Page 143 of Stay With Me

Noah chuckles at us getting scolded, and Waylon kicks her underneath the table before we get yelled at again.

If this is how they act with Noah’s pregnancy announcement, they’re going to lose it when they find out about Magnolia. But I don’t give a shit what they think or say. I’ll shut down each and every one of their inappropriate comments if I have to.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Magnolia

After forcing turkey and pie down my throat, I slept for twelve hours straight. The emotional toll from telling Tripp I’m pregnant and then finding my apartment got broken into quickly caught up to me. I missed going to the Hollises for Thanksgiving, but I didn’t have it in me to socialize even if for a few hours.

Additionally, I told my dad about the baby after he found me bent over the toilet.

His eyes lit up until I told him who the father is. Disappointment flashed across his face, and even though he doesn’t like Travis, he said he was thrilled for me.

Then he asked how Tripp took the news, and I had to explain that I ended things and why. Though he didn’t say it with his words, I could tell he disagreed with my decision.

When I told my mom, she hugged me for the first time in a year, and I cried for a solid thirty minutes.

Now it’s Friday, and I need to get my shit together so I can mentally prepare to clean out my apartment. There’s no way I can live there in its current condition, but at least Noah will be there to help me. Sheriff Wagner told me to document everything and figure out what was taken. At first glance when I flicked on thelights, it didn’t look like any of my big stuff was gone, just thrown around. The TV, my laptop, iPad, and even my espresso machine were still there.

Since my dad’s off for the holiday weekend, he offers to come and help with the clean-up. When we get there, the crime scene tape is gone, but it still feels weird to go inside. The sheriff’s deputies dusted for prints, but from what they said of the previous break-ins, they weren’t finding any that didn’t belong to the residents. They most likely wore gloves.

The next step is getting security footage from the apartment buildings and other residents who have doorbell cams. But again, if it’s the same person from the previous break-ins, they wear all black and keep their heads down.

“Hey!” Noah runs up to me before we walk in.

I pull her in for a hug. “Thank you so much for comin’. You don’t know how much I appreciate this.”

“Of course, Mags. I’m here for whatever you need. Always.” She smiles, and I’m tempted to cry again. God, these hormones should be criminal.

“It seems weird they’d pick your apartment with it being so close to the parking lot,” Dad says as we approach my door. “You’d think the ones in the back would be more private and less risky to get caught in the act.”

Noah glances around and nods. “Yeah, unless they just hit the first one that looked vacated, but then again, if it’s the same person doing the robberies, they’re not very smart.”

“Smart enough not to get busted,” I retort, inserting my key and twisting the doorknob.

“They will,” Dad says reassuringly. “Or someone’s loaded Glock will.”

Turning to face him, he opens his coat and reveals his gun holster. “Geez, Dad.”

His only response is a wink.

“See, we’re safe here with Mr. Sutherland packin’.” Noah giggles when we enter.

Dad confirms with a firm nod. “Gotta protect my baby and grandbaby.”

I can’t help the emotions flooding through me at how excited he is to be a grandfather. Even if I’m a single mom, knowing my dad will support me gives me the courage to do this alone.

“You told him?” Noah asks, smiling wide.

“Kinda had to when I threw up, and he was worried the turkey was bad.”

Noah snorts. “I told the whole family at Thanksgiving lunch, too.”

“Oh my God, you did? I bet they freaked out!”

“Yep, ugly cryin’ and all.”

I flick on the lights and am brought back to the other night when I walked in here for the first time.