Tied With Me (With Me In Seattle)(85)

“Shit,” I whisper.

“Indeed.” Mom kisses my cheek and stands. “She’ll come around.”

“I hope you’re right, because the thought of being without her leaves me hollow.”

“Oh, darling, that’s wonderful.” She laughs when I frown at her in frustration. “It means it’s real.”

“Oh, it’s real all right.”

“Give her a little time to talk to her friends and miss you a bit.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“That’s what I’m here for, dear.” She winks and leaves me to go check in on Natalie, the daughter who didn’t come from her body but couldn’t be more hers if they shared the same bloodline.





Chapter Eighteen


Two weeks later



Nic



“Thanks for your help today, Tess.” I grin at the young woman as she gathers her purse to leave for the day.

“My pleasure, as always, boss,” she replies with a happy smile. “No wine with Bailey today?”

I shrug and shake my head as though it’s no big deal. I just can’t face her, or anyone really, right now.

“All you’ve done for the past two weeks is hole up in this shop and then sit at home,” Tess points out with a frown. “You’re starting to wig me out.”

“I’m fine,” I reply, irritated. “Have a good evening.”

“You, too.” She sighs dejectedly.

I follow her to the front door to lock it behind her, but just as Tess leaves, Gail Montgomery approaches, smiling warmly, dressed in casual denim capris and an orange T-shirt.

“Hi, Mrs. Montgomery.” Good God, what is she doing here?

“Hello, dear. I know you’re about to close. I was hoping for a moment of your time. Privately.”

“Of course.” I raise a brow and motion for her to come inside and lock the door behind her. “Have a seat.”

“Thank you.” She sits at one of my small round pub tables and smiles as I sit opposite her. “How are you, Nic?”

“I’m fine.”

Her eyes narrow as she watches me, an expression I’m all too familiar with on her son. “That’s good.”

“What can I do for you?” I ask. “Would you like a cupcake? Cup of coffee?”

“Oh, not right now, although I might take a few home to Steven.” She leans an elbow on the table and looks about my shop. “This is a beautiful bakery.”

“Thank you.”

“Have you spoken to my son?” she asks bluntly.

“Not in a few weeks,” I reply softly and feel the stab to my heart. God, I miss him so much it hurts.

“I see.” She frowns and links her hands, resting them in her lap. “May I ask why?”

I clear my throat and frown. Geez, how much do I tell his mom? “Honestly, it feels like a betrayal to him to talk about our relationship with you without him here.”

She smiles widely and reaches across the table to lay her hand on my arm. “I like you, Nic. It’s only because I like you that I’m here. I spoke with Matt the morning that you had your fight.”

My eyes widen in surprise.

“That startles you,” she guesses correctly.

“Matt’s not really the kind of person to seek someone out to talk to,” I reply honestly.

“He didn’t seek me out. He ran into me at the hospital.”

“Oh, how is Natalie?” I ask, genuinely concerned. Another difficult part of losing Matt was losing the fragile friendships that I’d just started to form with his family.

“She’s very well, thank you.” Gail shifts in her seat and considers her next words carefully. “Nic, Matt confided in me about your medical troubles.”

Well, she just keeps shocking the hell out of me.

“I’m actually quite healthy,” I reply.

“He said that, too, but he said that the main reason you believe you can’t pursue your relationship with him is because you may not be able to give him children.”

Tears prick my eyes as I stare down at the tabletop. I can only nod in response.

“And that you think that Matt should have a large family.”

“I’ve seen him with the kids, with his pregnant sisters, Mrs. Montgomery. He’d be an excellent father, and he should have that.”