Love Revealed: A BWWM Sweet Romance Novel (15 page)

"Mary, hi, mmm I've not been around. How you doing?" he said, hoping to get her off the subject of him and possibly then moving onto the subject of his ex.

"I'm good, I had my second baby there a few months back, little Jack is growing like a tree! You wouldn't believe it. I know somebody else whose been trying to get a hold of you for a while now, but nobody seemed to know where you were hiding!"

"Yeah," he thought, here it comes, his ex has been trying to worm her way back into his life, just as things were going well for him, "whose that then?"

"Well, Mags of course."

"You still in touch with her? I thought she got out of here real quick and you hadn't heard from her."

"That is true, she did stay very quiet for about a year, but then she came out of the wood work with a surprise."

“Oh yeah, what was that then?"

"I'll let her tell you, but you should definitely call her, let her know you are back in town. She moved back you know. At the beginning of summer, which is why she was extra bummed out that you weren't here. You seem to have changed your phone numbers and email. Naughty boy Guy. Okay, well it was nice catching up, you better call her before I let her know I spotted you. See ya round."

"Yeah, goodbye Mary." What the… he did not fancy getting tangled up into whatever kind of surprise mess Mags was involved in. They had no financial entanglements so he couldn't see what she would try to spring on him. He got into his car and drove home, not thinking a second thought about Mags or Mary.

Around ten, Frank arrived. They had a quick catch up. Frank was very interested in how his book was going, but more interested in who this fine woman was that had snagged Guys heart and convinced him to move two states over! Guy told him all about Darla and Adeen and how they had met, and how they were quickly falling in love. Frank was happy for him and Guy was excited for Frank about to enter fatherhood. His wife Gail was due any day now and he was getting more and more nervous about the event, even more nervous than Gail he said. She seemed to be taking it all in her stride.
 

They started in the living room, packing books, dvd's, cd's, records, all frames by two in the afternoon. They cooked up some pizza and sparked open some beers. The living room was done, next was upstairs, packing away all the guest room bits and pieces, then his bedroom with all the photos and more books, clothing, which he brought down to the front room. His whole life was in there now. He was planning to hire a small truck to take everything back to Darla with him. When upstairs was done, they took everything down from the attic, which was mostly his parents belongings they hadn't given away. He hadn't really sorted though most of their personal stuff, he had been putting it off, but maybe when he moves into his next place he will go through it with Darla, as she is in a very similar situation right now. Maybe it would be a good process.
 

Around seven, Frank had gone off and come back with his wife Gail and his brother in law James. Gail cooked them up some burritos and they ate them out on the porch with some beers. Gail was glad he had finally met somebody nice and couldn't wait to meet Darla and Adeen.
 

After dinner they began to clear out some of the dining room, it took most of the evening and they called it quits about ten. Frank and James said they would come by tomorrow to help with the kitchen and the basement and then loading the truck would get done on Sunday. He couldn't believe he would be done that fast, he thought it would take days. They left and Guy fell into his sleeping bag and dreamed of boxes chasing him through fields of corn.
 

Guy was starving when he woke up Saturday and realised he had not bought any cereal, he just put a frozen pizza on. He brewed himself some coffee and walked out onto the porch. There had been a message from Frank saying they would be over around eleven if that was okay. He had replied that was perfect.
 

He was just about to go in and check his pizza when he heard take the turn onto his crunchy gravel driveway. It was a covered driveway, so he couldn't see who was approaching, but he didn't think it was Frank, as he had just texted he would be over later. Who was it he thought? He ran in and turned off the oven, sliced his pizza and went back out onto the porch.

A familiar red car turned into the driveway and stopped behind his own car. As he tried to think of excuses to run and hide she exited the car. It was Margaret. She looked over at him and waved, then she went to the door of the back passenger seat behind her and bent inside and was there a minute or two before she stood up and had something in her arms. Guy realised it was a child. As she walked closer to him, he could see that yes, it was a child. Was this the surprise that Mary had mentioned when they met on the street? That Mags was now a mother, why would Guy care?
 

