The Baby I Never Knew

Chapter 5

I woke up the next day feeling a bit better. I don’t want to spend too much time in this house, so hopefully, I can convince my mother and Tessa to put me to work running errands and whatnot for them. I should be trying to spend some time with Tessa, but honestly, I need to look for a good reason to call off this engagement because I have no attraction whatsoever to Tessa.

“Good morning, ladies,” I call as I grab a cup of coffee in the kitchen.

“Morning,” Tessa mutters, clearly annoyed with me.

“I was thinking you two have been doing all the work around here preparing for this party; the least I can do is run some errands to pick things up and help out.” I begin. “Please, put me to work.”

“I need to drop off a list to the florist. You need to find an outfit for the party that will match the pale pink dress that I am wearing. I will get you a swatch of what I’m looking for you to wear.” Tessa remarks. “I also have some dry cleaning that needs to be picked up.”

“I can handle that for you, dear,” I reply, forcing a smile onto my face. “Mother, is there anything I can do for you?”

She carefully eyes me, then answers, “when you are finished helping Tessa, I will have a shopping list for you. I was going to ask Tessa to help me as my achilleas are acting up again, but if you are pitching in today, I may as well send you.”

“All right, just hand me what needs to go where, and I’ll get going.” I am all too eager to get out of this house. It’s always felt like a prison to me ever since my father died, or was it after my sister died? Did my sister even exist? I mean, we were young when she died, and my mother practically erased her from this house, making me wonder if she wasn’t just an imaginary friend I made up as a child to help cope with my father’s death.

Running errands means I can keep my mind distracted from things. I finished everything Tessa wanted me to do and took my mother’s grocery list to the store. I wander aisle by aisle, wanting to kill as much time here as possible to give me an excuse not to run home. In the produce aisle, I see a little girl in a cart resembling Bella. Is this just my mind playing tricks on me? I shake my head and check my mother’s list. Of course, she’d want asparagus and broccoli, which are both down the aisle the little girl is in. With a sigh, I make my way over and grab a broccoli bundle. “Sorry,” a familiar says, walking away. I watch as Mia drops a bag of brussel sprouts into the cart with the little girl, and my heart skips a beat.

“We keep bumping into each other.” I manage to answer before she walks away. Mia pauses, and I see the resemblance. “She looks like you.”

“I would hope so.” Mia comments, then proceeds to walk away.

“Mia, please, I just want to talk,” I call, rushing to walk behind her. “I do miss you. Come on, let me get you a drink or something.”

“I have priorities. Hooking up with a man like you isn’t one of them.” She replies coldly. I’m taken aback by her words; why do I get the sense she’s holding a grudge about something? “Despite what you have heard around town, I’m not like that. My daughter is first and foremost on my list of people who I spend my time with.” She finds a checkout line and waits.

“How old is she?”

“Why do you care?” She asks as she loads things from her cart onto the conveyor belt.

“Just trying to make conversation. Your daughter is beautiful. Hey, sweety.” I say, waving to the little girl, who responds by covering her eyes with her hands and smiling. As we wait in line, I play peek-a-boo with this little girl feeling like I’m playing with the little girl from my childhood.

“Baby, momma needs your crackers. I’ll give you one in the car, okay?” Mia says to the child as she gently takes the box and hands it to the cashier.

“Cacker, cacker.” The little girl starts yelling, and tears start rolling down her cheeks.

Mia lets out a loud sigh of defeat as she finishes paying for the groceries. “Can I get that box back, please?” She asks the bagger. He hands it to her as she passes the box to the child, which stops the crying. The little girl gives a final little sob with a quiver of her lip as Mia pushes the carriage out of the store.

I quickly check out my own cart of groceries and hurry out of the store. I scan the parking lot, hoping to spot Mia. I see her shutting the door to her car and walking around to her trunk. I make my way across the parking lot as quickly as I can without breaking into a run. As I reach her car, she’s closing her trunk. “I was hoping I would catch you.” I smile at her trying to break away some of that cold-heartedness. “Did I do something wrong? You seem really upset with me.”

