Page 25 of Better Than Baby
Murphy led the way, enthusiastically galloping toward someone he’d never met and greeting her like a long lost friend.
Cassie smiled tentatively as she bent to pet Murphy. “Hi, there. Aren’t you a handsome boy?”
Murphy immediately rolled onto his belly, paws up, tongue out, ready to accept more praise and affection. Cassie gavein, her dress puffing like a dark parachute around her as she kneeled on the grass.
I watched their interaction for a moment, aggressively pushing aside my own angst at this unexpected encounter to study Aaron. Objectively, I understood that Cassie wasn’t solely responsible for withdrawing the adoption last December, but I doubted that she realized those wounds hadn’t healed for us yet…or that there was a chance they never would.
I didn’t want Aaron to get hurt again.
But he seemed utterly serene and composed, more concerned for Cassie’s welfare than he was for his own peace of mind.
He kneeled beside her and rubbed our dog’s tummy. “This is Murphy. He’s a love sponge.”
“He’s gorgeous. What kind of dog is he?”
“A fox red Lab,” he replied, slowly straightening. Cassie stood too, eyes still fixed on the goofy pup wiggling from side to side on the grass. He waited for her gaze to shift to us to continue. “How are you, Cassie?”
Not what are you doing here, forty-five minutes away from the city? Or did you follow us? Or what the fuck are you up to? Or what possessed you to show up out of the blue? Or even a simple…why now?
No, Aaron was innately kind and from Cassie’s ghostly pallor and alarmingly thin frame, it was obvious that she was in worse shape than either of us.
She sighed softly, curling her lips in an imitation of nonchalance that came across as unbearably weary. “I’ve been better. Okay…not great.”
I moved into Aaron’s space and placed my hand on his shoulder in a show of solidarity. “I’m sorry to hear that. You’re far from home. Is this a coincidence, or were you looking for us?”
“I looked you up and followed you here,” she admitted.
Aaron’s expression easily translated to,Ew, creepy alert.
However, he schooled his features and gently prodded, “Why?”
Cassie squeezed her eyes shut and lowered her chin, her chest heaving with the effort to draw a jagged breath.
“I-I think about you all the t-time, and I’m so so sorry,” she sobbed.
“Hey,shh.” Aaron hugged her, casting a wide-eyed look my way. Unfortunately, I was as confused as he was.
She composed herself with a sniff and reached into her purse for a tissue. “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but this is hard. You’re good people, and you got screwed because of me, and I just…I’m sorry.”
“Thank you for saying that.” I wrapped Murphy’s leash around my hand absently, wishing we were anywhere but here.
The ensuing silence was awkward, but I just hoped like hell she didn’t talk about the baby and that Aaron didn’t ask.
“Is he…” Aaron hedged.
“Don’t.” I shook my head. “Leave it, Aar.”
“You’re right. I…never mind.” He bit his bottom lip, slipping his arm through mine. “How’s school going?”
She blew her nose. “I had to take time off. I hope I can go back in January. I don’t know how, though. I have grant money that needs to be used, so I guess I’m ready, but also…not. None of that is your problem. I’m not here to dump anything on you. I just wanted to apologize in person. I know that everything went wrong, and it was my fault. I’m paying the consequences, and that’s how it’s supposed to be.”
I should have let it go, but someone who sounded a lot like me spoke up. “What consequences?”
“A baby.” Her eyes welled again. “Cole left for California last week. He got into a PhD program at UCLA and…he wasn’taround much, anyway. His parents aren’t either. We see them every other week, tops. So it’s just me and?—”
“Don’t. Please,” I intercepted.
Cassie sniffled but nodded. “Okay. I understand.”