Page 14 of Keeping Promises

“Lex, he’s not ready to be a father.”

“Is anyone?” she shouts, and I have to pull the phone back from my ear. Before bringing the phone back to my ear, I glance at the time.Shit, I need to be getting back for my next appointment.

“That’s not what I mean.” I’m silent for a moment as I gather my thoughts and cross the street. “It’s just, how many different women have you seen him bring home since the engagement party?” Her silence tells all. “Exactly. I would probably need our entire college dorm to help hold up fingers for all the women I can recall him with over the year since we met.” I know I’m overexaggerating, but she gets my point. “The other night with him bringing a date was no different.” Although it feels every part as different now, knowing that I’ll be tied to him for life.

Silence envelops us; the only sound on the call is our breathing. My throat dries, and my eyes fill with unshed tears. My damn hormones, and from what I read last night in bed, they’re only going to get worse from here.

“My heart hurts over this, it literally hurts.” And not just from the wicked heartburn I’m now feeling from this smoothie.Ouch.“But I have more than just myself to think about now.” I place my hands over my stomach. “A child… my child.”

“And his, Hadley. He was there, too. That child is half-his in there. Asher has a right to know he’s going to be a father.”

I know that she’s right, but that doesn’t mean I’m any less scared. “What if he doesn’t want the child. What if he picks his bachelor lifestyle over being a dad?”Just like my dad.I confess my fears. “I’m scared,” I whisper, but the emotion poured into those two words is enough to be heard over the entire city of Willow Creek, maybe even further.

“Honey, you won’t know unless you talk to him. That’s his choice to make, not yours. You can’t make that decision by choosing not to tell him.”

I sigh into the phone. I look up into the salon window and see my next appointment waiting. “Hey, I need to get back to work. Can we continue this conversation later?”

“Yeah, of course. Oh, Hadley, is it okay to tell Ben? I mean, not about that Asher is the father, but he’s been really concerned about you since you left last night, and I just want to ease his mind that you have a lot on your mind.”

“Sure.”

“And Hadley, know that no matter what happens, you always have us. You’re not alone whatever Asher decides.”

“I know. Love you.”

“Love you, too,” she responds before ending the call. I take a few moments to gather myself, take a few deep breaths, and plaster a smile on my face before opening the door to my salon and continuing with my day.