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Aubrey picked up all three sticks and shook them again and again.Still pregnant.She sank down to the cold marble floor and hugged her knees to her chest. She tasted salt in her mouth and realized she was crying.A baby? Landon’s baby?
She felt feverish and cold—afraid and elated. Aubrey wasn’t ready to be a mom. Comfort Zone needed her. It was a crucial time for the bakery. How could she raise a baby and run a business? But Landon would be by her side. Right? She had no idea how he would feel about the baby, but he wasn’t a man who would turn his back on a woman carrying his child.
“Fuuuck,” she groaned, burying her head in her arms. “What am I going to do?”
When she raised her head, the sun was dipping behind the mountains, and her bottom was frozen from sitting on the cold marble for so long. She wanted to lie down, but if she did, she wouldn’t have the strength to get off the floor. She had todosomething. And she made a decision that was seriously counterintuitive for her. She called her mom.
“Aubrey?” Her mom’s voice was warm but held a hint of worry. “Is everything all right?”
“No,” she said, biting her lip. “I don’t know what to do, Mom. What should I do?”
“Why don’t you tell me what happened first?” Her mom was in her stone Buddha mode. She only did that when she was seriously worried—like the time little Aubrey was rushed to the hospital with appendicitis. She thought about hanging up.Do I want to dump all this on her? She has enough to worry about.“I’m here for you. I’ve always been. Tell me, baby. We’ll figure it out together.”
Aubrey wailed, furious at herself for pushing her mom away and regretting how she’d let so many years pass without doing anything about it. Her mom was there for her. It was time to leteverything go and be her daughter. Maybe that was what her mom had wanted all along—to take care of her and for Aubrey to trust her enough to rely on her.
“Mom, I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, honey.” Her mom had to be shocked, but she held on to her calm. “Who’s the father?”
Aubrey nearly lost it again.Well, Mother.She inhaled until she couldn’t sip in any more air and then blew it out her mouth. “Remember the food critic who wrote that horrible review about Comfort Zone?”
“How could I forget that jerk?” Her mom stopped herself and continued in an even tone. “But you said he admitted the review was a mistake, and now you’re filming that cooking show with Aria Santini. I think I’ve almost forgiven him.”
“I guess that’s good? Because he’s the father.”
“What?” Her mom choked on air and went into a coughing fit. “You know the risks of being involved with him. Don’t you? How could you—damn it. I’m sorry. I have no right to judge.”
“You have every right. You’re my mom. It’s in your job description.”
“Oh, baby.” Her voice trembled for a second. “Well, I trust you. I do. If you chose to be with him, then he must be worth it.”
“He is worth everything. I love him so much. But I’m freaking out.”
“Have you told him? Does he know?”
“No, I called you right after I found out.”
“You are going to tell him, right?”
“Yes. Of course,” she said with false bravado.
“Does he know how you feel about him?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Do you want him to?”
“I want forever with him and the baby. But I’m so afraid he’ll break my heart.”
“Then fight for them. You fight for the people you love. You can’t give up without giving it your everything,” her mom said with steel in her voice. “My biggest regret is not fighting for you and your father. I lost both of you. I couldn’t stop loving him after his first affair. I thought he’d come back to me eventually, but he didn’t. I was ashamed and afraid, and it became worse with every affair. I let my insecurities define me, and I pushed everyone away, even you, and I’m so sorry. But listen to me, Aubrey. Your father hurt me, butI’mthe one who broke my heart. I’m the one who gave up without trying. I let myself disappear.”
“Mom.” Aubrey hurt so much for her mom. She had been so alone for so long. “You didn’t lose me. You could never lose me.”
“Oh, baby. I love you so much. You can do this. If he doesn’t see how damn lucky he is to have you, then he doesn’t deserve you. Don’t be afraid of losing him. It’ll be easier to bear than losing yourself.”
