“How’s he been?” I felt stupid as soon as I asked it. Was I really expecting to hear that he’d been just as wrecked as me?
“Well, I don’t know. He’s been a little distant from all of us lately. Cranky as hell, now that I think about it.”
I stayed silent the rest of the way. I was desperate to actually see Alex and put my anxiety to rest. Either he’d want to be a part of his child’s life, or he wouldn’t. There was nothing more to it. I just needed to give him the news and accept the answer. I was also hoping the seeing him would calm some of these tornadoes. Maybe I had falsely built up the connection I’d felt for him in my imagination so much over these last three months and that seeing him would bring me back down to earth. I’d see first hand that that he was just a normal man, not the demi-god my damned psyche had made him out to be.
Jason made a few turns and then drove us through the gates and under a big sign that read Long Ranch. I looked around and spotted animals and a huge barn. We drove past that and after a few minutes, a large house opened up in front of us.
I was shocked by the sheer size of it. I could see people moving around through the large windows in the front of the house and saw a big tent set up out to the side of the house. “What’s happening?”
Jason laughed. “You picked a hell of a time to come back. The annual Long BBQ is tomorrow. Everyone is busy setting it up, looks like.”
I opened the door and climbed down from his truck. “Where should I look for Alex?”
He pointed to the front door. “You knock on that door there and someone will find him for you, no doubt. Good luck.”
That wasn’t exactly reassuring. I waved him away and then headed towards the front door. My stomach rolled.
I stood at the door and looked at the doorbell, with my hand over my stomach. I whispered to the little guy, doing my best to settle both of us. I raised my hand to knock, but the door yanked open and then a young girl was staring at me with wide eyes.
She had the same sandy blonde hair as Alex and the same honey brown eyes. She couldn’t have been any older than thirteen and the excited squeal she let out solidified that she was definitely a ball of energy. She threw her arms around me and squeezed me tight.
“Oh, my gosh! You’re having a baby!”
I didn’t feel uncomfortable with her little arms around me, so I just rested my hands on her back and let her hug me.
“I am.”
“You’re having Alex’s baby!”
CHAPTER 11: Elizabeth
I pulled back suddenly and frowned.
“How do you know that?”
She grinned a mischievous grin and shrugged.
“I can just tell. Come on. I’ll take you to him. He’s upstairs, working. We’ll get him up, though.”
I dug in my heels, suddenly convinced I’d made a hugely stupid decision coming here.
“I think I’d better wait out here.”
An older woman, just as beautiful and striking as the little girl, stepped into the entry way and stopped short. She looked at my stomach and took a deep breath in. Her eyes went wide and she screamed Alex’s name at the top of her lungs.
I held up my hands and felt my entire body go red.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt. I’ll just go. This was a mistake.”
She rushed towards me and grabbed my hand.
“No, no. I’m sorry to startle you. It’s just not every day a pregnant woman shows up at my doorstep. Bailey, go and get your brother. Now.”
“Really. I think I’d better go.”
She held my hand in both of hers and met my eyes. “Sweetheart, stay. I was just shocked for a moment.”
I let her lead me into a massive kitchen. “How do you know?”
She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and motioned for me to sit down.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Carolyn, Alex’s mother. Now, how did I know what?”
I took a sip of the water and looked down at my belly. “How did you know I was here for Alex?”
“I have five sons, but I just knew that you were Alex’s.” She looked behind me and grinned. “There he is. Alex, you’ve got a special visitor.”
I’d already felt him in the room. It was like my body could sense his presence. The closer he got, the more my nerve endings tried to stand up tall to be closer to him. I slowly turned to face him and thanked god that I was sitting down. My entire body seemed to sigh and a tension that I hadn’t even realized was there left my body.
He was just as drop dead handsome as the last time I’d seen him. His hair was longer and the shadow had turned into a full beard, but he was still enough to make my body react instantly.