“No,” he shook his head.“It’s not, and I’m sure you never pictured this scenario either.I assumed I would be having babies with Kylie, but I’m not mad that I’m having one with you.You seem like a really nice person, and I’ve seen you with your nephew.I’ve seen how you care for him and how much you love him.That’s all I can really ask for my child, too.”
Sadie swallowed past the lump in her throat, batting her eyes quickly to stave off the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.“Thank you for that.I do love Oliver with all my heart, and as strange as it sounds, I love this baby already.I haven’t had a lot of time to get used to the idea of being a mother, but I can promise you, I will love this baby so much.You don’t ever have to worry about that.”
Her words seemed to lighten something inside him as his shoulders appeared to relax.He grinned and nodded his head, acknowledging her words.
“How’s Kylie doing with all this?”For her, Kylie was like the elephant in the room.
“Honestly, I haven’t talked to her a whole lot about this.She’ll have questions, and I don’t have answers yet.That’s what I’m doing here.Getting a feel for where your head is at.”
“What kind of questions do you have?”She tucked her legs up to her side and leaned into the side of the recliner.
“Will you let me come with you to the doctor's appointments?”His clasped hands tightened as he waited for her answer.
A ‘V’ formed between her brows, surprised at his question.“You would want to do that?”
“Absolutely.And I would really like to be there for the birth if you’ll let me.”His knee started to bounce, showing he was as nervous as she was.Seeing this big man anticipating that she might not let him be a part of something so special broke her heart.How could she deny him that?The baby was part his, too.She would never try to cut him out of anything involving the baby.She just wasn’t that kind of person.
“Yes, of course.If that’s what you want and Kylie’s okay with it.”
“I know that we’re finding our way here, but you don’t have to worry about Kylie.She will support me in whatever I need to do.”
She wasn’t so sure about that, but she hoped Darren was right.She didn’t want to have to fight Kylie at every turn when she and Darren needed to deal with something about their child.
“How do you see this parenting thing working?”She waved her hand between them.
He scooted closer to the edge of his seat and her.“Full disclosure?”
“Yes.Full disclosure.I want to know what you’re thinking.”Should she brace herself?
“I’m thinking I want to take care of my child in every way I can.That’s just the kind of man I am, the kind of father I want to be.I want to pay all your medical bills from now to the delivery.”
Yes, she should have braced herself.“You can’t do that!Do you know how expensive that’s going to be without insurance?”Her feet hit the floor as she straightened in her seat.
“Yes, I’m getting an idea of how much it costs with Kylie.”He frowned as a thought occurred to him.“How did you plan on paying for it without insurance?”
Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes dropped, suddenly embarrassed to admit what she was planning to do.“I was going to sign up for public assistance.”
A muscle ticked in Darren’s jaw, clearly unhappy with this news.“There’s no need to do that.I spoke to Race, and he said he never took you off our insurance."
“What?But I don't work there anymore, and I haven't been paying any premiums.”
Darren smiled.“Apparently, he figured if Jed hadn't taken you off the schedule, you would still be working there, and you would still have insurance.The club has been paying the premiums and will continue to do so.I'll pay all out-of-pocket expenses with the baby.”
“I can’t let you do that.”She was uncomfortable with him spending so much money.She felt like it would be taking advantage of him and his generosity.
“Look at it as payback for Jed letting you go at Bottoms Up.”
She snorted.“I would’ve had to quit anyway.”She pointed at her stomach.
“Just go with it, Sadie.Please.Let me do this.”
Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as she fought with her pride.In the end, to refuse his help would only hurt herself.“Darren, I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“Sadie, you’re not taking advantage of me.If things were different and we were a couple who had been together for a while, I would be doing this for my woman.Providing for my child.”
“But I’m not your woman.”
“No, but you’re the mother of my child, and I would like to think we’re friends.”His expression was so sincere, she couldn’t detect any falsehoods or ill intentions.He glanced away, then back, as if debating on what he wanted to say next.“This might sound strange, but the two of us experienced something that connected us in a way no one will ever understand.I don’t know how to explain it.”He shook his head.“Even before I found out you were carrying my child, I considered you a friend.And I look out for my friends.”He rubbed the back of his neck."I really don't know how to explain it.I'm probably not finding the right words here."
