Page 11 of Nick's Secret Baby
When she finally pulled away, I looked back at Ansley, who gave me a small smile. “Mom, I need to get back to Ans. The family is a bit overwhelming and I don’t want her to run on me, okay?”
“Okay, Nicky, should I make her some ginger tea? I hear it’s good for pregnant ladies.”
“She’s okay, mom, don’t go to any trouble.”
I went to Ansley and sat next to her on the couch, handing her a bottle of water and tucking her into my side.
“So Ansley says you’re having a little girl,” my dad said once I settled us in.
“I — she said what?” I looked over at Ansley, who looked like a deer in headlights.
“Well, those weren’t her exact words. She said she was having a little girl, but I’m not a fool. I see the way you look at her, son, and your mother is in that kitchen right now looking like she’s going to burst at the seams with happiness.”
I looked back at Ansley, “Mom guessed, and I couldn’t say no.”
She smiled up at me. “It’s okay. Really it is.”
We made it through the rest of the day with minimal issues. Once the stares stopped, Ansley seemed to be more herself, but she was tired and I was done socializing. I love my family but sometimes I can only take so much.
“I think we are going to head out,” I said as I stood, then reached to help Ansley up, “It’s been a long day, and I’d like to get Ans back home.”
“Are you sure, honey? We haven’t even had dessert yet.”
“Yes, ma, we’ll be by to see you and dad later in the week. I’m not planning to head back to the city until after the new year.”
Ansley stood next to me with a small smile as every one of my family members made a ridiculous show of saying goodbye and doing their best to aggravate me.
“Listen, we are all close by, so if this one gives you trouble, just call me or Jack and we’ll come by and beat his ass.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. Neither of my brothers were small, but I certainly had them both beat in size.
“I don’t think that will be a problem, but I appreciate the offer.”
“Really? Have you been around him after a full workday? How about with no coffee? The man is a straight up asshole.”
Her soft laugh drew my attention back to her gorgeous face. “I have to say even without coffee, Nick has always been the perfect gentleman.”
“That’s my boy,” my mother said, pulling me in close, “Now make sure it stays that way.”
I nodded in her direction and placed my hand on Ansley’s back, moving her down the hallway and out the front door. I needed to get my girl home and away from my family before she heard something that would turn her against me forever. The ride back to the house wasn’t long. I held Ansley’s hand in mine while Christmas music played on the radio. I couldn’t believe that next year we would have our daughter with us for Christmas. The idea of it all brought a smile to my face, but when I looked over at Ansley, she had tears in her eyes.
“Ans, what’s wrong, honey?”
“Nothing… I… probably just hormones,” she said as she wiped her face with her gloved hand.
“Happy tears or…?”
“It’s fine Nick, really I’m fine.”
She pulled her hand from mine and turned to focus on driving. When I pulled up to the house, she got out before I even made it around to her side of the car. She had closed the door and made her way up the front steps faster than I had seen her move all week.
“Ansley, where are you going?” I said, trying to catch up with her.
She didn’t even turn around, just hightailed it into the master bathroom and closed the door behind her.
“Ans, open up. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Nick, I’m fine. I just want to take a shower.”
