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If we weren’t in front of my entire family, I would push her, knowing damn well something is wrong, but I let it go for now.
“Oh, Paige!” my mom coos. “Look at your bump. May I touch it?”
“Of course,” Paige says, giving my mom a genuine smile. “And feel this.”
She takes my mom’s hand and places it on her belly. She holds it there for a few seconds while I grin, knowing what’s about to happen.
“Oh my God!” Mom shrieks, tears filling her eyes. “Was that…did he just kick?”
“He did,” Paige says with a grin.
We started feeling him kick a few days ago, and when Paige is asleep and my mind is running, I can lie there for hours with my hand on her belly, waiting for our little guy to make an appearance.
“Can I feel?” Penny asks.
“Sure.” Paige guides her hand to her belly, and when the baby kicks, her face lights up again.
“I miss being pregnant.” Penny pouts to Carmine.
“Oh no. No way.” My brother laughs. “You can live vicariously through Paige. We agreed two and done.”
“I know, but what’s one more?” She flutters her lashes, and Carmine groans.
“We’ll talk about this later,” he says, making Penny grin.
There’s very little Carmine wouldn’t do for his wife, and I have no doubt that if she genuinely wants another baby, he’ll happily give it to her.
“Come sit,” Mom says, taking Paige’s hand and guiding her into the living room. “Tell me everything. How was your trip? How are you feeling? Have you started to get the baby’s room ready?”
We spend the day at my parents’ place. My dad grills while the kids play in the pool, and everyone eats their weight in delicious food.
I haven’t brought up to Dustin what Paige overheard, but when I find us alone in the kitchen while Paigeis in the pool outside, I decide to mention it. It’s not that I’m mad. I know he wouldn’t say anything to hurt Paige, but he needs to be aware that she overheard so it doesn’t happen again.
“Paige overheard you and Valerie talking when we were here for Dad’s birthday.”
Dustin’s eyes go wide. “Oh shit.”
“Yeah. She thinks you guys don’t like her because you think she’s taking me away from the family business.”
“Fuck.” He shakes his head. “I don’t remember exactly what was said, but we’d never blame her, and we sure as hell didn’t mean to upset her. Valerie and I are worried about what it will mean for the future of Bradford. Dad’s been talking about maybe staying on as CEO a bit longer and training Valerie, but she’s afraid of not being able to fill your shoes. Everyone knows you’re the best at what you do. It’s like you were made to run Bradford, you know?”
Damn it, I know how much my mom has been looking forward to my dad retiring at the end of next year. She’s already started planning their vacations.
“I get it,” I tell him. “But we’ll figure it out. I can work remotely for the time being, and I can help train Valerie as well if she wants to take that leap.”
“It would help, but there are too many meetings you need to be in Dallas for, and when your son is here, you’re not going to want to be traveling back and forth.”
“I know,” I agree. “But we’ll handle it. And justfor the record, both you and Valerie are more than qualified to take my place. You guys don’t give yourselves enough credit.”
I hate that my family is stressing because of me, but I don’t know how to fix it. After spending time with Paige, I know my home is where she is, and since that’s in Rosemary, that means I’m going to have to eventually cut ties with Bradford and find a job locally because Dustin is right. Traveling is already a part of running a hotel chain, but if I try to work remotely after the baby comes, it will only add to the already-necessary travel, and the last thing I want is to leave Paige with the brunt of caring for our baby.
“We’ll see.” Dustin shrugs.
I open my mouth to say something else, but the sound of the French doors opening stops me, and it’s a good thing since Paige walks in, glancing at my brother and me.
“Hey,” she says carefully, her eyes darting between Dustin and me, obviously worried about what she walked in on. “I have to use the bathroom.”
“I was thinking,” Dustin says with a smirk on his face. “If you need help naming the baby, you could name him Dustin, after the smartest Bradford in the family.”