When You're Back (Rosemary Beach #12)(55)

“I have a boarder coming with two Appaloosas in thirty minutes, so I need to get back down to the stables. Mind if I take this last pork chop and a glass of tea with me?” I asked Momma as I stood up.

She jumped up, grabbed a paper towel, wrapped a biscuit in it, and handed it to me. “Take this, too.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I agreed. “Thanks for lunch. I enjoyed it.”

She nodded, although that was what I always said when I left the table. She’d taught me that at a young age. Always thank the cook, and make sure they know you appreciate the meal they served you.

“Can I come down and see the horses?” Aida asked.

“You need to stay here and eat. Leave the boy alone, Aida,” Dad said.

Relieved, I took my hat off the hook by the door and put it back on before heading outside. I’d made it through the meal, and Aida had only been slightly annoying. If she’d just leave before Reese got back home . . .

I’d missed my lunch with Reese today. I loved getting to see her and hold her in the middle of the day; it helped get me through the rest of it. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I called her. At least I could hear her voice.

Reese

I glanced down at my phone to see the image of Mase’s boots on the screen. I couldn’t answer. Not yet. Not now.

Piper hadn’t asked any questions when I’d walked out of the doctor’s office. She’d let me sit in silence. I owed her an explanation, though. She had set up an appointment for me with her doctor and got me in fast. No questions asked. Then she had taken me during work hours.

I hit the Silent button, put the phone back on my lap, and stared out at the road.

“Sweetie, that man loves you. He worships the ground you walk on. Don’t be afraid to tell him. He’ll be thrilled,” she said softly as she reached over and patted my leg.

Piper wasn’t stupid. She had guessed why I needed to see the doctor and what the outcome was without my saying a word. I guessed it was kind of obvious. I turned to look at her. “He hasn’t even asked me to marry him. All I’ve done is add more stress to his life. How do I tell him this?”

Piper frowned. “From where I’m sitting, Mase Colt goes out of his way to make you happy. He’s so afraid of losing you he can’t hold on tight enough. This isn’t going to be bad news for him. Trust me.”

She didn’t know everything. She didn’t know all the baggage that came along with me. Mase loved me, I knew that, but he wasn’t ready for more. He wanted us to live together and enjoy the now. He wasn’t planning the future. But here I was, with our future inside me. “I need time to adjust to this myself. I’ll tell him. I’m just not ready,” I explained.

Piper sighed. “It’s your decision, but he’s gonna want to know.”

He would. I knew he would want to know. But would he be happy? Or would I just add more baggage on top of everything else? I didn’t want this baby to be any less than adored. I wanted him or her to have the life I didn’t get. I wanted to give my child the life that Mase was given.

“Don’t wait too long. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to tell him,” Piper said.

I nodded. She was right. I’d have to tell him soon. But first, I needed to know that I had somewhere to go if he wasn’t ready. I didn’t have just me to worry about anymore. I had another life I was responsible for.

It was time we went to visit my dad.

Mase had called again when I got back to work. I had answered the phone that time, because if I kept ignoring his calls, he’d show up at the barn. I didn’t doubt that for a minute. I had told him lunch was great and I missed him. He’d seemed pleased with that, and we’d ended the call.

Sitting in his truck after work was different. There was this huge secret between us, and I felt guilty for not telling him. He had kissed me and held me against him when he’d gotten to Piper’s. I always felt so safe when he held me.

The guilt was like a lead weight in my stomach. I was afraid I could lose here.

“In case she’s still there when we get back to the ranch, I have to warn you that Aida’s visiting. She was at Momma’s during lunch today,” he said, glancing over at me while he was driving.

I was not in the mood for Aida. Not the best timing. “OK. Did she say why she was visiting?” I asked, trying to sound like this news didn’t upset me.

He shrugged. “I think she was bored. No real reason.”

“Oh,” was my only response.

It was time to visit my dad anyway. If Aida was there, it wouldn’t matter. It just pushed my decision. “Can we visit my father now? I think I’m ready.”

Mase’s arm rested around my back, and his fingers played in my hair. “I’ll book the flight tonight. You want to call him so he knows to expect us?”

I nodded.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Whatever you want, baby. All you have to do is ask.”

This time, when he called me baby, my hand went to my stomach. How was I going to tell him?

“Momma sent leftovers up to the house. We can eat and handle the travel arrangements. How soon you ready to leave?”

“Day after next. I need to tell Piper first and get some things finished up in the office.”

“Sounds good. That gives me time to get things squared away, too.”