Page 17 of Falling for You (Balsam Cliffs #2)

I stare at my phone. The test results are glowing on my screen. I am ninety nine point nine percent Olivia’s father.

I knew it was true, but to have the official confirmation is surreal. The first person I reach out to is Emma.

Me: I’m Olivia’s dad. Officially.

I stare at the three dots popping on the screen, then off, then on again.

Emma: Are you okay?

Am I okay? That I’m suddenly a single dad to a baby I had no idea existed.

I’m angry with Blair. And then angry with myself for being angry with her.

She’s gone. How can I blame her for what she did?

I’m sad for Olivia, who now has no mother.

I’m stressed out trying to figure out how to juggle this all.

And I have Emma living in my house wreaking havoc on my nervous system.

I guess the short answer is no. I’m not okay.

My phone vibrates in my hand and Emma’s beautiful face fills the screen.

“Hello,” I answer.

“I didn’t even see that you were typing. Are you okay? Do you need Hunter?” She is concerned for me.

“No.” I need you. “I’ll be okay. How are things going over there today for the first day?”

“Good. I have a surprise for you when you come home.” I can see her smiling in my mind.

“A surprise for me?”

“Well. Kind of for you. But mostly for Olivia. And she’s followed the schedule from Diane today for naps. It was rough, but we’ve stuck to it.” I shut my bedroom door behind me.

“Yeah? That’s great. What are you guys doing now?” I fall into my chair, the exhaustion taking over my body. There was a time not too long ago that these phone calls were more what are you wearing right now instead of what are you doing with my baby right now.

“Mom is cooking dinner. The boys are here fawning all over Olivia and putting together a crib for her.” She chuckles at something.

“Liam was bested by the store bought crib. I thought he was going to toss it and go to the barn to start from scratch. Then Wyatt waltzes in and takes over, it only took him thirty minutes.”

“I wish I could have been there for that. Sounds like an interesting time. But why did you buy a crib?”

Better yet, why didn’t I?

“She needs a crib, Rome. She can’t sleep in that pack and play for the rest of her baby life.” I close my eyes and let out a breath.

“You’re right.”

“Why don’t you come home early tonight? I think Clark can handle running things now that the dinner rush is almost over.”

I fucking wish. I can’t keep leaving my staff. I need to figure this out.

“Yeah, I’ll talk to him. We’ll see.”

I hear Olivia wail in the background, “Okay I gotta go, text me what you decide okay?”

“Sure thing, Sunshine.”

The wailing is cut off when she hangs up on me.

I want nothing more than to be home with my girls now. In the trenches with Ems.

My girls. Are they though? Not yet. Not Emma. I need to step up first. But she is mine, and I’m going to fix it.

I run my hand through my hair. Am I ready to ruin my friendship with Hunt? Because he’s going to kill me. And the rest of the family, will they all be pissed and cut me off? My only saving grace is that Anna knows and she hasn’t come for me yet.

I need to man up and tell Hunter. I can’t worry about him being pissed anymore. I can only hope he’ll come around. I pull up my messages and find his name.

Me: Hey man, you free tonight?

Hunter: I’m actually at your house helping Ems. Something is going on with her. Mom keeps looking at her like she might break. I need to figure out whose ass I’m kicking.

I gulp deep. I’m the guy he wants.

Me: Cool. Let me know if you need a beer later and want to swing by.

Hunter: Will do man. If I don’t, we’ll grab some this week. I promise. This customer is just kicking my ass with the little details and nitpicking so I need to design yet another kitchen model.

How the fuck am I supposed to tell him that I had his sister, kept her a secret, then ended things, and now I want to win her back and take us public because she didn’t deserve what I did before?

A knock sounds on my office door. “Come in.”

“You didn’t even know who it was and you already sound like you want to beat my ass.” Clark laughs coming in.

“Sorry. Just a rough couple days. I just got the paternity results.” Clark takes the seat across from me.

“Shit man. Good or bad?” he asks hesitantly.

“It’s good, I mean it’s what I thought. I’m definitely her father.

But I’m already wrapped around her finger so if it came back the other way I’d be devastated.

I need to figure out how to run things here and at home.

Having a kid changes things.” I sigh, leaning forward on my elbows.

“Especially when I couldn’t prepare for it beforehand. ”

“You know that you have a good staff right? The best one obviously is here in the room, but the rest of them… I like to give ‘em shit but they’re a good crew. Especially Jasmine, you could make her a manager. She’s young and ready for more.” He purses his lips and raises his brows.

“I know, I know. The brewery is my baby and has been for years. It’s hard to just give up control.”

