A Life Unplanned (8 page)

He kept a close eye on me as we walked back to his house. I didn't have another contraction, so I think that helped him relax. It was hard to reconcile this new nice Trent with the old asshole one from before. Of course, having several women come after you fraudulently would be enough to make anyone nervous.

I looked down at my oversized belly and frowned. He had originally thought I was a big fat liar, literally. I wasn't sure if I was happy about him accepting my kids as his, though. He smiled sweetly, as he took my hand in his warm one to help me up his porch steps. I didn't know what to make of the kind stranger before me. I just knew being close to him made me nervous, and I wasn't sure in what way.

Chapter 9 - Stuck in a Jam

Trent helped me get settled on his couch and went as far as fetching me an extra throw pillow. I was starting to believe he wanted me to be comfortable. That was…until he opened his mouth.

"Can you tell me a little about yourself?" he asked. I hated talking about myself.

"Well, I went to college and was able to graduate with my BA in business management. I was only a couple of months along with Tyler by graduation, but I was too sick to walk with my graduating class." He frowned a little when I said that. "I've pretty much been a mom ever since. I work at Dr. Coust's office and spend my free time with Tyler."

"What do you two do together?"

"We go to the library and the park, sometimes the zoo. I've read to him a lot lately, because I can do that sitting down with my feet up."

"Are they swelling? Have you had a problem with that?"

I could see how he was a good doctor. "No, I'm just on my feet a lot at work. I get tired out." He nodded, like he was filing that information away somewhere. "What do you do in your spare time?" I asked.

He looked around his house. "Well, I do yardwork, and the bridge club keeps me busy with all the little things they need help with." He shrugged. "I spend a lot of time hanging out with my mom. My dad is away on business a lot. She's also the one who helped me get through dealing with the three other girls claiming to have my babies."

"Three?"

He rubbed his face and nodded yes. "Can you see why I was skeptical now?"

"Why would they do that?"

"I don't know. I think maybe someone put them up to it. I'm not sure. They were trying to ruin my reputation as a doctor. They were going to blackmail me, wanting me to pay them to keep their mouths shut, or they would say I'd impregnated them while they were patients, but none of them ever were. There was one I hadn't ever even met before."

"I'm sorry," I whispered. That must have been a mess for him.

He shook his head. "It's nice living in a small town. I thought they'd turn against me when the girls came out, but they did the opposite. They rallied for me. I don't think the girls thought that'd happen. My mom got our lawyer on them, and they ran for the hills." I reached over and squeezed his hand. "I've been hiding here ever since, not wanting to go anywhere and risk it happening again."

"Do you think they'll come after you in Waco?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I'm hoping they won't realize I moved back. Those kinds of allegations in a large city wouldn't be easily dismissed, but I don't want to be away from the kids."

I grimaced. I knew he wanted to be around the kids more. I just wasn't sure how much more. This obviously wasn't something he'd get tired of, if he was willing to risk his livelihood to be there for the children.

He was looking a little worried. "Can I get you something, a drink or snack?"

"Maybe a snack, if that's alright."

"It's definitely alright, Clara. Please, don't hesitate to ask for anything you need."

I wondered if he was just being nice because I was pregnant. I tried to convince myself that was what it was. He had been awfully nice to the whores at the hospital. He might have just been a nice guy now and was nice to everyone. That might have been why they had him pinned as a priest. I felt a pang of disappointment. I didn't know why. I surely didn't want him to be interested in me…did I?

"What has you thinking so hard?" He set down a water bottle and a little tray with what I would guess was some sort of whole wheat crackers, cheese cubes and apple slices. He had some really expensive snacks.

"Cubed cheese is overpriced." I didn't know why I said that, but it made him snicker.

"I'll remember that next time I have a hankering for cubed cheese." He stole one off the tray, wearing that perfect smirk. No wonder I'd let him knock me up with my firstborn. He brushed my hair away from my cheek, and I found myself leaning into his touch, but I snapped myself out of it. I kept telling myself it was just because I was lonely. I couldn't lose myself in his sweet disposition. It had to be a ruse.

We snacked quietly for a while, before he cleared his throat. "Clara, have you given any consideration to letting me be there when Katie is born?"

I really hadn't, but after spending the day alone with him, it seemed alright. It couldn't hurt to have an extra doctor on hand. I rubbed my belly, worried that this decision was going to cause me even more trouble, but his damn puppy eyes were getting to me. "You're not an ass."

"No, well, I was, but not now. Please?" he stumbled over his words.

"How are you going to get there in time? I'm all the way in Waco."

"Is that a yes?" He looked so hopeful.

I nodded yes, and he hugged me hard. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be nothing but helpful and supportive. You won't regret it."

I sighed. "I hope not."

There was a knock on the door. He asked me to hold on, as he went to answer it. "Trent, dear, could you give us a hand? The girls were just over for tea and scones, and I can't get the jam jar open."

A group of older ladies pushed into the house, all looking around Trent, wearing huge smiles.

"Who's your friend, dear?"

"Ms. Vera, you know very well her name is Clara."

The other old biddies with her snickered and waved at me.

"So, she's having a baby," one noticed.

"Yes, Ms. June, she's have 
my
 baby," he said fighting a big smile.

"I knew he was straight," the third hissed. We could all still hear it, though.

"Thank you for having faith in me, Ms. Mildred."

She actually reached up and patted his cheek, before she came and sat next to me.

