Page 120 of Fierce-Baker

“Gee, thanks for that,” she mumbled.

“Are you going to tell Shane about Micah?” her father asked. “I think it’d be better if you did rather than him finding out.”

She turned to look at Baker. He said the same thing to her.

“Once I talk to my attorney on Monday, I’ll make that decision. Right now, I just didn’t want you to find out from someone else. I know you’ve got a lot more questions, but I don’t have answers. I don’t want to answer questions about my past with Shane. It was two months and it’s over. I was an idiot for not seeing the signs, and the minute I found out, I ended things. If this comes out…”

“It’s going to come out,” her mother interrupted. “You know it.”

“I don’t know any such thing. It’s all going to depend on what Shane says or thinks when he finds out. I never planned on keeping this a secret forever. The fact he’s out of the state for things to settle down tells me he might not even be seeing his own kids. I have no idea what kind of a father he is. It’s not like we talked about those things. Remember, I didn’t know he had kids.”

Which was just another thought flowing in her brain that no dams could slow down.

“Why don’t we let Tasha and Baker have some quiet time before Micah wakes up?” her father said. “I’m sure there is a lot they need to talk about and not much for us to go over.”

Her parents stood even though she was positive her mother wasn’t happy. “I’m sorry, Mom. I was hurt and upset and everything was happening at once. I wanted to get through the pregnancy and then time just went on.”

“As you’ve told us before, you’re an adult and can handle it. I just hope you can.” The words were so final that she almost cringed as if she was slapped.

“Meaning I’m on my own for this?” she asked.

“No,” Baker said. “You’re not. I’m here.”

“We’ll be there, Tasha,” her mother said, letting out a long sigh. “But I need time to process this.”

Her father ran his hand down her arm. “Let us know if you need anything. Help with Micah, the attorney. Anything. I’ll talk to your mother.”

She nodded and gave them both a hug, then closed the door when they pulled out of her driveway.

“That wasn’t too bad,” he said.

She moved over and flopped on the couch next to him. “It could have been a lot worse. I know that. My mother is hurt and I don’t blame her. She was judgmental as I expected.”

“Not nearly as much as my mother would be. I told you what she thinks of Brittany and Emme.”

She let out a much-needed laugh, even if she didn’t find any of this funny.

“I know. Life is going to get complicated. I’ll have a better grasp on things once I talk to the attorney on Monday.”

“Do you want me to go with you?”

She wanted to say yes, but instead said, “I need to do this alone. At least this time.”

“You know where I am if you change your mind. Even if you do it walking into the building.”

She leaned in to give him a kiss. “Thank you for everything. It just makes me love you all the more that you’re not upset over this.”

“It’s your life, Tasha.”

“Maybe I want it to be more than just my life.”

36

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“What’s up, big bro?” Brittany asked when she answered the phone on Tuesday.

“Too many things,” he said drily. “How much time do you have?”