"Hey there, stranger,” she said as she approached him. "Can I come up?"

“Sure." He replied.

She walked up the porch steps and proceeded to sit herself down on one of the chairs.

"So, what brings you round here? I had just met Mary the other day and she mentioned you were back in town."

"Well, the schools are better here and of course we are nearer to little Gracie's father too. This is Gracie by the way, your daughter."

"Hello Gracie… Wait, what? MY daughter? That can't be right. What are you talking about?!" Guy was taken aback, this kid was a couple months old, it couldnt be his.

"You look like you are trying to do the math in your head there Guy. Grace is six months old, I was pregnant for nine, which when you think about it, would put the time of conception to just before you dumped me."

"Even if that's true, why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?!"

"Well, I didn't actually find out until I was six months, I didn't put on a lot of weight and I still had an irregular period. Doctor tells me I have an inverted uterus, which can hide a pregnancy psychically from a woman as the foetus is pointing in a different direction. It's rare. So, when I found out I just got pissed at you for getting me pregnant and wanted nothing to do with you."

"So, why come to me now?"

"Well, motherhood is difficult alone, and expensive, so I thought, you being the good guy that you are wouldn’t mind taking Gracie for a week while I go on a business conference and have a break. Also, maybe chip in a bit, food and clothing and diapers are pricey!"

"Well. Just wait a minute. You can't just walk in here and dump a baby on me. How can I know she is mine?"

"Well, the timing fits and I never cheated on you. Look, will you take her, it's just for the week. I have all her stuff in the car and I’ll give you my new cell number so you can call me and that."

"Mags, I dunno, this is pretty serious. I don't know how to look after a baby."

"Hey, neither did I, you'll pick it up."

"Look, I am moving house tomorrow! All my things are packed away, I can't stay here with a baby for the week!"

"So, take her with you? Where you going?"

"I'm going to Maine. That's where I'm moving to."

"Hmm, okay, well I can change my return flight to there and pick her up there."

"What? This is crazy Mags, I can't believe you."

"Look, she'll be fine, she's a really chill baby. She rarely cries other than for feeding and diaper changes. So, once you do that, you'll be fine!"

Mags walked back to her car and took some sports bags from the trunk. She dumped them on the porch.

"So, for feeding, I am just finishing up with the breast milk, I'm just using the last few bottles of pumped stuff that I have, then we are onto formula. Mommies run dry! So, you better get that little cooler bag in the fridge right away." She bent down and put Gracie in a little rocker chair. "Her diapers and clothes are in that blue bag and formula and steriliser and bottles are in the red one. Okay, well I have to drive to the airport. Give mommy a kiss."

She bent down and kissed Gracie. She handed Guy a card with all her contact info on it.

"Look I am sorry it has to be so abrupt but, you are the father and you weren't around or answering my emails, so I had to do it now. You'll be fine. She's just a baby."

Margaret walked away to her car, as she pulled out she stopped and waved as she disappeared behind the trees. Guy just stood there. Then the baby began to cry.

"Frank, can you get Gail to come with you today? It's pretty important." He was calling Frank, they were the only people with at least a little kid knowledge he knew well enough to call. "The sooner the better, I have a little emergency on my hands. Yes, thank you. See you soon."

Guy was still standing on his porch just looking down at the baby. She was sitting there flapping her little legs and arms up and down making cooing noises. One moment she was fine and dandy, the next she was looking right into his eyes and she began to cry, big heavy loud sobs. He began to panic! I hope this isn’t a diaper change cry, he thought to himself. He unclipped the strap to her chair and picked her up. He took her and the chair inside and sat on the stairs. He held her over his shoulder and rocked her up and down.
 

"Ssshh baby,” he said. He hadn't held a baby in a few years, let alone changed a diaper, he couldn't actually remember the last time he had done that! His youngest niece was six, so it was probably that long ago! He heard a car arpproaching and swore out loud in thanks.
 

