A Million Little Things (Mischief Bay, #3)

Zoe left the POP and started for home. At the intersection by her house, she went left instead of right, then turned down another street and drove a mile into the older part of Mischief Bay. She parked outside her father’s house and called on her cell.

“Zoe! I was just thinking about you. How are you?”

She had planned on saying she was fine. Of course, she was fine. She was...

Unexpected tears burned in her eyes and her throat burned. “D-Dad,” was all she was able to get out.

“What’s wrong? Where are you? Zoe? Have you been in an accident?”

She shook her head, not that he could see. “I’m okay. I just... Can I come talk to you?”

“Of course. I’m home. Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

“I’m out front.”

She was going to say more, but there was a click and she knew he’d disconnected the call. Seconds later, the front door opened and her father barreled toward her, Mariposa at his heels. He ran to her car and pulled open the driver’s door.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he drew her to her feet. “Are you hurt?”

She gave in to the tears and hung on. Her dad was big and strong and he’d always been there for her. She trusted he would be now, although she was terrified to tell him what had happened. What if he was mad at her? What if he rejected her?

Her heart whispered that wouldn’t happen, but irrational fear was stronger than love and common sense.

Mariposa jumped up and down next to them, barking, as if also concerned. Zoe finally drew back enough to scoop up the little dog.

“Group hug,” she said, stepping close to her father again, the little dog tucked between them.

When she’d finally caught her breath, she sniffed, then wiped her face. Mariposa licked her cheek, as if offering her own kind of comfort.

“I’m okay,” Zoe said.

“Let’s go inside.”

They walked into the house. She sank onto the living room sofa, Mariposa settling next to her. Miguel pulled up an overstuffed chair. He sat with his forearms on his knees, his gaze intense.

“Tell me.”

For the third time she explained about Chad and the stupid sex and the failure of her birth control.

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispered. “I’m pregnant.”

Her father groaned. “Is that all? I thought you were dying.”

“I’m perfectly healthy, but there’s going to be a baby.”

Miguel crossed to sit next to her. “A baby is a good thing. Look what you grew into.”

That made her laugh. She angled toward him and leaned back into the corner of the sofa. “I’m scared, Dad. And confused. I don’t want to deal with any of this, but I have to.”

“You’re feeling okay?”

“I feel fine. No morning sickness, nothing. I feel stupid, but that’s not the baby’s fault.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I had sex with Chad. I knew better. I knew it was over. But he’d been calling and I caved. This is a really high price to pay for a moment of weakness.”

“You’ll be fine. Who else knows?”

“Jen and Steven. I haven’t told Chad yet.”

“You’re going to have to.”

“I know. I just wish I didn’t have to. It’s one thing for me to have this baby on my own. It’s another to have to deal with him.” Forever, she thought grimly. No matter what—for the rest of their lives, they would have to deal with their child. It was a horrible thing to consider.

“You should marry him.”

Zoe stared at her father. “Excuse me?”

“He got you pregnant. It’s the right thing to do.”

“No way. You hate him. You said he was terrible for me and you were glad when we broke up.”

“That’s true, but now you’re pregnant. It’s different.”

“This isn’t 1880. I’m not marrying Chad.” She shuddered. “He was a horrible boyfriend. He would be a worse husband.” She narrowed her gaze. “Don’t you dare say that I should have thought of that before.”

“I wouldn’t. I only want you to be happy. Zoe, being a single mother is going to be hard.”

“Mom did it.”

“You weren’t an infant and I was there.”

“I have support, too. I’ll be fine.”

Marry Chad. As if. Jeez. “I liked it better when you thought I was dying.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. What can I do to help?”

“Stop telling me to marry Chad. Other than that, just be my dad. I’m confused and scared and I’m going to have a baby. That’s a lot.”

“It is.” He sighed. “I can’t even offer you a margarita.”

“Tell me about it. I had to give up coffee, as well. It’s horrible.”

He chuckled, then looked at her. “A baby. I’m going to be a grandfather.”

She grinned. “So much for the younger women.”

He waved his hand. “I gave them up years ago. Still, a grandfather.” He laughed. “I like it.”





Chapter Sixteen

Pam tossed her phone on the sofa. She hadn’t heard from Miguel in three days. They’d been texting regularly and suddenly he’d gone quiet. She didn’t know what to do with that information. Was he sick? Had he met someone else? Not that they were actually dating-dating, so she shouldn’t care who he was seeing. Although she had to admit she had been enjoying his company. More than she thought she would.

Worse, she felt funny. Unsettled. Confused. She hadn’t felt this way since she’d been sixteen and had a mad crush on a boy who never noticed her. She was far too old to have those kinds of feelings. Maybe it was the flu.

She got up and walked into the kitchen to check on the spinach dip she had heating in the oven. Steven had called to say he wanted to stop by. Company business, she thought as she put tortilla chips on a plate. She’d invited him to dinner, but he’d told her he couldn’t stay. Still, she’d made snacks.

She set out the chips, along with some cut-up fruit. She knew that Steven worked out and she was sure he tried to eat right, but she doubted he got any fruit at all.

She buzzed him in shortly before five and met him at the door.

“Hi,” she said, surprised he didn’t have his briefcase with him. “Aren’t I signing papers?”

“What? No. This isn’t about work.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Why not?”

He kissed her cheek. “Because everything at the office is fine.”

“Oh.” Then why was he here?