Now that she had that sorted, she returned her focus to the list she’d created of expenses related to the baby.The cost of the office visits to the doctor and the delivery aside, she still would need to buy a crib, a car seat, clothes, diapers, formula, and that was just the bare minimum.There was also a stroller to buy, a diaper bag, bibs, onesies, and sleepers.God, the list was endless.She had planned to sign up for public assistance after telling Darren he was going to be a father, but she’d been too mentally drained to deal with anything else.She did manage to make a few phone calls regarding a couple of apartments she’d found, but all they’d had available were one bedrooms.She would much prefer to be able to move into a house, saving her another move, once she got the money from the sale of the one she had now.
It was Friday morning, and she and Oliver were feeling lazy.They’d eaten pancakes for breakfast, and neither one had felt like getting dressed yet.While she worked on their money situation, her nephew had turned on a kids' show on Netflix while playing with his cars.
A knock at the door interrupted their quiet time and saved her from spiraling further down the rabbit hole.She wondered who it could be at—she checked the time at the bottom of her screen—9 a.m.?Oliver glanced from the door to her and back again.Maybe it was whoever was assigned to watch over her for the day, and they had a question?She pulled her fleece jacket on and went to see who it was.Checking through the peephole, her heart skipped a beat when she discovered Darren standing on the other side of the door.Crap.She expected him to want to talk at some point, so she shouldn’t be surprised he was here.One didn’t drop the “I’m pregnant” bomb in someone’s lap and not expect them to have questions.She threw the locks and opened the door.She hoped her smile was friendly when she greeted him.“Darren.”
“Hey, Sadie.You have time to talk?”The man was big, stretching the limits of his flannel shirt beneath his cut.He stood with his hands in his front pockets, looming large on her doorstep.Despite his size, she wasn’t the least bit intimidated.He’d proven himself to be a good man with the way he took care not to hurt her when they were guests of the Phantoms.
“Sure.Come in.”She stepped aside and allowed him entry, closing and locking the door behind him.One side of his mouth hitched up in a half smile at the way Oliver was checking him out.His head was tipped way back to take him all in.
“Who are you?”Oliver’s brows dipped as he asked.
“I’m Darren.”Some of the stress lines around his mouth disappeared as a genuine smile spread across his face.
Yep.There it was.Oliver had that effect on people.
“Hi, Darren.Are you a friend of Jed’s?”Oliver held the car that looked like Jed’s in his hand.
“Yes, I am.”
“Oliver, Darren and I are going to talk.If you go get the tablet out of my bedroom, I’ll set up the show you’re watching, and you can take it to your room.”She wrapped the sides of her jacket over each other tightly.“Do you want coffee while I set this up for him?”
“Sure.”
“Have a seat.”She motioned to the couch, then went to the kitchen.She flipped the lid closed on her laptop and turned over the notebook she’d been compiling her lists in.She set a mug under the dispenser and popped a pod in the coffee maker.“Do you want creamer or sugar with your coffee?”
“No, thanks.I take it black.”
Oliver came back with the tablet, handing it to Sadie.She tapped through several things until she found the movie he’d been watching.“Tell me when to stop.”She fast-forwarded through the movie so he could pick up where he left off.“Stop!”
“Okay.Here you go.Close the door behind you.”She grinned as she watched him hurry off, wishing she had half his energy.
“Thanks, Aunt Sadie!This is so cool!”he threw over his shoulder.She waited for the door to close before taking Darren his coffee.He waited for her to choose a seat in the recliner before he sat on the couch.Glancing his direction, she found him smiling at her.
“What?”
“You’re really good with him.”Darren sat on the edge of his seat, his cup all but disappearing between his two big hands.
She shrugged her shoulders.“I try.I’ve been helping raise him since he was born.”She sometimes wondered if her brother realized what an easygoing child he’d been blessed with before he died.Like every other time she thought about her brother, her heart broke for everything he would miss out on in Oliver’s life.If he were still alive, she did not doubt that he would have her back through this pregnancy.He’d probably want to beat the crap out of Darren, too.She wouldn’t allow that, of course, because it was his club’s fault she was in this mess to begin with.
“He was so excited about watching a movie in his room.”Darren took a drink of his coffee.
“Well, that’s probably because this is only like the second time I’ve ever let him watch anything in his room.I prefer that he stay out here with me.Even if he’s watching something and I’m reading a book, we’re together.You know what I mean?”
Darren’s head dipped.“Yes.I do know what you mean, and I agree with you.I always thought when I had kids, I would prefer they spend time with me and not be stuck with their faces on their phones or games.”His body stiffened slightly.“Wow.It just hit me that I’m going to be a dad.”
“And I’m going to be a mom.”She shook her head.“It’s kind of scary when you say it out loud, isn’t it?”
“At least you’ve got some experience already.”
“Yes, there is that.”She drew in a deep breath and held it.“I hope this one is as easy as Oliver has been.”Her gaze met his, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he’d been like as a child.Was he quiet and thoughtful, or was he rowdy and a daredevil?She was more on the quiet side, and although she was younger than her brother, Ryan, she was the more responsible one.
“I, uh,” he cleared his throat and fidgeted on the couch.She doubted very little rattled this man, and figured it was a rare occasion to be witnessing it now.“I, uh, was happy that you decided to keep the baby.”
“Really?”It gave her a sense of relief knowing he was happy about the baby.He’d said as much yesterday when she told him she was keeping it, and she’d believed him.Hearing him say it again was something she didn’t realize she needed to hear.
“Yes.I’ve always wanted to be a father.”He set his cup on the coffee table, clasping his hands loosely between his knees.
“But this isn’t how you imagined it.”
