“I’m not ready for them to know,” Blue said quickly.
“Mom will know because she can tell if something’s off with us just by looking,” Finch said.
“I’m making breakfast,” Meadow McAllister said, breezing out the door toward them. “Isn’t it wonderful that Finch came home this morning? Two more of my babies back in the nest.”
She wore a lemon-and-white kaftan, and Blue knew there was nothing under it. Her parents would wander around naked if they thought they could get away with it.
Both gray now, they still looked young and healthy, for all that their father was in remission from skin cancer. They never ate anything processed and did yoga and meditation daily.
“Breakfast sounds good, thanks, Mom,” Blue said. “Need a hand?”
“No, Hamish will help.” Her mom had been about to walk back inside when she stopped and stared at Blue. “What’s wrong?”
Finch snorted.
“Nothing’s wrong, Mom, I promise. Can we have blueberry pancakes?”
Blue fought the need to turn away and instead held her mother’s eyes.
“You’re not telling me something, Blue Jay McAllister, but I’ll get it out of you.” She turned back and walked inside.
“You”—she pointed at her brother— “shut up.”
He grabbed her and hauled her close for a hug, his chin running over the top of her head. “It’s going to be okay, Blue. We’ll get through it. You’re not alone.”
“I can’t believe this is happening to me. I have always been so careful. I wanted to be a world-renowned fashion designer. I had so many plans, and now…”
“They don’t have to change because you have a kid, Blue. They’ll just need to be put on a hold for a bit. Mothers run the world. No reason you can’t fulfill all your dreams.”
“I love you, even if you are really annoying and far too comfortable giving orders.”
“Back at you,” he said, holding her tight.
She felt a wave of panic crash over her then, even while resting on her brother’s solid chest.
Life for her was about to change beyond recognition, no matter who supported her. From this day onward, it would be entwined with Jay Haddon’s.
He was her child’s father and, she knew, a good man, which to her meant he would want to play a part in its life.
Digging through her memory, she tried and failed to find any single moment where he’d done something to annoy her. Which said what about him?Only that you know nothing about him and have no idea, really, of his character.
“Food’s ready!” their mother called through the open doorway.
“I don’t want to tell them now, Finch. I have to speak with the father first,” Blue said.
“That’s a phone call I’d like to listen in on. Hell of a shock for the guy.”
Blue didn’t add anything to that, since, in fact, she wouldn’t be making a phone call because she didn’t have Jay Haddon’s phone number, but more importantly, he deserved to be told to his face.
The thought made her stomach roll, or was that the baby? Dear God, she was going to be a mother, and, as far as Blue was concerned, she was likely the least qualified person she knew to fulfil that position right now.
Chapter 13
Jay hadn’t been food shopping for a while, and he was hungry, so a quick trip to Ryder’s cafe would take the edge off, and he’d pick up supplies from Calloway’s Convenience Store on the way home.
Dan had called to see him, but aside from talking to his friend, Jay had just stayed home and worked, managing to finally force Blue out of his thoughts and focus.
“You bring that face in here, and my milk will curdle.”
