Waiting for You(47)

There would be no white knight coming to her rescue. No magical moment.

And no mystical connection between her and Jake. They’d slept together and made a baby, and that was it.

They’d always had the worst timing in the world. Jake didn’t even want a relationship. How would he react when he found out he was going to be a father?

Of course he had a right to know, and she would tell him. She was due on February 7th. If she hadn’t heard from him by Christmas, she’d call. If he came home before that she could tell him in person. And in the meantime she’d give him his space, the space to stay in Texas or go to New Mexico or Colorado or wherever he needed to be. After everything he’d been through, he deserved a chance to heal.

She’d let him know he could be as involved in the baby’s life as he wanted, but that she didn’t have any expectations. She’d make it clear that he could be a father without giving up his freedom.

And that she was fully prepared to raise this baby on her own.

Her hands were resting on the steering wheel, and suddenly she clenched them into fists. So what if there was no white knight in her life? She’d rescued herself before and she could do it again. She was strong. She was capable. She—

There was a strange fluttering under her breastbone, like a goldfish swimming around in there. It felt like…

She gasped.

After a moment, she felt it again. She pressed both hands to the place, right under her heart.

And just like that, her universe shifted.





Chapter Ten


“Jake?”

“Hey, Allison. What’s up?”

“You’re still planning to come home for Thanksgiving?”

“Yeah.” He’d actually been packing when Allison called. He’d come back to San Antonio after a trip through Colorado, to see Mitch once more and to say goodbye to Paul and Angie. But his thoughts had been turning more and more towards home.

“Okay. Good.”

There was a funny kind of tension in Allison’s voice, and Jake frowned. “Is everything okay with you and the baby?”

“Yes, everything’s fine. I just…think it’s time for you to come home. You’ve been away six months, Jake. A lot can change in six months.”

“Change? What’s changed? Are Mom and Dad okay?”

Allison sighed. “Yes, Mom and Dad are fine. Everyone’s fine. I just think you should come home.”

Maybe she was going through some pregnancy hormone thing. “Well, you’re getting your wish. I’ll be home soon. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Jake rolled into Iowa a day ahead of schedule. He’d planned to be home on Wednesday morning, but he made great time and got there by Tuesday afternoon.

He was looking forward to seeing his family again, and to being home for the birth of his nephew. But as he rode north on I-35 it wasn’t his family he was thinking of.

It was Erin.

For the last three hundred miles her face had been in his mind’s eye, guiding him forward like the North Star.

They hadn’t spoken since July. He’d made a deliberate decision not to call her, even though he’d thought about her often. But he wanted to give her the space to live her life without him as a factor—at least while he was trying to come to terms with his past.

With Mitch’s help, his nightmares were under control now. He had some confidence that he was making his way, step by step and mile by mile, out of the hell he’d been living in.

He still didn’t know if he was ready for a relationship. The truth was, he might never be. But he was ready to go home, to make a life for himself in the place that he loved. And he wanted to see Erin again.

Of course, there was no guarantee she’d want to see him.

He thought about calling her to let her know he was coming, but decided he’d rather have their first conversation in person. He’d spend Thanksgiving with his family, and sometime that weekend he’d stop by her house and knock on her door.

It was late afternoon when he got to his parents’ place. He saw Rick’s car in the driveway, which meant he and Allison were here. Jenna and Michael and Claire were spending Thanksgiving in Florida, with Claire’s grandparents.

The front door was unlocked, and when he went in he heard voices and a burst of laughter in the kitchen. He crossed the living room and stood in the doorway, a smile spreading over his face as he took in the familiar scene of dinner being prepared amidst the cheerful chatter of the family.

Allison was the first to spot him.

“Jake!”

She practically launched herself at him, but she had to lean forward to throw her arms around his neck.

“Wow, you’re huge. Sure you’re not carrying twins?”