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Izzy scoots over and grips my hand in hers, squeezing tightly, reassuringly. “Alright. Then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll keep an eye on him and report back to you, so you can make an informed decision. If he’s being a lame ass, then we’ll kick him out of our lives.”

“You’d do that to your brother’s best friend and ours?”

“Hell yeah. Besides, he was the one who left us first. If he turns out to be a deadbeat dad, it’s the least he deserves.”

“Thanks Izzy.”

“Of course, Rae. You should have told me sooner.” Her face shifts as she realizes that was the beginning of our conversation that we hadn’t properly addressed. “Why didn’t you tell me? Did you think I would judge you? You know I knew you had a thing for Warren.”

I did suspect she knew something, maybe not to the degree I really felt but she knew I stared at him a little too long. It was hard to hide, especially when I saw him with a girl. He was with a lot of girls back then. Not so much in current years, but one was always hanging around. I saw the looks they gavehim, the hushed conversations and not so subtle touches. He never brought any of them out with us and never called any his girlfriend. I don’t know why, he could have had his pick of the litter. But he never picked one. I’d always assumed it was because he planned on leaving.

Now he says he’s staying. He said a lot of things earlier, but he never said he loved me. He never said he chose me. There’s something between us, there’s no doubt about that. But is it enough?

“I was just trying to move on, I guess. I knew Warren wasn’t coming back and I didn’t want him to because he felt like he had to. He always wanted to leave, he never wanted to be here. It wasn’t the life he wanted. So, I figured I would just make it easier for everyone.”

Izzy rubs my hand, and I feel stupid now for keeping it from her. Even if I never planned to tell Warren or the rest of town, I could have told Izzy. She would have kept my secret, she always does. I guess a part of me was embarrassed that he chose his boat and the sea over me.

I was never enough. I was never anyone’s first choice. Being proven right just made me feel…worthless.

“And now he’s back and claiming he’s going to stay,” she says.

“Yeah. Guess that didn’t work out like I planned,” I joke.

Izzy chuckles and pulls me in for a side hug. “No, it did not. But hey, it never does. Does it? Does anyone else know he’s in town?”

“I have no idea. He said he was going to Gigi’s to dock his boat, so she’ll know by now.”

“Does Gigi know? About him being the dad?”

I bark a humorous laugh. “She knew before I even told her. Apparently, she noticed me swooning over him more than I realized.”

Izzy laughs a knowing humor filled sound. “Of course she did. Gigi never misses a thing.”

No, she does not. I guess I didn’t inherit that trait from her, sadly. I should probably go talk to her later once Warren is settled in. I’m sure she’ll give him her two cents and perhaps a thinly veiled threat about hurting me. I smile internally picturing her giving him a talking to and him apologizing like a scolded child.

Izzy and I talk for a little longer until James shows up after work. They try to convince me to stay for dinner, but I think a little time at home alone, in the quiet, would be good for me. Tomorrow I’ll have to go to Gigi’s and stress all over again. A good night’s sleep is warranted.

Chapter 18: Warren

Don’t talk with your mouth full

As soon as I’m tied off on Gigi’s dock, she’s walking down the back deck towards me. I have no idea how much she knows. I didn’t think to ask Bambi if she told anyone the truth about the baby’s father. If anyone knows it’ll most likely be Gigi and Izzy.

I decide to let Gigi lead the conversation, see what she knows first. Although I have no problem telling everyone in town that I’m the father, if Gigi doesn’t know, that’s something Bambi should tell her.

Gigi strides down the wooden deck onto the paved walkway leading to her private marina. Her white hair is plated in a braid down one shoulder, a cardigan with moose silhouettes across the chest is wrapped around her torso. Her arms are crossed over her chest and there’s a growing smile on her lips.

Well, at least she’s happy to see me. That’s a good sign. I hope. She could be lulling me into a false sense of security so she can strike easier. You never know with Gigi, she can be sly like that. Normally I loved it, mostly because she was protecting or supporting Bambi and even me at times. It’ll be completely different to be on the receiving end of her ire if she hates me.

I leap from the deck of my boat and smile back at Gigi, walking to meet her at the end of the worn but sturdy wooden slats where she waits for me.

“Warren Graham as I live and breathe. Didn’t you say you were never coming back?” she asks with a wicked grin on her lips.

“I may have said something like that.”

“And here you stand on my dock once again, not even six months later.” She’s still smiling and doesn’t seem at all perturbed by my being here.

I knew she wouldn’t be and that’s why I love her. No judgement, only acceptance. Let’s hope that extends to accidentally knocking up her granddaughter then leaving without ever knowing. Hopefully coming back as soon as I found out is points in my favor.