Page 72 of The Hermit on the Hill

The repetitive banging of the kitchen cabinets opening and closing started up, but I walked out of that room and out of that house without saying another word to Jenna or Nana. It took everything in me not to run.

I got into my truck, started the engine, and tore out of there like the devil himself was on my tail. I swiped at a tear as it crept down my cheek. When I got to my uncle's house, I could fall apart. I just needed to hold it together a little longer.

Another tear fell, and I swiped at that one and growled.

I'd be fine.

Jenna would be great.

I was doing the right thing, the only thing I could do.

Some day she'd thank me for it.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Jenna

"Hey, Jenna." Jared knocked on my door frame and stepped into my room.

I blinked up at him from the book I'd been reading about wine making. Now that I was working in the tasting room at Cody's vineyard, I'd started alternating my parenting books with books about wine.

It was better than thinking about Sam and the way he'd dismissed me so easily. He clearly wasn't the man I'd thought he was.

Jared sat on the end of my bed. I had a small desk crammed into the corner of the bedroom where I kept my books. Jared had the other bedroom for the time being, but he was already looking for another place to live so the baby could have his room.

It had been two weeks since Sam had dumped me and it still hurt like someone was sucking the air from my lungs every time I thought of him.

I'd heard he was back in town, but thankfully, I hadn't run into him. I'd had a few encounters with angry townspeople in the first days after the breakup, but once word got around that Sam and I were over, everyone had gone back to being distantly polite.

I'd rather have Sam than strangers displaying basic human decency, but no one bothered to ask what I wanted. Least of all Sam.

"Earth to Jenna," Jared said.

I blinked. "Sorry. I was trying to understand tannins before you walked in and my brain won't let go of that bone."

He didn't smile. He looked worried. "I tried to pay rent today, but the landlady said the rent on this place has already been paid for the next six months."

I pressed a hand to my growing baby bump and another to my mouth as sickness washed over me. Oddly, I hadn't thrown up at all during the first three months, but now I was tossing my cookies at least once a day.

My doctor wasn't worried as long as I kept gaining weight. She'd prescribed me something to help with the nausea, but it wasn't working. "I don't want his money."

"You're entitled to child support. And I've seen your pay stub from Cody. You need the financial help, Jenna."

Unfortunately, Jared was right. And my baby having a safe home trumped my principles.

"I guess I can't complain about having another six months to save money."

Right around the time my baby was due, I'd have to figure out how to pay the rent on my own, but I'd manage. I had savings.

"There's something else," Jared said. "And it's worse."

I pressed my palms into my thighs to brace myself. "Hit me."

"This is supposed to be a surprise, but I know how much you hate surprises."

"With the passion of Aphrodite."

He blinked, then shook his head. "Okay. Anyway, Mom is throwing you a surprise baby shower. She thought it would cheer you up after the breakup."

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