Page 105 of Enough
I stare into her frightened eyes. “I think you’re brave.”
“Why?” she asks with a roll of her eyes.
“Because you made a very tough decision at such a young age.”
“I don’t think I’d be a good mom.” She sniffs. “I never really had one.”
I purse my lips. “I’m sorry. Is that why you don’t want to keep him?”
“It’s part of it. I don’t even know his daddy’s name. Pretty bad, huh?”
I shrug. “I’m in no position to judge anyone.”
She rubs her stomach. “Do you think it’s bad that I justwant him to have a better chance?”
“I’m proud of you for being so brave and putting someone else’s needs above your own. Just be sure it’s what’s best for you.”
“I think he deserves better than me.”
I frown. “I know I don’t know you very well, but I think anyone would be lucky to have you for a daughter, a friend, or a mother.”
Her lips curl upward and she reaches for my hand. I hold on to it until she drifts to sleep.
Twenty minutes before the end of my shift, Nadia delivers a healthy baby boy. As I’m cleaning up her room, I hear her speaking to the doctor about adoption. I say a silent prayer for her and for her baby. She’s stronger than she knows.
TWO WEEKS HAVE passed and it’s my day off. Nick’s coming over for dinner tonight, and I’m freaking out over how the kids will feel when I tell them we’re dating. I called Mike and we talked about it. Even though he never gave me the same consideration with Krista, I try to practice what I preach.
I’ve seen Nick here and there, but not enough for either of us. We talk every night, and he met me for dinner at the hospital a couple of times. Cooper even joined us once, but we haven’t had much alone time and I miss him terribly. We haven’t had another sleepover, and the sexual tension between us during soccer games is palpable. Gwen calls around eleven this morning and she’s a needed distraction.
“You’re up? I thought for sure I’d get your voicemail.”
“I can’t sleep. Nick’s coming over for dinner tonight, and I don’t know what to do with myself. Everything’s ready. I cleaned the house and made the salad. Now I’m just staring at the walls.”
“Want to meet me for lunch?”
“Yes!” I jump at the chance.
Forty minutes later we’re pulling up to McNally’s.
“They have great food. When Coop and I were here…” She stops herself mid thought.
I pause, not sure if I should ask, but I decide to anyway. “How long has it been since you spoke to him?
“A week,” she answers slowly as she lets out a deep breath. “He texted a few times and I didn’t text him back. Finally he just stopped trying.”
We sit in the car outside the restaurant and I can see she’s feeling a little sad. “Can I ask you why you didn’t text him back?”
Her head tilts toward me briefly before she stares back out the front window. She rests her hands on her steering wheel and a second later her head follows. “I don’t know… What’s wrong with me, Ev?”
“You don’t like him?” I question.
She sighs and gazes in my direction. “I more than like him, but I’m scared. He kept calling and texting. Then the flowers and the card… I just feel like it’s moving too fast.”
I nod my head. “I understand. My feelings for Nick reappeared almost immediately and it really took me by surprise.”
“Nick’s different. You knew him before, and I can see the way he looks at you. He really cares for you.”
“Cooper really cares for you too. He texted me a few weeks ago and asked me how he could show you he was different from other guys.”