"So, honey, do you know if you're having a boy or a girl? Our Trent is a woman's doctor. He can tell you if it's a boy or a girl," she announced proudly.

"She's having a girl," he said sitting next to me, but angled toward her, so it felt kind of like he was holding me. I needed to stop obsessing about the feel of his arms.

"A girl!" the hens clucked.

"When's the baby shower?" Vera fussed. "We have a mess of pink to knit!"

Trent looked at me, and I blushed, shrugging at him. "I don't know."

"Of course she doesn't know, it's supposed to be a surprise," Mildred insisted. "Don't worry, honey, we'll get with Maylene. I'm sure she has everything planned out."

I was about to protest, but Trent whispered in my ear, "Do you really think our moms wouldn't plan one?" He raised his brow in challenge.

"You're right," I conceded, making him grin wider.

"Oh, honey, never tell a man he's right. It goes straight to his head," Vera said way too seriously. Her little friends agreed as well.

"I'll keep that in mind. I have a feeling Trent isn't right all that often, when he's out of his office."

"What man is?" June said fanning herself. Who carried fans anymore?

"Alright, ladies," Trent held out the long-opened jar of jam, "I think that's enough from the peanut gallery."

Instead of being offended, the ladies just giggled and let him shoo them out his front door.

"So, that's the bridge club. They keep the townspeople up on everyone else's business," he chuckled.

"They seem to like you."

He shrugged. "I'm something new to talk about."

"New? But you've been here almost three years."

"There aren't a lot of new people in town. If you've lived here for less than ten years, you're new."

"And your parents?"

"They've just passed the ten-year mark, so all the focus is on me."

"I'm sure my presence has caused quite a ruckus." His eyes glanced down at my belly, making me feel self-conscious. "I should probably get back. I'm sure the men will be back from fishing soon."

"Am I making you uncomfortable? Should I sit in the chair instead?" He actually looked worried.

"No, I just…"

"Just what?"

"I don't know what to do with you. I never planned on you being in our lives. In fact, that's specifically why I chose you. I thought you'd still be the horrible man I met in college."

He looked panicked, his eyes wide. "I want to be part of their lives."

"I know, Trent. Like I said, I just don't know what to do with you. It's a bit unsettling."

I shifted nervously, trying to get off the couch, but failing miserably. He didn't move to help me up. I think he was using my condition against me.

"I need to be a part of their lives, Clara, please. I don't know what to do to make you see that. I want to be there. I need it. I need something, and I have these kids I've fathered, and I'm a mess. I've been so stupid in the past, and I've tried to make up for my bad behavior. I've been a doctor and chose this field to help the women who are left in the wake of men like me. I don't know what else to do. Just tell me, and I'll do it. I know you don't really know me, but I want you to. I want to prove that I'm a good person, that I can be a good dad."

"I'm afraid you'll try and take my kids from me." He tugged on his hair and stood up, pacing. "You want to, don't you? You've seen my shabby little apartment, my crappy car. I'm sure you find our living situation less than adequate, growing up the way you did. I can be a good mom with what I have. I've been a good mom. I take care of Tyler and provide for him, just as well as my parents provided for me growing up. I'm the daughter of a plumber and a stay-at-home mom. I can't stay home myself, but I do spend all my free time with my son. I'm not neglectful. The courts won't give you custody. I'd fight you to the end for both of my babies. You can't have them!"

I didn't mean to lose it with him, but somehow, all my fears just got spewed at him in my panic.

He walked out of the room, and I was finally able to make my way off the couch and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"I want to go home."

He grimaced, but nodded okay. "I'll take you back."

"No, I want to go home to my apartment."

"Because you're scared," he stated matter-of-factly.

I burst into tears, hating myself for not controlling my emotions. He took a few tentative steps toward me and finally pulled me into his arms. I knew I should have pushed him away. He was the enemy, yet I let him hold me, rub my back and kiss my head, as he tried to comfort me. I felt lost and confused, because as he held me, I didn't feel threatened by him.

"Please, let's make this work. I know you're a good mom. I won't hurt them. I won't hurt you."

I sobbed harder. "I don't believe you," I whispered and pushed away from him.

He looked so defeated. "Please, just give me a chance. Let me prove to you that I've changed." He looked on the verge of tears himself.

"I'm scared," I admitted.

He pulled me into his arms again, hugging me tightly. I hated that I loved the feel of it.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. You know very well that my mother and your mother would kick my ass if I ever did anything to upset you. And I don't mean just an ear pulling, either. I'm pretty sure shovels would be involved," he joked, making me smile.

He must have felt my expression change against his chest, because he looked down at me with a soft smile and then kissed my forehead. "I can promise you that I’ll make mistakes, but I can also promise you that you'll always be backed by our families. My mother loves you." He brushed the hair away from my face. "Thank you so much for letting my mother be a part of Tyler's life. I know you didn't have to, but you letting her in meant the world to her…and to me."

"She's pretty great. He loves having her around."

His smile grew even wider. "It's my goal to get you to feel the same way about me."

I chuckled.

"What'd ya say? Are you willing to give me a chance?"

"If I must, I must," I teased, and he gave me another tight hug. Him and his damn hugging! My stupid pregnancy hormones were driving me nuts, and his cologne smelled so good. We had to get out of there, before I made a fool of myself. "We should probably head back to your mom's house." I waddled towards the door.

"Good idea, we should go see if we can figure out what those two troublemakers are up to." He opened it and helped me down his front porch steps.

I knew they were up to something, and I suspected it was more than just planning a baby shower.