small living room. Her expression turned sad, and her lower lip started to tremble.

“Oh, Lydia.” I reached out for her and pulled her against my chest. “I didn’t mean to make you upset,” I said as I stroked her hair.

“I don’t know how I’m gonna do any of it.” She sounded so sad and a little bit scared. “But if my mom could do it, then I know I can do it. I’m not going to be the first single mother to balance having to work and raising a kid.”

“You aren’t going to be in this alone,” I said.

She tilted her head up to me and blinked. I saw tears dot her eyelashes. With a thumb, I brushed the little bit of moisture that escaped from her eyes away from her cheek.

“Are you serious?” she asked. “I mean, you’re not here more often than you’re here. And if I listen to the inner voices that tell me everything is wrong with the world, I have to wonder if I’m not just someone who fell into bed with you and that you actually have a family somewhere else.”

“Lydia,” I said, trying to keep anger out of my voice, “I do not have a family somewhere else. The only family I have is growing right here in Brookdale.” I rested my hand on her pregnant belly. “You don’t have to worry about anything like that.”

“I’m not a side piece who accidentally got pregnant?” she asked.

“Accidentally got pregnant, check. Side piece only if you consider my job my first relationship. And right about now, I’m beginning to think I’ve spent a little too much time at work and not enough time with you.”

“Are you trying to be romantic?” she asked.

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