Page 15 of The Fire Captain's Unexpected Baby
Where does shewantit to go from here?
Silence wraps itself around us, making conversation feel slow and stalled for the first time. Part of me wants to reach for her, but the other part doesn’t want to rush her if she’s not ready.
She drops her keys in the bowl, the sound echoing in the quiet. I’m saved from having to say anything when her little boy emerges from his room. He looks so sweet, carrying his fluffy bunny and wrapped in his dinosaur pajamas. At the sight of his mother, he lights up.
His smile makes him look just like Paige.
As awkward as the moment is between us, she doesn’t think twice before responding to him. She reaches for him, lifts him onto her hip, and kisses his chubby cheeks until his giggles echo from the hall. She is such a natural mother, joyful and loving.
I find myself watching them, my mind drifting to my childhood. Despite not having many positive memories there, I catch myself smiling at them.
“All children should grow up with love like this.” It slips out before I even think about what I want to say.
Paige doesn’t seem to notice the emotional bomb I just threw into the air. Her attention is focused solely on her son, his chubby cheeks pressed to hers. When she pulls back to look at me, I see radiant joy that was so obviously missing at the wedding.
“Thank you,” she says. “But I have no idea what I’m doing as a mom most of the time. I just wing it as best I can.”
“Sometimes, just showing up is enough.”
“I would die for this little man.” The love in her eyes makes the statement obvious. “The problem is that his father didn’t even try to live for him.”
Something clouds her features at the mention of the boy’s father. I don’t know if I’m seeing sadness or resignation, but I know it sounds like he isn’t a part of their lives anymore.
I don’t want to force her to talk about anything she isn’t ready for yet, but I file the information away for a later date.
Chapter Six
Paige
When I mention Noah’s father, I almost tell Aaron the truth. After all, the entire town knows what happened to James. Noah will have to carry that truth with him for his entire life. Aaron might as well know how I ended up a single mom now.
Something holds me back from telling the truth, though.
I want to hold on to tonight. Tonight was as perfect and light as a first date should be, even if that isn’t what’s happening here. Somehow, we made it from the wedding to the hospital and back to my house.
To me, that means something about what’s going on between us. I vowed never to bring a date home to meet Noah until I was ready. Yet, now I’m being as indiscreet as my mother.
IwantAaron here right now.
More than that, I simply want him. I want another one of those unexpected kisses, heat unfurling in my muscles like I’m sinking into a relaxing bath.
“I should go and let you put him to bed,” Aaron says, drawing me back to the present.
Noah presses his cheek to my shoulder, a telltale sign that he’s minutes from falling asleep.
“It won’t take but a minute to put him down,” I say instead, surprising myself. “I’ll meet you in the living room. Help yourself to the drinks cart.”
Aaron holds my gaze for a beat, as if trying to decide whether I mean it. Whatever he finds in it, he must like it. He nods and winds his way through the crowded halls to the living room at the back of the house.
Anticipation bubbles up in me, threatening to spill over. The only thing separating me from an enjoyable evening of adult conversation is bedtime.
Noah settles into the toddler bed as I drape the light duvet over his tiny form. Not wanting to rush him into sleep, I sit on the edge of the bed and run a hand through his lengthening curls. He leans into my touch and closes his eyes.
Just like every other night, my mouth opens to sing. I sing the last song his father ever wrote, the one about how excited he wasto have a son. One of the few positive memories I have of James from the last few years of our lives together.
Gazing at our son falling asleep under the covers, I remember how badly I wanted things to work between us. How I fought for him to get help for his addiction. How I tried to love him through it.
I take a moment to remind myself why getting involved with someone new might be a bad idea. I don’t listen.
