Page 25 of Until Delilah

“I’ve missed you too. I didn’t realize how much until I saw you get out of the car. Beck wanted me to color my hair blue like yours.” I laugh.

“Oh, I would love to see you with blue hair. This brown,” she flips the ends of my hair, “you’re still gorgeous, but it’s not you.”

I have to agree.

“I don’t think blue hair is the way to go if you’re trying to hide,” I laugh.

“Probably not,” my mom twists the end of her hair around her finger. “How long are you going to be hiding from him?”

That’s the problem. There is no end date. It’s not because I’m having his baby. Bradley doesn’t even know about it unless he bribed someone from the hospital to give him my medical records. Which now that I know more about him, I wouldn’t put it past him.

“Until he and his family are in jail.”

“Oh, Delilah, what did you hear?”

“Nothing good. We’ll talk about it later. I don’t want Beck to overhear.” She nods, understanding. “I do have a question for you though.”

“Shoot. I’m an open book.”

“How did you handle it when women threw themselves at dad?” If I’m going to do this with Max, I need to be prepared.

“At first, I never thought he’d be interested in me or stay interested.” Sounds familiar. “Once I opened my eyes and heart to him, I never had a chance. Your dad is the best man I’ve ever known. He took care of making sure that when other women were around, they knew we were together, and once they saw they didn’t have a chance and that he only had eyes for me, they backed off.”

“Still, it couldn’t have been easy,” I push.

“If a man wants the attention of other women then no, it’s not easy. Most don’t have to see pictures of their significant other with someone else on their arms. It took some getting used to, but… let’s put it this way, your dad always made sure to let me know I was his top priority.”

I know she’s right, and there’s no reason for women to be on Max’s arms. He’s not a model or an actor.

“If you’d like, your dad and I can watch Beck one night while we’re here to give you two some alone time. I’m sure you haven’t had much of that.”

She’s right. Max is normally busy while Beck’s at school most days, and I’ve been trying to find a job.

“I know you’re worried about lots of things, but I want to give you some money so that stress isn’t on you. Enjoy this pregnancy and time with Beck and Max before the baby comes.”

“Mom, I can’t do that. I want to stand on my own two feet.”

“And you have been for the last seven years. Don’t fight me on this. Let us help you for once in your adult life. Life doesn’t have to be as difficult as you make it. We love you, honey, and I should be able to spend my money the way I see fit.”

“You’ve worked so hard for it,” I argue.

“Exactly, so I should get a say in how I spend it. I want to make your life better. Please let us do this for you.”

I don’t want to give in, but I know I won’t win either. “Fine, but not too much. I’ll pay you back someday. I don’t know when, but I promise I will.”

“The best way to pay me back is to give yourself and your children a happy life.”

Damn, I have the best parents.

“I promise.”

10

Delilah

“Run, Beck, run,”my dad screams from the stands. He’s standing with his hands cupped around his mouth as if Beckham can’t hear him. The entire town can hear my dad as he cheers him on.

I don’t fault him. It is the first time he’s watching his grandson play baseball. When Max told him how good he thought Beck is, my dad nearly fainted.

---