“You have no clue, do you? You could have reached out to me, but you didn’t. I was waiting for you.” She was clearly angry, and her eyes were threatening to weep. “I thought we had something, but I was naïve. Just forget it.”

I swallowed hard. Had she not blocked my number then? “Mia, when I heard from my mother, they told me all the town gossip. Including you seeing so many guys that you didn’t know whose child you were carrying.”

“I know who my daughter’s father is. I chose not to tell anyone because he doesn’t need to be bothered. I’ve been doing fine on my own without his help. He doesn’t need to be burdened with my decision to keep her.” She snaps. She pushes past me and climbs into her car.

“Mia, please. How old is she?” I plead as my mind begins to race.

“Ask your mother since she knows so much.” She pulls her door closed, shifting her car into gear to leave. I back away from the car and head to my own car. I need to clear the air with her somehow. I’m baffled about why she’s so upset with me. Was I not the one trying to reach her, only to find out she broke her promise to me about waiting?

I get into my car and do my best to follow her from a distance. I know this is boarding the stocking route, but I want to talk to her. I need to know the truth for once. I’m so tired of all the lies and the confusion. I lose her in a thickly settled neighborhood, but after circling around a third time, I see her coming out of the house. She goes to her car and pulls out an arm full of grocery bags. I go and take a few once she disappears into the house. As I’m walking up the walkway, Mia returns. “No one is here to help you?” I ask.

She narrows her eyes at me. “Are you stocking me?”

“Looked like you had your hands full, and we need to talk clearly. I hate seeing you angry with me, and I miss you. I don’t care about the rumors; I know how much fun you were; I want that again.” I confess.

“Oh, so you just want a booty call? Sorry, I stopped those after I had my daughter. The rumors are just rumors. I missed you for a bit, but I moved on.”

“What about her dad? Where’s he at?”

“Who knows. Her father left town. He doesn’t know about her, and I’m okay with that. My choice, my life. When she’s older, I’ll tell her everything.”

“They say even your parents don’t know.”

“Only I know his identity.”

“Why are you keeping it a secret?”

“Can I have my groceries, please?”

“I’ll bring them in.” I insist.

“I don’t want you in my house. I’ve done fine without a man, and I don’t need one now.” She protests. I just shake my head with a smile because I know there is no arguing with her when she’s like this. I push past her and make my way into her house.

Inside, I set the groceries down in the kitchen, then turned around to face her. “Can I take you out for a drink and talk?”

“I work five nights a week, and I have a daughter. I don’t get the luxury to go out for drinks.”

“You were never so bitter; her father really did a number on you,” I comment.

“Realizing that someone you’re in love with didn’t share the same feelings hurt like hell. Then the damn rumors started because I wouldn’t tell anyone who her father was. I marked her birth certificate, father unknown, to keep his identity a secret. I don’t want him to have any claims to my child. He made a choice not to be with me, so I’m keeping it that way.” “Not even his last name?”

“If I did that, then he could claim her as his. She has my last name.”

“How about we just sit and chat here? I want to catch up. I’m sorry to hear about her father breaking your heart. You deserve better than that.”

“I do, but it is what it is.”

“Momma.” The little girl called, walking teetering into the kitchen with her doll and rubbing her eyes.

“Are you tired, honey?” Mia asked, picking her up. The little girl nodded, laying her head on Mia’s shoulder. “Okay, I’ll get you some water, and you can take your nap. When you wake up, Aunty will be here.”

As Mia walked the little one down the hall, I set to work putting her groceries away. Maybe then she’ll give me a few minutes to talk. When she reentered the kitchen, she gave me a questioning look. “I figured you could use a hand.” I smile as I turn around from putting the box of baby crackers in a cabinet.

