Page 10 of Secret Baby at Mountain Creek Ranch
I walk around the counter. I was going to surprise her with this later but now seems as good a time as any to show her. To prove to her that I’m in it for the long haul. That I don’t ever want to spend another day away from her or Sam again.
“If I wasn’t serious, would I have done this?” I ask, opening the drawer and handing Tris a check. It’s for the full amount that she still owes the hospital.
“What is this?”
“I sold my motorcycle.”
"You what? I didn't ask you to do this."
"I know you didn't ask me to do it. I did it because Sam is my son too. I did it because I care about you, and I knew how much this was weighing on your mind. I know that you've been on your own with Sam with hardly any help from anyone, but that wasn't because I didn't want to be there."
“You made it very clear from the moment we met—”
“I didn’t bring this up to fight with you. Am I happy that I lost that time with Sam? No. Do I understand why you thought that was the best decision for you and him? Yes. But please don’t push me away anymore. I’m not going anywhere. I love Sam.” I cross the room and cup her face in my hands. “And I love you. Let me take care of you.”
“You love me?”
“You couldn’t tell after last night?” I ask again.
She half laughs, half sobs. “I love you too. I just didn’t think that I would ever get my happy ever after. Years of being on my own has made me cynical and ready for the worst.”
“That’s over now. You and me and Sam, we are going to be a family forever.”
TRIS
Jameson leans down to kiss me just as the screen door opens, and Sam runs in. Nash follows, but he stops short when he sees me in only Jameson's t-shirt and Jameson only in his jeans.
"I was just dropping Sam off. I didn't mean to interrupt." He turns and is out the door before I can say thank you.
"Mom? Why don't you have any pants on?" Sam asks, unfazed.
"Buddy, we need to talk to you," Jameson says, scooping him up and walking him into the living room. I grab some clean shorts sitting on the top of the laundry basket and slip them on before heading out to the living room.
“What’s wrong? Am I in trouble?” His lower lip juts out like he’s ready to cry.
“It’s nothing like that.” Jameson kisses the top of his head. “We need to tell you something that might surprise you.”
Sam looks to me in confusion. “Jamie is not just my friend. He’s actually your dad.”
“Like Tommy’s new dad?”
I shake my head. "Tommy's new dad is his stepdad. Jameson is your real dad."
“You said that we couldn’t talk about him.”
“I was wrong to say that and not tell you the truth.”
He looks at Jameson, reaches up, and hugs him around his neck. "I'm glad you are my daddy."
Jameson wraps his arms around Sam. “I’m so glad I am too, buddy.”
Epilogue
TRIS
I wish we hadn’t waited so long to have the baby shower. I feel like a beached whale sitting on the porch here baking in the spring sun. Jameson’s parents flew in special from Phoenix to be here, so I have to put on a brave smile.
The sound of Sam screaming and laughing has me turning around in my chair to watch him. Jameson is chasing him, Abbie, and Sophie around in the yard with Nash and Landon.
