CHAPTER12
Gillian had never felt saferthan she had last night lying in Nick’s arms, feeling his warmth against her skin. She wasn’t sure of much—why she stayed with Paul so long or if she’d ever be free of him, but she was sure of Nick. The way she felt when she was with him and the way his touch felt on her skin. He was like coming home. It was a feeling that comforted and scared her at the same time. What if she couldn’t make him happy? What if the problem was with her?
He was about to be a dad. Once he brought Bailey home, things wouldn’t be the same. As much as she’d like to, she couldn’t let herself get attached to that sweet little girl. She wasn’t sure what her future had in store for her, but she couldn’t fall in love with another baby, only to lose her all over again.
What if she had to go back to Virginia? What if she were arrested?
Or worse.
What if Paul got out?
She feared he’d never let her go.
She pushed Paul and all the what-ifs out of her mind, and instead closed her eyes, thinking about Nick’s touch, his kiss, and the sound of his heartbeat reverberating in her ear. She headed into the bathroom and showered, then went into the kitchen to get a bite to eat. It was going to be a long day.
“Hey, Mom,” she said as she found her mom already up and chopping carrots and onions.
“Good morning.” Her mom had a sly grin on her face. “Is Nick still here?”
“No.” She could tell her mom wanted to talk about it, but discussing her sex life with her mother was not something she was going to do. “What are you making?”
“Beef stew in the crockpot.”
“Sounds good. I’m not sure what time we’ll be back though, so don’t wait dinner on me.”
“Where are you going?” she asked, clearly surprised.
“Nick and I are driving to Atlanta.” She grabbed the box of cereal out of the pantry. “Can you get me a bowl?”
Her mom took a bowl down from the cupboard and handed it to her. “Atlanta? What are on earth for?”
“The Reaves didn’t just pull their funding from your church. They had the bank call in Nick’s line of credit.”
“What? Then how is he going to finish my kitchen?” Panic rang in her mom’s voice.
“He’ll have to get a new loan from a bank in Atlanta where the Reaves don’t know everyone.”
Her mom shook her head. “I knew the Reaves were well connected, but I never imagined they could go this far.”
“They’ll do anything they can to get their hands on Nick’s baby. This fight is going to get real ugly.” Her mom was silent for a moment. Gillian could see the doubt written all over her face. “What?” she asked, though she wasn’t sure she wanted to know what her mom thought.
“It’s not your fight, Gillian.”
“That baby deserves to be with her father.”
“Maybe,” her mom said, chopping celery, “but are you sure you aren’t projecting?”
Gillian looked up from her bowl, instantly on guard. “What do you mean?”
“This baby, Nick’s baby, can’t replace the one you lost.”
Gillian swallowed her annoyance and took a deep breath. “I know that, but this isn’t about me. This is about Nick and his baby, his child who deserves to know her father.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but the Reaves can give her a good life. A family. Nick is all alone. What is he going to do, hire a stranger to come stay with the baby while he’s at work all day? How would that be better for her?”
“Because she’d still be with her dad and not an evil scheming witch like Mrs. Reaves.” Gillian couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Do you think he loves her any more than her grandparents do?” her mom asked.