"Hey, Guy, what’s this emergency.." Frank stood in the doorway looking at Guy sitting on the stairs holding a sleeping baby across his lap. "Whose baby is that?"

"Well… it's my ex's and she seems to think the baby is mine."

"What? Did she not tell you she was pregnant? I mean this kid is a couple months old!" Frank said.

"What’s the emergency then?" Gail said as she walked in the door and then her jaw dropped. "Whose baby is that?"

"It's Guys apparently." Frank told her.

"Your's? Since when? Whose the mother? You never told us you had a kid?"

"Well, this is what I know. My ex moved away from here after I dumped her about a year and a half ago. I hadn't heard from her until today. I met a friend of hers in town yesterday and she told me that my ex had moved back. This is my ex Mags, you remember her? We dated for about a year or thereabouts. Well, this friend tells me that Mags has been trying to get in touch, and that she has a surprise for me. Come to today, she drives in here, tells me Gracie is mine, that she is six months old and Mags needs to go to a work conference and that I need to bond with my daughter. She'll be back in a week and will pick her up from me in Maine where I'm now moving to."

Frank and Gail where flabbergasted. They both said nothing for a few minutes.
 

"I need a coffee, can one of you take her while I do that please?" Guy asked.

"Yeah sure, I'll take her. Come here honey." Gail said.
 

Guy handed the baby over and Gail cradled her and they all walked into the kitchen.
 

"Do you think she's really your kid? I mean have you thought about the timeline?" Frank asked.

"Well, the timing is right. She says it matches up and that she never cheated on me, so I guess she could be mine."

"You need to get a paternity test. You just take a swab and send it off, or take it to your doctor and ask him what to do with it." Gail said.

"Yeah, I mean of course, I'm not going to just take the word of a woman I haven't seen in over a year and who didn't believe me when she accused me of cheating. It's Saturday though, that can wait until Monday. I'll be in Maine then. Damn! Darla, what am I going to tell her? I can't just turn up with a kid in tow! Oh man, she really picked the perfect time to drop this on me. Two months ago and I was a single guy, now I'm in a relationship with a single mom. Way to go Mags."

"Do you think Mags is just using you as free daycare? I mean as a way to get you back for dumping her?"

"Oh yes, I wouldn't put it past her."

The evening wore on. Gail was kind enough to change Gracie's diapers and show Guy how to do it and use all the various creams and clothing to get her sorted for the morning. They finished packing up what they could and around eleven said their goodnights. Guy was alone with the baby. She was in the carry basket that Gail had brought over for him after they realised she had nothing to sleep in. He carried her up the stairs to his bedroom and put her on the floor just next to his bed. She was sound asleep and very, very cute looking. She had a light covering of blonde hair and the tiniest fingers. If he was honest with himself, it got Guy thinking about having his own baby with Darla. Imagining what that baby would look like, a mix of them both, a kind of caramel colour or a darker chocolate, maybe his families red hair would come through, would Darla even want more kids? It was something they hadn't even discussed. Well, this would definitely bring the subject up. He fell asleep dreaming of Darla and how he would talk to her about having their baby.

On Sunday, he was awoken by a loud noise, at first he couldn't figure out what it was? Then he remembered the baby. He peered over the side of his bed and there she was in all her glory. Gracie, the baby he was pretty sure wasn't his. His first thought went to Darla. Should he call her? He can't just show up in town with a strangers baby, especially when she is claiming the baby is his. He would have to call her. First things first though, he would have to change the babies diaper.
 

He managed to get through the poopy diaper, just about alive. He had not remembered them like that, thats for sure. A product of evolution, like how women forget how painful childbirth is, he guessed. If we really remembered how messy and painful it could be having kids, who would have them? He warmed up a bottle and sat down to feed Gracie. Then his phone started to buzz. It was Darla, but it wasn't a phone call, it was a video chat. He had to answer, but he had a very obvious baby in his lap. He answered.