Page 26 of Tied up in Knots (Gummy Bear Orgy #4)

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.

“Here I am.”

I hold out my arms and she steps forward to embrace me, squeezing tight. I hug her back and enjoy the smell and feel of her. Her and Bambi are home to me. I don’t know why it took me so long to figure that out.

“I’m glad you’re back, honey. I always knew you would be.” She pats my chest and steps back to give me a once over head to toe. “I wasn’t sure how long it would take, but I’m glad it didn’t take long. Let’s go inside and I’ll make you something to eat. You look hungry.”

She always says that, but this time I actually am pretty hungry. I haven’t eaten much today. I was so distracted with getting back and finding Bambi, food wasn’t important.

As if in agreement my stomach growls and we both look at it and laugh.

Inside the house nothing has changed, I supposed not much would in six months.

Other than one of my best friends carrying my baby.

That’s a pretty big change. But the dining table is where it always has been, the handmade seat cushions still tied to the wooden bars with bows.

Knitted Afghans drape over the back of the couch, and a small fire is crackling in the wood burning stove in the corner, some home and garden show playing quietly on the TV.

It's weird the things you miss when you leave the place you consider home. I didn’t realize how at peace I felt right here in this house. I always thought my peace was out on the water away from this town.

Gigi gestures for me to sit at the table and begins meddling around in the kitchen, pulling a covered casserole dish from the fridge and scooping some of its contents onto a plate. It looks like her famous lasagna and my mouth waters just thinking about eating it.

I’ve had my fair share of amazing foods while traveling the seas, but nothing compares to a home cooked meal. Whoever said love wasn’t a real ingredient was lying. Everything tastes better when it’s made with love.

Love. Fuck I’m so stupid. It was right here in front of me the whole fucking time and I just left it.

Ran away and made up some sorry ass excuse about finding happiness or some bullshit.

I guess that saying ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ is a saying for a reason.

Things always look better to us when we don’t have them, it’s only in receiving them do we see the truth of it.

Gigi hums a tune so familiar it feels as if I’m a kid again, while she reheats the plate of food and pours me a tall glass of milk to go with it. I think to Gigi, I am still a kid, even though I’ve towered over her for years. She sets down the plate and glass in front of me and hands me a fork.

“There you are sweetheart. Nice home cooked meal to fill you up. Bet you missed my cooking when you left, didn’t you?

” She sits in the seat next to me at her wooden round dining table.

She always said she liked round tables over square ones because they equally included everyone into the meal and conversation.

“You know I did Gigi. No one cooks like you do.”

I cut off a hefty bite and shovel the blend of pasta, meat and cheese into my mouth and moan in appreciation when the warm deliciousness hits my taste buds.

“Now that you’re here, perhaps you can tell me why it took you so long to come home? Raelyn’s nearly into her third trimester by now and you just figured it out?”

Well shit. That answers that question. I finish chewing and swallow, clearing my throat with a swig of ice-cold milk.

“I would have been back sooner, but I had no idea about her pregnancy. Not until Owen told me, and as soon as he did, I headed home.”

The corner of her lips pulls upward at my answer, approving of my actions. At least I’ll have Gigi on my side to back me up with Bambi. I take another bite of food before she can distract me with another question. I am freaking hungry, and I will not miss out on Gigi’s lasagna.

“I knew she was wrong about you.”

“What?” I look up at Gigi and speak around the food in my mouth.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” she scolds, and I instantly snap my mouth shut and finish chewing.

“What do you mean she was wrong about me?” I ask once I’m no longer chewing.

“Raelyn always thought you would never change your mind about leaving. She always believed that being out on the ocean and outside of Alaska was what would make you happy. She just couldn’t see you like I do.”

She smiles at me and pats my hand on the table, holding it in her wrinkled but warm and strong one. You can’t be weak and live in Alaska, everyone here has to be strong of body and mind.

She continues before I can ask something stupid. “I knew once you realized what you had left behind, realized what truly made you happy, you would be back. Because what makes you happy is Raelyn.”

Is this woman some sort of psychic and I didn’t know about it? Because I didn’t even know Bambi is what made me happy until now. How could she have known all along?

I must make a face again, because she chuckles. “It was easy to see when watching you two. You both thought you were so sly, sneaking glances at one another when no one else was looking. Having a pet name for her you wouldn’t allow anyone else to use. It was so obvious to me.”

Okay now I know she’s psychic because I didn’t even ask the question, and she answered it. I raise an eyebrow at her suspiciously and she just laughs.

“Children are so oblivious. I’m just glad you finally saw what I see. That you finally found each other.”

“I’m still figuring it out, but I’m realizing a few things, being back home. Bambi’s not going to make it easy for me.” I let out a breathy chuckle.

“No, I wouldn’t expect she would,” Gigi agrees, chuckling right along with me. “But that doesn’t mean you should give up.”

“Oh, I don’t plan on it,” I state firmly. If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I’m not letting her slip through my fingers a second time.

“Good!” she exclaims and stands, retreating from the room without a word.

