43

“Do you need me to come with you for moral support?” Ela asked when they landed and were off the plane.

Ela had a taxi waiting to take her to her brand new apartment.

Grey shook her head, “This is something I’ve got to do alone.”

“Well, you’ve got my address just in case you can’t take it. Call me okay?”

They embraced then went their separate ways. Grey couldn’t believe she was back and back without her degree. She had to admit she was back with something more precious. Alec drove her to the airport. He was anxious about sending her home, but he promised to be a constant in her life. She would just have to wait and see about that. All her friends showed up to say goodbye. West wasn’t there. She didn’t know if he knew she was leaving. She handed Sky the letter to give to him when she was about to leave.

“Make sure he reads it. Tell him it’s important.” She had said.

She even embraced Mia. After that night in the basement they would forever be bonded. She and Sky were rocky, but she hoped they would fix things because no one else could handle Sky Kiszinger and no one could definitely manage Mia.

She got off the cab that took too short a time to get to their small apartment. She hoped her mom wasn’t home. But when she rang the doorbell.

“Grey?” Her mom yanked the door open wider. “Greyson?”

Grey gave her a bright smile. Despite her nerve she was happy to see her mom.

“Hey mom.”

“Is the semester over or something?”

“No…” she wheeled her luggage inside. “Mom… I… uh I had to come back.”

Her mother’s face fell and she shook her head. She already knew.

“Don’t tell me Greyson please.”

“Mom…”

“No! You’re pregnant aren’t you? I can see it in your face.” She sobbed.

Grey touched her cheek. She did feel a bit puffy.

“I didn’t plan this—”

“Are you telling me you don’t know how babies are made? Does your sponsor know what you’ve done?” She barked.

“You mean my dad? Yeah, of course. He said it would be better I came home.”

“What the hell did you say?”

“My father. Alec Abbey. The man you never spoke about. The man you said was dead! How could you, mom?”

“Now wait a minute. Alec is the one sponsoring you? I don’t get it.”

“You never told my father about me mom.”

She waved her away, “He was born with a silver spoon and he was leaving anyway. I was under no impression he would stay for a low class girl like me.”

“He would have! You never told him about me.”

“This isn’t about the past. Grey… honey you’re having a baby.” A tear rolled down her mom’s cheek.

Grey looked away. Her mom held her cheeks in her palms and smiled. “He isn’t in the picture isn’t he?”

“Are you happy?”

She shook her head. “I’m in the picture.”

She wrapped her daughter into her arms and squeezed. “I didn’t have anyone and I won’t let that happen to you.”

“Dad said he’s going to help.” Grey sniffled.

“Oh, I’d love to see Alec change diapers.” She grabbed her daughter’s suitcases and helped wheel them back to her old room. Back to her old life with a new sense of reality.

***

The next two days rolled by and Grey had slipped into a slump. She could barely eat or speak to her friends over the phone. West hadn’t called or texted. Hadn’t he seen the letter? Or was he content on not knowing his child?

“Grey honey please take a shower and come eat. Dinner’s ready. The baby has to eat. If you won’t do it for you do it for the baby and me.”

“I just want to sleep.”

“Greyson Abbey. Do you want me to get your father on the phone? He was really worried. He thinks you should speak to a doctor.”

“No mom no doctor. Fine I’ll take the stupid shower.”

“Good and eat the stupid dinner.” The bedroom door slammed. Grey grumbled all the way to the bathroom.

Her mom didn’t understand her dilemma. She actually had to come to terms with West’s rejection. It didn’t hurt any different than if he had rejected her to her face. The prospect of being a single mom was daunting even with all the wonderful support she had. Grey wandered into the living room wearing a silk robe and bunny slippers when she heard her mother and froze.

“So you’re the boy from oversees.” Grey was rooted to the spot.

“Yes ma’am.” West responded.

“You knocked up my daughter.”

“I know if I could just see her—”

“You think you can get the poor girl pregnant and just leave? What is wrong with you men?”

“It isn’t like that. I love her.”

“Mom!” Grey pulled her mother away from the door. “Let me handle this.”

“Don’t let him lie to you honey.”

Grey walked outside and closed the door on her mother.

West had a duffle bag at his feet. His hair was ruffled and he had sweat stains on the short sleeves of his dark blue shirt.

“Maybe I should just accept you’re a woman of secrets. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I tried—”

West shook his head, “You could have told me at the hospital, at the factory you didn’t. You could have told me at the house. Grey I fucked over the isle.”

“I didn’t know then.” She sighed.

He placed his hands on her waist. She let him touch her flat stomach. The baby was only six weeks old. He got down on his knees and kissed her belly. Grey ran her fingers through his hair.

“I didn’t want to trap you. I wanted you to be with me because you love me not because you had to.”

West stood. “Of course I do. I fucking love you Grey. I didn’t know you were leaving. I wanted to give us time. I read the letter yesterday and took the jet out. I had to beg Ela to give me your address. Do you know how embarrassing that was?”

Grey giggled and West chuckled. He wrapped her in his arms. “I’m an idiot.”

“I hurt you.”

“I compared you to Harley and you aren’t her. I was wrong. I want you. I want our baby.”

“I want you too.” They were words she didn’t even have to think about.

“I want to see you fat and round. I’m going to take care of every craving. I’ll bare all your mood swings and I’ll bare them with our other children too.”

Grey laughed, “Other children? Let’s slow down there West.”

He kissed her forehead. “I love you Grey.”

“I love you too.”

He cupped her cheeks. She stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. Their lips collided in a crash of hunger and passion. This time their love would consume everything else that stood in their way of happiness. West had found his woman and Grey never doubted his love for her.

The End.