“It’s not giving up control, Roman. It’s still being the best boss we’ve ever had and making it home for dinner and bedtime some nights.

Trust me. Sometimes the money and what you think you need, are the things that won’t keep you company when you’re older.

” A sadness passes over his face. He knows the feeling he’s speaking of.

“So, let’s get through the end of this rush. You can go home to do bedtime, and tomorrow we’ll talk about hiring a new waitress and promoting Jasmine.” Clark stands as if this was a final decision.

Instead of arguing, I just get up and follow him out. I’m too tired to think of reasons why we shouldn’t.

The rush only lasts another hour and Jasmine is more than happy to take over closing duties. So I can go home to Emma and Olivia.

I almost run out of the brewery, the pull to get home to them is strong.

Luckily I live on the outskirts of town so I didn’t get pulled over out here on the dirt roads for speeding home. I park the truck in the driveway and hop out, running to the door.

I listen for the girls as Fiona comes running down the stairs to greet me, and I hear Emma talking to Olivia from the bathroom upstairs.

“Hey girl, are you doing bath time?” I scratch Fi’s ears and follow her upstairs. “Come on, let’s go get them.” Fi prances toward the bathroom in excitement. I see her nudge Emma and look out the door to me, alerting Emma that I’m home.

“Hey! You made it home!” she exclaims. “Look Livvy girl, Daddy's home!”

I step into the bathroom and see Olivia smiling up at us, kicking her feet to splash in the tub.

“You girls look like you’re having fun.” I lean against the vanity, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Sure are. She’s loving her new tub from Mimi K.” She picks up a rubber ducky and squirts the water on Olivia’s belly.

“Looks like she is. What is this surprise you have?”

“Oh is that why you came home?” She looks down to Olivia. “Should we get out of the tubby and go show Daddy your surprise?”

Olivia responds with more kicking and raspberries which seems to be her response when she’s excited.

I twist around and grab the towel off the counter, handing it to Emma. It’s an adorable pink towel with a pig face on the hood. It seems like Emma and Anna had a little shopping spree today for my baby girl.

She pauses outside Olivia’s bedroom door, and turns to face me, “Close your eyes.”

“Seriously?” I ask.

“Yes! Livvy girl and I want to surprise you!” She swats at my arm.

“Fine, fine.” I close my eyes, waiting for her to tell me what to do.

I feel her hand laced in mine, pulling me into the room. I take tentative steps as she tugs me along.

I hear a lamp click on. “Ok you can open your eyes, but make sure you spin in a circle to really take it all in.”

I crack my eyes open, and do as I’m told, spinning in a circle. Taking in the decorated nursery, an actual full nursery complete with a crib, changing table, and Olivia’s name on the wall.

“How did you do all this today?” I pull them into me, wrapping my arms around them.

“I had Mom and she made the boys help.”

I graze her cheek with my thumb and grasp her by the nape of her neck, pulling her to me and crashing my lips to hers. “Thank you so much, Sunshine.”

“She deserves it,” she whispers breathlessly on my lips.

“I tried to tell Hunter tonight, but he was here.” She pulls back from me.

“You did?”

“Yeah. But apparently someone hurt you so he’s on the hunt for who’s ass to kick.” I cringe.

“Rome…” I place my finger on her lips.

“Don’t worry about it, Sunshine. It’ll work out.” I place a kiss on her forehead and pull Olivia into my arms, walking over to her new changing table to put her in her jammies.

I don’t want to make her day harder with my worries about her brother. Telling Hunter is going to be hard and so is building up the courage to do it.

“Mom said keep the lights low for her so she’ll go to sleep,” she whispers over my shoulder.

“I’ll do whatever Mimi K says.” I smile at her, and zip Olivia up before taking her over to the rocking chair in the corner.

Tonight I’m surprising Ems at home with one of her favorites from Clark and I have her favorite show cued up on the app ready to watch.

“See ya tomorrow, Clark. Thanks for making these for me and for keeping an eye on Jasmine. Call me if something goes wrong. Please?” I plead, already knowing his answers.

“I’ll call if there’s an emergency. And an emergency means I’m calling 911 too. Not just you.”

I chuckle at him and toss a wave in his direction on my way out the back door.

Emma thinks I can’t get away tonight. I told her that we have a big party coming in and I can’t leave Jasmine alone with it. But tomorrow we’re closed and I don’t have to get up early. I’m excited to have some time with my girls and might even ask them to come to the brewhouse with me.

I walk in just as Emma is coming down the stairs with Olivia.