I have no idea where she went or why, but I finish eating the lasagna in a few large bites before she returns holding a small black leather box. The kind expensive jewelry comes in.

“When you’ve figured it all out, you can give her this.”

Gigi places the small box in front of me and I stare at it, as wide eyed as the fish I scoop out of the sea. It’s obvious what’s inside, what she’s telling me I should do. Something I hadn’t even considered yet but seems so obvious now. Still, I ask a stupid question.

“What is it?”

“Open it and find out.”

With a shaky hand I lift the tiny lid of the box and see what I expected to see. A ring, and engagement ring. It’s old and nothing like those gaudy rocks you see women wearing nowadays. No, this ring has class and style, obviously a custom piece.

“It’s a family heirloom. Passed down from father, or mother, to son for them to propose with. Since I have no son, I had intended to just give it to Rae someday but hoped I’d be able to give it to you first.”

Sitting in a bed of intricately entwined white gold, sits a smooth large pearl glimmering with a hint of cerulean.

The color shifts in the light like the surface of the ocean from white to blue.

The band is thick and sturdy and amidst the elegant design holding the pearl, tiny diamonds are snugly placed. It’s perfect for my Bambi.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, reverently plucking the ring from the black suede cushion.

“Rae’s father proposed to her mother with it. My husband and I were happy to give it to him then, and I’m happy to give it to you now. I know her parents would approve, even with all your childhood shenanigans.”

I smile, a tad embarrassed for my past behavior. Not all of it though, just the things I know Gigi wouldn’t approve of.

“Thank you, Gigi.” I hold the ring up to the light and take in its unique beauty, imagining it snugly resting on Bambi’s left hand. “I’ll try not to let you down.”

“I know you won’t,” she says as if it’s already decided.

I’m not as confident as she is, but with the ring situated safely back inside its little black box, I make sure it snaps shut tightly before slipping it into my front pocket.

“Now how about you tell me about your trip?”

For the next hour I recall some of the most interesting experiences from my six-month trip. None of it compares to being back home.

Now I just have to go repeat this whole conversation with Owen.

~

“You’re not surprised?” I ask my best friend who seems far too calm for this situation.

“I was surprised Raelyn was pregnant. Not surprised it’s yours.”

“How is that not surprising to you? It was a surprise to me.”

Owen shrugs and drinks from his pint glass, licking the foam from his lips.

We’re sitting in a back corner of Anchor’s Bottom where no one can overhear our conversation.

I met him here after leaving Gigi’s and am more shocked at his calm acceptance of my revelation than he was at hearing I was back in town.

“It was a surprise to you because you weren’t expecting it. I was always expecting you and Rae to eventually hook up.”

“What the hell is going on here? Did everyone but me know this was going to happen?”

I fall back in my booth and flop my hands on the table making the beer in our glasses sway slightly, letting out an audible exhale.

“Look man, I knew you were interested. The way you watched her and beat up any guy who got near her with ill intentions, it was kind of obvious. I figured you would either get over having casual flings and get together or you wouldn’t.”

His casual explanation of my world-shattering revelation is a bit disarming. Here I am going through a massive mental reorganization, and everyone around me is just shrugging their shoulders like it’s no big deal.

It’s all feeling anticlimactic. I was expecting disbelief, wide eyes, possible exclamation, outbursts and, I don’t know something more dramatic. This quiet passive acknowledgement is weird.

“Can we just keep this between us for now? Bambi didn’t tell people for a reason, and I don’t want it spreading around town just yet.”

“Sure thing. Whenever you two are ready to tell everyone, you just let me know. I may be a blabber mouth, but you can trust me, Warren. You’re my best friend and I’ll do whatever you need.”

I breathe a sigh of relief and shoot Owen a grateful smile.

“Okay, well…what now?” I ask. I was expecting a lot longer conversation than this and am stumped as how to proceed.

“Now we drink to your return, and I’ll help you come up with ideas on how to woo Raelyn,” he says with a shit eating grin.

“Yes, because we all know how good you are at wooing,” I deadpan.

“I am an excellent wooer.” He sits up straight and places a hand to his chest like a Victorian dandy.

“Bullshit.” I toss a handful of pretzels at his face, and he opens his mouth to catch them like a child. Excellent wooer my ass.

“Well then, what are you going to do if you’re so much better?”

What am I going to do? I suppose fulfilling the promises I’ve already mentioned would be a good start.

Bring her whatever foods she’s craving, drive her to her doctor’s appointments, rub her feet.

But to do all those things I have to be near her, with her.

I can’t very well do them sitting here in the bar drinking beer.

I make a plan to go to her first thing tomorrow and start my wooing.

I’ll bring her breakfast, run her errands, clean her apartment.

I wonder if she’s already gotten a crib for the baby.

I could assemble one if we need it. What else do babies need?

Diapers. Clothes. I’m sure there’s more than that.

Perhaps I should pick up a What to Expect When You’re Expecting book.

Is that something Bambi would have at her store? I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.