A Million Little Things (Mischief Bay, #3)

“She would have liked the steak, as well,” Zoe teased.

“I’m sure that’s true.” Miguel stretched out on the chair next to her. “What have you decided?”

“I’m keeping my job and I’m signing up for grad school. I should be able to take at least a couple of classes over the summer. I’m not sure about fall. I would be really close to my due date. But maybe I could take one class and arrange to take the final early.”

A decision she didn’t have to make today, she told herself. “My attorney is working on the parenting plan. I hope to have that to Chad by the end of the month. Steven’s going to paint the baby’s room for me.”

“Has Chad proposed again?”

“No. I think he feels he did his duty and now we can move on.” She glanced at her father. “You’re not going to pressure me on that again, are you?”

“No, I’ll let it go.” He looked at her. “Because you’re my favorite daughter.”

“I’m your only daughter.”

“That, too. And because you’ve convinced me Chad wouldn’t make you happy.” His gaze intensified. “I want to pay for graduate school and I don’t want you to argue about it.”

“Dad, no.”

His brows rose. “This would be you arguing.”

“I know, and while I appreciate your generous offer, I’m paying for my own grad school. I’m a big girl. I can afford it.”

“You have to save for the baby. What about college?”

“Do you know the baby’s the size of a radish?”

“Radishes grow up and need to go to college.”

“Fine. Then put my grad school fund toward that.”

He drew his brows together, then relaxed. “All right. I will. But if you need anything, I’m here.”

“I know. Thank you.” She drank more of her tea.

“I can’t decide if I want you to have a girl or a boy.”

Which was just so like him. “You do realize you, in fact, don’t get a say?”

“I understand basic biology, yes.” He reached for her hand. “I wish your mother were alive to see this.”

The unexpected words made her eyes fill with tears. She squeezed his fingers. “Me, too.”

“She would be so happy.”

Zoe nodded. “Then she would go beat the crap out of whoever made the mistake at the pharmaceutical company.”

“I would join her in that.”

Zoe was going in another direction. She’d already been approached by several attorneys representing other women who were also dealing with unexpected pregnancies from the faulty shots. While she was fortunate enough to be in a position to deal with her situation, she knew there were other women whose lives had been completely shattered by what had happened. The only way to make sure that sort of thing didn’t happen again was to band together.

She released her father’s hand. “What else is new?” she asked, mostly to distract him. “Have you seen Pam since she’s been back?”

“How did you know she was back?”

“I knew the dates of her trip.”

“I told her she had to make peace with you before I would see her again.”

“Because you’re all that and she’ll change her mind for you?”

Zoe spoke lightly in an effort not to let him know how much Pam’s reaction still stung. Telling herself over and over again that Pam was right to protect her son didn’t take away the hurt of having someone she considered a friend reject her. It seemed to her that middle ground wouldn’t be all that hard to find—but Pam wasn’t interested in that.

“I am all that, as you put it. But that isn’t the reason she’ll change her mind. She’s a good person. She’ll figure out what she’s doing is wrong. When she does, will it be too late?”

“You mean will I hold a grudge?”

“Yes.”

“I’m less sure about her seeing my side of things than you, but yes, if she stops seeing me as the devil, I want to be friends with her.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled. “No offense, Dad, but I’m not saying that for you. I’m saying it for me. I need to be able to let go. It’s the right thing to do and best for the baby.”

“I still get to be proud of you if I want.”

She smiled. “Later I’ll finger paint some flowers and you can hang them on the refrigerator.”

“Now you mock me.”

“Only with love, I swear.”

*

Over the next week, Pam kept busy. She went with Filia to her appointment with the business loan specialist at the credit union. The meeting had gone well. Filia had received preliminary approval with final approval to be decided in the next few days. As all Pam had done was sit quietly while Filia spoke, she knew she couldn’t take credit for anything except providing moral support. Still, Filia was thrilled and Pam couldn’t wait to be there for the grand opening of her expansion.

Pam tended her container garden, texting pictures of her thriving bush monkey flower to Ron at the nursery. His quick reply of, I’ll never doubt you again should have been satisfying, but wasn’t. Mostly because she couldn’t seem to settle in her life. Or maybe her skin.

It was all Steven’s fault, she thought as she drove to her daughter’s house. Or Zoe’s. It was the two of them together. Whatever had she been thinking when she’d set them up? From what Pam could glean, the two were as close as ever. Which meant Steven hadn’t taken her advice. He also wasn’t speaking to her. Not really. Oh, sure, he would respond if she texted him, but he hadn’t been by to see her since her return and they hadn’t spoken on the phone. She knew she could invite him over, but in her heart of hearts, she was terrified if she asked he would say no.

So instead she went to see Jen, who at least was still speaking to her.

Jen answered the door with a smile. “Perfect timing.” She held up her flour-covered hands. “I’m trying to knead bread and it’s not going well. Jack is thirsty. Could you get him some juice, please?”

“Of course. Or I could knead the bread for you.”

“I have to conquer it. Dough is not going to get the best of me.”

Pam and Lulu walked inside. Jack lit up when he saw them and ran over. He held out his arms and cried, “Grandma!”

Pam swept him up into her embrace. “Hello, Jack. How are you?”