“I told you I don’t need or want any help from you. I’ve been doing fine all this time. Why stop now?” She replied.

“Just because some asshole just up and left you doesn’t mean you need to hate all men. I’m just trying to be nice and help you. We used to enjoy each other’s company in the past.”

“Key word, the past. No matter how nice you are and how persistent you are, I’m not interested in your companionship. The last guy I slept with gave me a child and then split. Sorry if I’m not interested in jumping into bed with you.” She retorts coldly, telling me I definitely hit a nerve. I need her to calm down so that we can have a civilized talk.

I sit in a chair and just look up at her calmly. “How old is your daughter?” I ask again, trying to get some sort of conversation with her.

“It’s none of your concern.”

“Why won’t you answer my question?”

“Because my daughter is none of your business. Can you please just leave?” She presses again. “I need to start getting ready for work.”

“I’ll talk to you later then.” I sigh, standing up from the chair. I walk out the door and to my car to leave. I know where she lives now; I can come back another time when she isn’t pressed for time.

I drive back to my mother’s house and bring in the groceries. I can’t shake the feeling that there is something Mia isn’t telling me, and maybe things got mixed up in the lies around here regarding Mia’s child. I won’t fish it out of others; I’ll wait until she’s ready to talk; until then, I’ll make myself known to her in hopes of softening her up some more.

“What took you so long?” My mother huffed as I entered the kitchen with the bag of groceries. “It was only a couple of items.”

“Yeah, sorry, I bumped into an old friend and lost track of time chatting.” I partially lied.

My mother gave me a side-eyed look she gives me when she’s contemplating whether to press or let it go. “You are marrying a charming woman with an impeccable reputation, not to mention she has strong morals. Let’s not forget that while you’re here, son.”

“I know, mother; how can I forget your opinion of Tessa when you remind me of your opinion three times a day,” I grumble, pulling the groceries out of the bag.

“You should take Tessa to the tavern tonight.” My mother suggested with a smug smile.

“I’m not sure the tavern is classy enough for Tessa.”

“No, but Dean has his heart set on getting to know the waitress, and Tessa wants to help her brother.” My mother shrugged.

“Then they can go together; why should I be involved?”

“Because you know the waitress, maybe you can help.”

“No, Dean is a grown man who can find women. I’m all set playing matchmaker.” I mutter, turning to leave the kitchen.

“Ryan Anthony, it wasn’t a suggestion.” My mother stated in an annoyed tone. “You will take Tessa and Dean to the tavern tonight.”

“As long as Dean can hold his alcohol and mind his hands. I’m not sure if Tessa can help him after he puts his hands on the waitress and was kicked out by the tavern owner. He may not even be allowed back in, and if I show up with him and he misbehaves again, just think of the whispers around town about the company I keep.” I replied, knowing this would hit a nerve. She always told me I need be mindful of the company I keep because she didn’t want me in any gossip in this town due to her having a reputation to uphold.

“I will have Tessa speak to him.” My mother finally said. With an inward smile, I walked away upstairs to the room I’m staying in. I need time to process everything. I send Hollis and Ricochet a message to see if they can join us tonight. I don’t want to be alone with Tessa and her brother at the tavern.

**********************************************

As it turns out, Dean wasn’t up for going to the tavern tonight, for he would visit his folks. Instead, it was me, Tessa, Hollis, and Tessa’s cousin Dave. Dave seems very different from the family I have met on Tessa’s side. Dean and Tessa act like the world owes them for things, whereas Dave just loves everyone and everything. Whenever Tessa finds something to complain about, Dave quickly points out the beauty of something she’s overlooking. Honestly, it’s a bit comical from my standpoint.

We enter the tavern and find a seat at one of the tables. We each pick up a menu from the table and look through it. “I think I’m going to get some dinner here,” I comment.

“Oh, that’s such a great idea.” Dave smiles as he hastily scans the dinner menu. “What do you recommend?”

