“He’s not ready, and I don’t want him to feel pressured or resent me for forcing him to be a father. I can do this on my own. I don’t need him or any man.” I glare at my mother. It may be unfair, but she has never stood on her own. Even now she’s already latching onto Cooper.
“Maybe I should go so you can talk about this,” Tanya says quietly.
“Yeah. You should go.” Mom rolls her eyes.
“I’d like you to stay.” Theo brings Tanya’s hand to his lips.
“So what’s your plan?” Cooper turns to me.
“Well…I’ll need help getting my apartment and getting on my feet, but after the publishing house opens, I’ll be earning a salary. I’ll be able to make it work.”
“Who’s going to keep the baby when it’s born, and you have to work?”
“I’ll do daycare I guess.”
“Daycare isn’t safe.” Theo shakes his head. “We’ll get you a nanny.”
“I don’t need a nanny.” God, can they let me decide one thing for myself?
“Sweetie, a baby is a lot of work and you’re a child.”
I rub my temples. “I think I’m going to go to bed, and you all can plan out my whole life for me and even decide where my kid will go to college while you’re at it.” I shove back from the table and start to stand.
“We’ll move to Chicago,” Cooper states and shifts his attention Mom. “That way Liri isn’t alone, and she can lean on us if she needs to. I’ll be flying there often until things are off the ground anyway.”
Mom beams at Cooper. “I love you.”
“I know.” He winks at me and then grins at Mom.
Theo is evidently going to blow a gasket. “Looks like you have it all figured out, Cooper. First you steal my wife and now you want my daughter and grandchild too.”
“Dad. It’s not like that, and you know it. You were cheating first apparently. So I think you and Mom need to go through with your divorce and move on with your lives. You’ll always be my dad. You raised me, and my baby will be your grandkid if you want that.”
“Of course I want that.”
“Okay.” I sniffle.
Somehow, we end the night with everyone on good terms or close to it.
If only things could be so easy with Killian.
Can I go to Chicago and depend on my mom and Cooper? I want to go but part of me is worried they will swoop in like always and want to control everything. I don’t know what to do.
I want Killian.
I want him back, but he won’t want me or our baby. Chicago seems to be my only option at this point.
**
“My baby is having a baby.” Mom swipes at her eyes. “I thought you were on birth control.”
“I was, but I guess when I was on antibiotics for strep throat it messed with my birth control.”
“And you’re firm on not telling Killian? I don’t particularly care for him, but don’t you think that’s cruel?”
“I thought you were on my side? You don’t even like Killian.”
“There are no sides. I will always do what is best for you. I only want your happiness.” Her brows knit together. “Was he abusive?”