Page 38 of Hooking
She’s right, I need to talk to him. Maybe starting with the baby.
I walk into my parents’ house in search of some saltines, hoping they will settle my flipping stomach, but I find myself stopped in the entryway, looking at my parents. Mom is standing in front of the kitchen sink, while Dad’s arms are wrapped protectively around her waist. Mom’s head rests on Dad’s shoulder as they both sway to soft melody of a Frank Sinatra song.
Even though this isn’t the house I grew up in, I can tell just by looking at my parents now, dancing in the kitchen, that it’s filled with as much as their home back in Seattle. It’s what I hope to give this little one when they arrive. A vision of Channing and me dancing to music in the kitchen, as the little life we made runs around us, dancing to the beat of their own drum, plays in my head.
“Hey, baby,” Mom says as she walks to me, placing both hands on my growing bump. “Everything okay? You seem sad.”
“Yeah, Mama. I’m good. Just thinking about things,” I say, taking a seat at the kitchen island.
“Bout that Halloway boy, I’m guessing,” Daddy says, clearing his voice. “Have to say I don’t know if I like him much more than that Burch fella.”
“Daddy.”
“No, pumpkin, you listen here. That boy should be here. Helping you. Showing your love. Not doing God knows what,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest in an unapproving matter.
I didn’t tell my parents that Channing doesn’t know. I also didn’t tell them why I never told him. It would be way too complicated for them to understand that he was supposed to be having a baby with another woman, but it ended up being a scheme.
“What type of man runs away from his responsibilities?”
“The type of man who doesn’t know he had them to begin with,” I say, frustrated. “He doesn’t know because I never told him.”
Mom stares at me with heartbreak as if she’s completely gutted by this revelation. “Cassidy… what do you mean he doesn’t know?”
“I never told him.”
“But why?”
“Because he was having a baby with someone else,” I say, under my breath as tears well in my eyes. “Well, he was having a baby with someone else. That was until we all found out she was lying.”
“Oh, sweetie,” my mom says, wrapping her arm around me. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“How could I? You both were shocked when I told you I was expecting to begin with. Dad thought it was Vince’s and threatened to castrate him. I didn’t want you to look at Channing that way.”
Dad stares at me, showing no expression on his face as Mom silently wipes her tears. “You have to tell him,” Dad says as he comes to sit next to me. “He has a right to know no matter whether he wants you or not. He has a real obligation here.”
“Is that how you view my baby? An obligation?”
“Oh, dear God. No, not at all, sweetheart. We’re so excited to be grandparents. I just want you to have the kind of love we have. You deserve that, and Channing deserves to have the choice to be a part of it regardless,” Mom says, squeezing my hand tightly. “As much as I enjoyed having you here, I think it’s time for you to go home.”
I give her a smile as I get up from my spot on the island and make my way to my bedroom. My parents are right. Hayley’s right. It’s time to tell Channing regardless of what he wants.
Shit, I’m nervous.
I was distracted the entire flight home from Ketchum. I tried like hell to compose what I wanted to say the moment I saw Channing, yet I couldn’t string along a sentence that made sense which is why I spent the last part of the flight binge watching episodes of Friends.
Now, I’m just out of time and still nervous as hell.
I make my way to baggage claim, retrieving my luggage before walking to the arrivals area to wait for Hayley. She and Brooks were set to pick me up before we head to the Skipjacks holiday party.
Yup, the holiday party where the cat will most definitely now be out of the bag that I’m pregnant.
“Cassidy!” Hayley screams as she runs toward me. “I’ve missed you so, so, so much. Oh my God, look at that little bump. You’re glowing. Isn’t she glowing, Brooks?”
She lets go of me as Brooks comes into view, wrapping me in a side hug. “You look beautiful, Cass. Welcome home.”
“Thanks, guys,” I say, as we slowly move toward their car. “You sure it’s okay that I go to the holiday party tonight?”
“Um, of course it’s all right that you go tonight. You have been a part of the Skipjacks organization for years,” Hayley says as she gets into the front seat while I settle in the back. “But please tell me you’re not wearing that?”