“I was going with the country fried chicken, though I’m one to get the gravy on the side so I can pour it on myself,” I note. “But everything here is decent.”

“I’ll get the cob salad and a glass of red cabernet,” Tessa announces to the table.

“Alright.” I nod.

“I’m with you in trying that chicken.” Dave smiles, setting his menu down. “With a glass of Pinot.”

“Same, but with a Miller Light,” Hollis concludes.

“What can I get you guys?” Mia asks with a smile. I look up as my heart skips a beat, and I swallow hard. Of course, she’s working tonight. I place everyone’s orders because everyone seems to look at me expectantly. “I’ll be right back with those drinks.” She replies and walks away. I catch myself watching her walk away and force myself to peel my attention away from her.

“Is that the waitress Dean has a heard on for?” Dave asks curiously.

“According to Miss Leslie, that girl is the town slut, and the only waitress here,” Tessa informs him. I have to bite my tongue, knowing everything I say to and in front of Tessa will get back to my mother.

“Sweetheart, is it true you’re taking next weekend off?” An old man calls over the crowd from a stool near the dart board. I can’t help but look back at Mia.

“Sure is,” She finally calls back as she rounds the counter to the bar.

“Why? Do you not love me anymore?” The old man asks with what looks like a pout, but I’m a bit too far away.

“See, she’s flirting with that old man while working.” Tessa tsks from the seat next to me. Mia brings the old man a beer and kisses his cheek. “He’s old enough to be her father. She really does have no shame.”

“Awe, that was an innocent interaction,” Dave interjected. “He should be cut off, but I’ve figured out that everyone is more polite than we are used to.”

“I know what Miss Leslie says about that girl, and she’s no good. I really wish Dean would listen to me and forget about her. She broke his nose for asking her on a date.” Tessa sighed.

“I believe the guy that got punched the other night was hit because he groped her,” Hollis noted. “First, a hand went up her skirt, then, from what Ricochet said, an ass slap. He had the better angle of the commotion.”

“Dean would never act like that.” Tessa huffed.

“Don’t be so sure about that. I’ve seen Dean with women after he’s had a few.” Dave commented. “Sometimes, he forgets his manners.”

I hear the kitchen bell ring, and two minutes later, all our food is delivered to the table. Mia didn’t even pause as she moved around the tavern flawlessly. It’s clear that she’s accustomed to dancing around customers with full trays. “That was rude; she didn’t even ask if we needed refills,” Tessa commented.

“I will go let her know,” I reply, standing up and moving away from the table as fast as possible to the bar before Tessa could protest.

“I will bring your drinks over if you wait a minute,” Mia states when I approach the bar.

“I want to talk to you.”

“We’re a bit busy tonight. Lots of out-of-towners.” She notes, placing a glass of beer on her tray. “Besides, I’ve heard you’re engaged, so why do you keep stalking me?”

“My mother is hosting an engagement party for me tomorrow, so all these out-of-towners are here for that. I’m not stalking you; I’m trying to talk to you like an adult.” I explain, somewhat annoyed. The way she keeps dismissing me is a bit childish, in my opinion, but I know better than to say that to her face.

She rolls her eyes and puts two glasses of wine on her tray. “Following me to my house, inviting yourself in after I said you’re not welcome isn’t stalking? We have nothing to discuss; you’re getting married, and I’m a mom. What we had in the past is in the past; now, please let it go.” She lifts her tray and walks away from me and the bar. At least she didn’t sound so angry, just annoyed with me. Either I’m wearing her down, or she’s tired of dealing with me all together. It’s a fine line that I’m walking with her, but I need to know what happened between us.

I walk back to the table and sit down to eat my dinner. Mia drops the drinks off without a word and walks away. “At least she delivered them.” Tessa huffed. We finished dinner, paid our bill, and left for the night. Tomorrow I need to act like I care for Tessa while we attend this stupid engagement party she and my mother have planned and put together.