His Baby Dilemma

“Well, Mica, that’s the reality. And I have to make this work. In nine days I intend to teach you everything you need to know about taking care of a baby. Feeding him, diapering, bathing him. Loving him.”

“What do you know about love, huh? From my perspective, I see dishonesty. Secrets. Hurting others for the sake of your precious career.”

She approached him. Her face softened, but he didn’t understand why. “I deserved that, Mica,” she said, her voice trembling.

“And more,” he muttered.

“Mica, please listen to me...” There was compassion in her tone, and though he was trying not to let her demeanor affect him, he was rapidly losing ground.

He rubbed his neck again. Something just wasn’t right. Was she acting a part? After all, she’d spent most of her life learning how to please the most critical judges. And he was sitting in judgment of her right now. His wariness was well-placed. “I suppose you’ve sucked my mother into your little scheme.”

“Scheme? You think Jules is part of some sinister plot? To what end? To cause you grief? More pain?” She walked toward him, gesturing with her hands. “Come on. I can take it. Give it to me. Tell me about how I’m intent on blowing up your engineering career. How I’m going to cause you to miss out on a sponsor you’ve been courting for the past year. I want to hear it,” she demanded. “Tell me how, exactly, I’m messing up your life.”

He let out a harsh breath. “Why are you really here, Grace? You want money? Because that’s the only reason I can come up with that makes any sense. You know perfectly well that I’m in no shape to take care of a baby.”

“You’re wrong on all counts. I don’t want your money or your family’s money, and there’s no scheme. All I want is for you to take care of Jules. Not forever. Just for two months or so. I need this time, Mica. I’m on the cusp of something so big, it will establish me in the fashion world. My career can only grow from there. I just need this spring show. Then I’ll come back and take Jules off your hands. You won’t have to worry. If it’s what you want, you’ll never see us again...” she said, trailing off.

“You could have hired a nanny to take care of Jules. Why me?”

Grace grabbed a chair from the little kitchenette table and sat across from him. She clasped her hands in her lap and looked at her thumbs as she worked them over each other. “Because you’re his dad. I’m here to tell you that I was wrong to keep Jules from you. I should have called you when I first found out I was pregnant.”

“Why didn’t you?” He swallowed hard. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer.

She paused for a long moment, her hesitation causing her to look around the room. Was she searching for an excuse or for courage? Either way, she was holding something back. But what?

“I was afraid. I was in denial. I couldn’t believe it was happening. Then I was embarrassed. I was overwhelmed with work. My team depends so much on me. If I fail, they’ll all lose their jobs, and I won’t do that to them.” She touched her fingertip to the corner of her eye. “One day of delay in calling you became a week. Then a month. Then four, five months went by and I’d convinced myself I could do all this on my own. What I learned is that I’m not a superwoman. And I feel so guilty for not telling you. I wanted you to know about him.”

Mica listened stoically to her explanation, but he was racked by betrayal. Jules was his son, and he felt justified for every spark of anger he felt toward Grace. How dare she keep this secret? And then show up here, unannounced, and shove a baby at him. On top of all that, she intended to leave Jules here for months and then come back and take him away. Probably as soon as Mica had bonded with him.

“You are out of your mind,” he said slowly. “I’m not going to agree to any of this.” He shot to his feet, and stepped around her as she sat stone-still in the chair, her hands still in her lap.

He could smell her perfume as he walked past. He kept her in his sights as he went to the refrigerator and took out a beer. “No baby bottles in here. See? Not prepared.”

Grace’s lips had tightened into a narrow line that showed her determination and did nothing to mar her beauty. Or his absurd desire to kiss her. He shook his head to dispel the thought.

“Mica. Please try to understand. I want to help you.”

“I don’t need your help, Grace.”

She crossed her arms. “Apparently, you do because you’re not even trying to cooperate. Jules is your son. I need to show you how to take care of him so you don’t hurt him!”

“Oh, like I would stick him under a car and let it fall on him?”

“Stop being ridiculous!”

“Me?”

Her eyes narrowed into slits. “You know what, Mica? Your self-absorption is blinding you. If you’d only spend a few moments with him, you’d see how wonderful he is.”

“That’s not the issue. This isn’t about Jules, and you know it. It’s about you. You want to pawn him off on me so you can go back to Paris and your fancy career!”

“My career is what will feed and clothe and educate Jules for the rest of his life. I don’t want him to lack anything in the future. I want him to have a wonderful life. I want him to know his father.” Her voice cracked with emotion.

For a moment, Mica almost lost it. It took every ounce of his inner strength not to go to her, pull her to his chest and comfort her. Maybe kiss away her fears. But he didn’t. He was taking a stand. He had to. If he didn’t and he fell for her, he would lose all over again because Grace would never live in Indian Lake on the farm with him.

Besides, she’d made her priorities clear. She had no room in her life for him or their baby.

Grace went to the door and reached for the knob. Her hand was shaking. Had he done that to her?

“I’m going to get Jules and feed him. You have my cell number.”

She left, her footsteps pounding on the stairs.

His eyes lost focus as he stared at the closed door. How could he be responsible for taking care of a helpless baby when he could barely take care of himself?

CHAPTER FOUR (#u16093c9a-97f8-5f09-b2e5-858ed1874e7b)

GRACE FOUND GINA in the kitchen warming a bottle of formula in the microwave. Jules was sitting in an unfamiliar rocking baby seat on the kitchen counter. Sam was at the kitchen table going through Grace’s diaper bag.

“Found one,” Sam said, holding up a bib.

“Hi, honey,” Gina said, looking at Grace and then gesturing toward Jules. “I hope you don’t mind that we got him settled here. I have all sorts of baby equipment from when Liz got pregnant with Ezekiel. I can’t tell you how thrilled we are to have another grandbaby in the house,” she said, gushing. “Aren’t we, Sam?”

Okay. I’ve missed something, Grace thought as she looked from Gina’s beaming face to Sam, who was smiling far too brightly.

“We’re delighted.” Sam chuckled. “As far as I’m concerned, Zeke is grown up already. He’s over two now and talking up a storm.”

“I love babies. Adore them, really,” Gina said, taking the bottle from the microwave when it dinged. “That’s why I had four sons. And now, this little fella. It’s a miracle!”

Sam clucked his tongue. “Now, sweetie, don’t get carried away.”

Grace was sure her confusion showed on her face, but after sparring with Mica, she didn’t want to ruffle any more feathers.

“Oh, Sam,” Gina continued happily. “It’s just so wonderful to have a baby in the house.”

“Too bad Mica doesn’t feel that way,” Grace muttered.

“What are you talking about?” Gina asked, testing the temperature of the formula on her wrist. She picked up Jules and cradled him while he greedily went after the bottle.

Grace was surprised at how accepting Jules was of these strangers. He didn’t seem the least upset that Gina was holding him, nor did he flinch at the sound of Sam’s gravelly voice. “He doesn’t want anything to do with Jules,” she explained. “I’ve never seen him so angry.”

Sam swatted the air. “He’s not mad at you or the baby. He’s mad at us.”

“That’s right,” Gina said.

“Wait, what?” Grace stared at them. “Why would Mica be mad at you?”

Gina smiled softly at Sam. “We just got engaged. In fact, Mica...walked in on us in here right after I’d accepted Sam’s proposal. He wasn’t happy about that. He stormed out of here like we’d set him on fire. Then you drove up.”