Page 125 of Omega's Refuge

He nodded in understanding. “Okay, if you’ll be able to enjoy life with things in order, I’ll help.Just don’t let me catch you on a step ladder again, please. It’s too risky.”

“I suppose if you’ll help me, then I’ll calm down.” I winced when my back twinged.

Rex’s gaze sharpened. “How about you take a little break.” He moved over to me and steered me out of the studio to the living room. “Sit. I’ll get you a snack.”

I brightened. “Ooh, a snack?”

“Yep. I brought home some chocolate almond ice cream.”

I felt as if I’d won the lottery. “Yes, please.”

Once I was settled with a pillow behind my back, Rex disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later, he came back with a glass of water and a bowl of ice cream.”

“I’m bribing you so you’ll relax.” He grinned as he handed me the bowl of ice cream.

“This is my favorite kind of bribe.” I took a bite of the chocolate dessert, closing my eyes happily as the sweet flavor washed over my tongue. “Mmm.”

He chuckled and settled beside me, stretching his legs out. “You’ll never believe who offered to buy us a crib.”

I frowned. “Jack?”

He laughed. “No. Jack probably doesn’t even remember you’re pregnant. He’s all about your work. Other than that, he’s clueless.”

“Who then?” I paused eating, trying to think who would be invested enough in my pregnancy to want to buy a crib. “Not Steve?”

Rex chuffed. “You think he’d bother? Since you won’t go back to him, he seems completely disinterested in the baby now. Pretending to care about the baby was just a way to get you back.”

I sighed. “I think you’re right. I haven’t heard a word from him since that day at the apartment. I called him to let him know the baby was okay, but he didn’t even pick up.”

“He’s probably embarrassed and his pride is wounded.”

“Probably.” I took another bite of ice cream. Once I’d swallowed, I asked, “So who offered to buy us a crib?”

“Mrs. Rodwell.”

I was so shocked, I almost dropped my bowl of ice cream. “Why would she offer that?”

“I’m not sure, but she did. She came up to me after lunch and told me she wanted to do that for us.”

“I’m flabbergasted,” I mumbled. “She made it abundantly clear she didn’t approve of us being together. She insisted only Steve and I should raise the baby.”

He shrugged. “Apparently, she’s had a change of heart.”

I swirled my ice cream with the spoon, frowning. “That’s crazy. I mean, I’m glad and allbecause cribs are pricey, but it’s not something I ever thought she’d do.”

“She told me you should pick out the perfect crib, and she’ll buy it. She wants it to be your decision.” He smiled. “She also admitted she thinks that’s best because she doesn’t know the first thing about cribs or babies.”

I blinked at him. “No, I suppose she wouldn’t. I only know what we should get because I’ve been obsessively scouring baby catalogues the last few months.”

“Well, pick out what you want and she’ll buy it.” He leaned his head back and then lifted it again. “Oh, wait, she told me to tell you something and she was very insistent that I get the wording just right.”

I frowned. “What did she want you to tell me?”

He cleared his throat. “She said to tell you that she’s decided to be on the inside of it, not the outside.” He watched me closely. “Does that make sense to you?”

You can either be a part of our happiness, or you can be on the outside of it, Mrs. Rodwell.

She’d actually taken my words to heart? She’d actually listened to what I’d said to her that day? I was moved, knowing how prideful she was, that she had wanted me to know she’d listened. She could have just bought us the criband said nothing about it. But she’dchosento let me know she’d heard me.

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