Page 30 of Secret Baby with My One Timer

He smiles when he sees me, then he turns and greets Taylor’s mother, embracing her in his arms, hugging her warmly.

“Thank you for coming,” she mouths to him.

She invited him?

Janie turns and takes Holly from Mia. My father wipes away a tear as he holds out his arms to his granddaughter as Janie takes a microphone. A hush falls over the gathering as she begins to speak.

“Thank you all for being here on this special day.” Her voice carrying a serene strength. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to my daughter, Taylor. I’ve witnessed not only her own beautiful journey, but I’ve also had the joy of having a granddaughter.” She looks at me and smiles. “And to Oliver for never forgetting Taylor and making her believe again.”

The glow of the sunset bathes her in a warm, golden light as her words hang in the air.

She swallows and turns to my father. “And thank you, Leighton. For the gift you gave me. I want to share something with all of you,” she announces to the hushed gathering, her eyes scanning the faces of those who love her. “I’ve been having treatment for one month now and I feel the medication is working. I don’t know why, but I feel different.”

Cheers are in the air as Taylor rushes to her, wrapping her arms around her as the women sob in each other’s arms.

Taylor’s hand touches my dad’s forearm before he delicately strokes his hand over hers.

The rest of the evening isn’t so much of a sob fest. The celebration continues with dancing and singing as the moon takes its place in the night sky, casting a soft glow over the gathering.

“Is today the day?” Connor asks as he walks toward me with Nate and Oscar.

I shrug my shoulders. “Do you think I’ll be stealing her mom’s thunder?”

“No. Her mom will be delighted,” Nate says.

“We’re about to lose a soldier,” Oscar pipes up. “But who gets to be your chosen?”

I chortle. “A soldier. You mean someone who gets you out of trouble when you’ve had too much to drink?”

“No, we’re trying to work out who you’ll choose to be your best man,” Oscar says.

“The most sensible...” I glance from Connor to Nate to Oscar and shake my head. “I think I’ll ask Harrison.”

“Fuck that. You’ll pick one of us. We’ve been by your side forever.”

I laugh. “She might not say yes.”

Nate nods. “True.”

“That’s it. I am going to ask Harrison.”

The three guys burst into laughter behind me as I stroll away.

When I find Harrison, he holds out a sketchpad to me. “These are for you.”

“What are they?”

“You told me about missing out on Taylor being pregnant.” His eyes pierce mine. “I didn’t, and she was beautiful. She is beautiful.”

I eye him suspiciously. “You wanted more from her?”

He chews the inside of his cheek and nods. “Once she was pregnant. Her focus was on her baby, her studies, and nothing else. She was adamant she was going to give her child the best life she could. It was the moment our friendship really began. There was no going back from there. I gave her male company. She gave me more than she’ll ever realize.”

“She’s had no one else?” I ask. I could never forget about Taylor, but she was so beautiful that I always expected her to be swept off her feet.

He shakes his head. “Nobody.” He sighs. “I helped her search for you. I think she wanted to find you, not only to find her baby’s father, but to find you for her.”

“Thanks for being a great friend to her.”

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