I hug her. “Your smile is thanks enough.” It breaks my heart that some of the women at the nursing home don’t have family who visit them, so I try to make our time together feel like they’re visiting an old friend.
She pats my hand. “I’m going to make you a big batch of cookies next time.”
“I’ll never turn down baked goods. Good luck with bingo this week.”
“Thank you, Baylee. I hope I can win the all-you-can-eat coupon to that new steakhouse.”
“Fingers crossed.”
After I see her out, I sigh with relief because I’m exhausted. This baby is sucking up every last ounce of my energy.
Vera’s phone rings. “Hey, Sylvia. How’s it going?” She gives me a worried look, and I shake my head. I definitely don’t want to tell my mom about the rent yet. I’m doing my best to hold down the fort, but some company bought this entire block, and all of the retail rents have gone up again. The Wild Heart market is booming right now.
“Tell Mom I’ll call her back,” I whisper to Vera, who nods.
I’m not ready to tell my mother I can’t pay the rent on our house because I used everything to pay the rent for our salon.
When Vera gets off the phone, she hands me a ginger ale. “Here. You look like you’re going to lose your lunch.”
I don’t tell her it’s too late for that. I thought nausea was supposed to stop after the first trimester? Paige just hurled a few times when she was pregnant with Ella. I’ve puked almost daily for months.
After I pop it open and take a sip, I sigh. “Thanks for not telling her about our rent increase. I need time to figure this out.” I can’t afford our house and the salon. Something has to give.
“Is she still upset about the baby?”
Mom didn’t take the news well. “She’s mostly bummed she can’t be here to help me.” And, yes, pissed that Sean broke up with me.
I was right not to give him a second chance. He accidentally sent me a text he meant to send to Giselle, and let’s just say they’re definitely fucking again. Which means he didn’t mean any of his caterwauling about wanting to get back together with me.
As Vera wipes down her station, she glances up at me. “Has Amara gotten a job yet?”
My sister’s divorce just got finalized, so she and her three kids are crashing at my house. “She says she’s applied to some positions, but you know how busy the kids keep her. I can’t blame her for putting her focus on them.”
“Can I give you some tough love?” Vera asks. After I nod, she squeezes my shoulder. “Tell Sylvia. She’d want to know so you don’t carry this burden by yourself. Maybe she can help with rent.”
“She’s spending everything on my grandfather right now. She doesn’t have money lying around.”
I feel like I’m blowing it. My mom left the salon in my hands, and no matter how many clients we book, I’m still not making ends meet. What am I going to do when Leo arrives? Shove him in a drawer next to my socks? I can’t even afford a crib.
My phone buzzes on the counter, and Maverick’s name flashes.
Shit. Someone probably told him my news.
I’m so tempted to let him go to voice mail, but it’s time I bite the bullet. Ugh, and it’s a video chat. I don’t have to glance in the mirror to know I look run-down. Whatever.
I swipe to answer and Maverick’s rugged face fills my screen. His soulful eyes peer at me through his shaggy hair and scruff lines his jaw. Damn, he’s a handsome bastard. “Mav. Hey. Hold on a sec.” I turn to Vera. “Can you watch the salon for a few minutes? I need to take this.”
“Sure, honey. Take your time.”
“Thanks.” I tuck a shawl around my shoulders and head outside. It’s dark, but downtown Wild Heart is lit up with twinkle lights. “Hey, football star. Long time no talk.” I head toward the park bench around the corner.
“Baylee.”
That’s all he says. My name. “Everything okay?”
“Yup.”
After a beat of silence, I tilt the phone away briefly to roll my eyes. He called me, andhe’sthe one spouting one-word responses? Even if Maverick’s annoyed I didn’t tell him I’m pregnant, can’t he try harder to find some damn words? “How’s New York?”
