Her loss. Sybil’s focus remained on her baby girl and bringing her safely into this world. She’d contacted an adoption agency but hadn’t brought herself to read through the information. When they called and asked if she’d received it, she’d answered yes and then started ignoring their phone calls.
Her conviction hadn’t changed, but it had started to waver. She’d given Jared her word that she’d consider letting him raise the baby. If he believed himself capable of raising their daughter with no experience, then couldn’t she as well? But he’d had a different upbringing. He understood what a family was supposed to be.
She wanted her baby girl. She wanted to be there for her first smile and belly laugh. Hold her hand as she learned to take her first steps. She wanted to comfort her when she came home from school in tears because a mean kid picked on her, and tell her she was beautiful when she convinced herself she was the ugliest girl in school. She wanted to be the mom her own mother had never been.
But was that selfishness speaking or a true calling to be a mom? Only time would tell.
The doorbell rang, and it startled her. Apple cider spilled onto the armrest and onto her pants. She didn’t see anything to wipe it up with quickly, so she pulled her sleeve down over her hand and blotted the liquid. Fortunately, she wore a black shirt and whoever was at the door wouldn’t know she’d used her shirt as a napkin.
The bell chimed again.
“Coming.” She rushed to the small foyer then peeked through the peephole. An automatic smile formed when she saw Jared, and she hid her wet sleeve behind her arm opening the door, on the off chance he would have noticed. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He stood with his hands in his pocket and not a trace of his normal confidence.
She looked beyond him and didn’t see his truck. “Where’s your truck?”
“I walked over.”
“What’s up?” She leaned against the doorframe.
“Are you free tonight?” He cleared his throat. “And if so, can I take you to dinner?”
Why was he acting so weird? They’d been out to eat a few times together—it wasn’t a big deal. “I’m free. Where were you thinking?”
“Some place nice. Like we’d go for a date.”
Her mouth formed anO. “Would this be a date?”
He nodded and offered a half-smile. “I thought if I asked in person, you’d be more willing to accept.”
She let out a low breath and crossed her arms. “I don’t know…”
“No pressure. Just a nice evening out.”
All the reasons she shouldn’t go surfaced to the forefront of her mind, but she couldn’t deny the part of her that wanted to say yes. “What time?”
“When’s good for you?”
“Is six too early? Lately, I’m in bed by the time I used to leave for a night out.”
“Six is perfect.” His sincere smile melted her doubts. “Bring a light sweater.”
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. I’ll pick you up in four hours.” He winked—which made her stomach flip—then walked away before she could answer.
A wave of giddiness burst in her, competing with her nerves. A date? She hadn’t gone on one in months. Her spirits fell. What was she going to wear? Regular clothes didn’t fit her anymore, and none of her maternity outfits were suitable for a date. They went straight from at-home casual to business attire with nothing in between.
Time to call in the reserves.
She ran—briskly walked— to the living room and grabbed her phone. Thumbing through her recent calls, she found Rysa, and selected her number.
“I need help,” she blurted out as soon as the line connected.
“Is the baby okay?” Concern weighed down Rysa’s tone.
“Oh goodness, yes. I’m sorry.” She took a second to catch her breath. “I do need help though, but not with the baby. Not directly, at least.”
