Stay with Me (Brook Hollow 2) - Page 22

Mia smiled and agreed. Kids liked dogs, didn’t they? She had never had a pet because she was in the foster care system and moved around a lot. Mia watched the rest of the parade feeling like she could do this on her own. She would be a good mom and never give up on her child. She knew her mother had tried to raise her for a few years until finally giving up and putting Mia is foster care at the age of four. She had promised to come back but never did. Mia moved from family to family until she had been thirteen and stayed with Brenda. Brenda had been a nice older woman.

After the parade was over, people started coming in for coffee and snacks. Reva and Becky arrived to help with the crowd. Delores Ramirez came in and sat at the counter. Mia was slightly nervous to wait on her. Did she know about the baby? Mia hadn’t seen or heard from Abel in the last few days. She figured he was still shell-shocked and was avoiding her. She was okay with it.

“What can I get for you, Mrs. Ramirez?” Mia asked with a smile. Delores had the same dark hair as her children but she kept it shoulder length. Her eyes had plenty of laugh lines around them but she seemed happy with her life.

“A regular plain coffee, dear.”

“Ah just like your son, Abel.” The words slipped out before she could prevent them and Mia blushed. She turned away getting the coffee pot. She poured the coffee into a white cup.

Delores chuckled and reached for the cream. “Yes, he is like me in that regard. I love plain coffee, why mess with the simple recipe que no?

Mia nodded as Becky came out of her office holding a picture. “This is the cake Jessy picked out Delores. I love it, don’t you?”

Delores looked it over. “Yes, it is beautiful, my friend. It is hard to believe my baby boy will be a married man soon. And if God is willing by this time next year, I will be a first time grandmother, too. What a wonderful Christmas present.”

Mia gave Becky a nervous look. Obviously, Abel had not shared the news with his family. Becky nodded at Delores with a smile. “Yes, I am sure you will have a grandbaby by next Christmas.”

“Now if I can get my stubborn son Abel to hurry up and propose to Jane all would be perfect. Melanie is much too young to even think about a husband.” Delores sighed.

“Now, Delores. You can’t force your children to marry people they don’t want to marry,” Becky said patiently. “He might not like Jane like that.”

“Nonsense.” Delores waved Becky’s concerns away. “She is perfect for him. He is no fool. He will open his eyes soon. Of this I am sure.”

Mia moved away and pretended to clean some shelves that were spotless. Delores Ramirez’s words hurt. She was set on Abel marrying Jane. Jane worked at city hall and his mom thought she would help Abel with his career. What could Mia do for him besides burden him with a baby? Would going home to New York be better for her child? In New York she had Gwen and her family. Here her child would always be an outsider. She had a lot to think about.

“I am going to catch up on some paperwork now that the crowd died down,” Mia told Becky and headed to the quiet back office. Why was life always so complicated?

* * * *

Abel knocked on Mia’s door, hoping they could work something out. It had taken him a few days to come to terms with her news. He had not been expecting that and it blew him away. He believed her though. Not for one second had he thought she was lying or trying to pass off someone else’s baby as his. That proved that deep down inside he trusted her. He had a bag of Chinese food in his hand and he hoped they could eat and talk. He was nervous as hell. He was happy for the chance to be a father for real this time, but he also wanted Mia. How could he convince her of that? She already refused to believe he was sorry for his cruelty.

She opened the door, looking bewildered to see him standing there. She wore pink fuzzy pajama pants and a loose white t-shirt. Abel thought she looked adorable and he wanted to kiss her so bad.

“Oh hi, Abel.” She stuttered nervously. She gestured for him to come in. Light flakes of snow were coming down from the sky but it wasn’t enough to cover the sidewalks yet. He told his officers not to call him in unless aliens invaded.

“I hope you like Chinese?” He gestured to the takeout bag.

She nodded and led him to her kitchen. He unpacked the boxes while she got plates out of her cabinet. He could picture them enjoying many dinners like this in the future and he smiled to himself. A baby would just be a bonus, but his feelings for Mia were in the center of his heart. Now to convince her of this. He wasn’t good with smooth lines or elaborate speeches. He often blurted out whatever was in the front of his mind, and sometimes it went south really quick. He was afraid of upsetting her and making her cry. He had nightmares about that day in his office.

“Thank you, Abel.” She put her napkin down once she was done eating. “I am so full and sleepy. The coffee shop was crazy after the parade with people wanting to warm up. Becky was thrilled with the business of course, but I just wanted off of my feet.”

Abel put the empty plates in the sink and led her to the living room. “Is it okay for you to be on your feet all day? Should you stop working?”

“I think it’s okay. Pregnant women work,” she answered.

“Lincoln is on night duty tonight so now we can talk,” he informed her. “He knows not to bother me tonight.”

She got a wary look on her face and he hated that he made her fearful with his harshness. He was going to remain calm come hell or high water. “I finally have a doctor appointment next week, but the doctor said it was too soon for an ultrasound. I have so many questions in my head. I should write them down, I suppose.”

He grabbed her hand and rubbed the soft skin. She didn’t pull away and for that he was grateful. Baby steps, he reminded himself. “I don’t know much about babies myself. If you want me to go with you, I will. Let me know ahead of time so I can clear my schedule.”

“Do you still hate me? I didn’t

want to lie, Abel. I felt so guilty but it was necessary.” She looked upset and he felt his chest tighten with regret.

Abel sighed loudly. “I didn’t mean those awful words I said in my office, Mia. As soon as they came out of my mouth I wanted to hit myself. Jessy told you about Lydia?”

“Just a bit. I understand why you would be bitter. I’m sorry you had to go through all that, Abel, but I would never lie about my baby. I am happy and scared to be a mom. I want this baby and I am leaving it open how involved you want to be. No pressure, I swear.”

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