An Heir At Any Price: The Billionaire's Obsession - Contemporary Romance (16 page)

I got up early the next day and took a
cab down to the café so that I could catch Joe before the rush. I
found him peeling potatoes in the kitchen.

“Hi Joe.”

“Holly girl! Look at you! Come here
and give me a hug.” I melded into his meaty hug. When he let me go
he looked at my face and said, “Are you okay? You look peaked.” I
almost laughed. I had never heard anyone actually use that
word.

“I’m fine, just a little tired,” I
told him. He went over to the side of the dishwasher and got a
chair that was sitting there.

“Here, sit,” he said.

I sat and I smiled at him. He had a
worried, mother-hen kind of look on his face and I knew that he
knew…

“Myra told you that I’m pregnant?” I
said.

He sputtered for a minute, trying to
think of a way to deny it, but then he finally gave up.

“She didn’t really come out and tell
me. I heard her and Rose talking about it, and I actually almost
had to throw that Scott boy outta here one day.”

“Oh Joe, I’m sorry. No one mentioned
to Aiden that I’m pregnant, did they?”

“No, we didn’t say anything to him.
That’s your business. And don’t apologize; it’s not your fault. He
was trying to get Rose to tell him where you’re staying. She
wouldn’t and he wouldn’t let it go. At first he was polite, but
then he started to get a little agitated and rude. I had to step
in, but there was no scuffle. He left of his own
accord.”

“Well, I am sorry for being the source
of the trouble,” I told him with true regret. “I just really don’t
want to see him right now. Rose and Myra are awesome for putting up
with that. I’m sorry again. Today, I came to ask your
advice.”

Joe pulled his own chair over next to
mine and sat down, “Sure honey, what’s up?”

“I have a job interview on Friday and
I’m not sure what to say about the pregnancy. Would you hire me if
you knew I was pregnant?”

“Yep, you’re hired. You can start
tomorrow.”

I laughed, “Thanks Joe. I’d love to
come back. But, I need to get out of the city. My mom’s in a place
out in Scarsdale so I thought maybe I’d look out there for a job
and a place…I’m looking for a fresh start, you know?”

Joe was nodding, “It’s a tough one
hon. A lot of employers don’t want to hire pregnant women because
they know in a matter of months she’ll be taking time off and
they’ll have to replace her for that and then let her have her job
back afterwards. And then of course having a newborn doesn’t
usually make for the most stable employee…”

I knew all of that, but I guess I just
needed to hear someone say it out loud.

“
So you think he won’t hire
me if I tell him the truth? You know me, Joe. I’m a terrible liar,
mostly because I hate it so much.”

“It’s hard to say, hon. I wish I had a
better answer, but it’s going to depend on who’s doing the hiring
and what they’re looking for. A woman is more apt to hire you
because she’s probably been there herself and she understands. What
kind of a place is it?”

“It’s a family place, but a nicer one.
Kind of like a higher end Denny’s.”

“What’s it called?”

“Tagus Ranch Restaurant.”

Joe smiled, “I’ll be damned. Is Frank
still the manager?”

“Yeah, that’s who I have the interview
with,” I told him.

Joe laughed, “Then you’re in
luck little lady. Frank’s my buddy from way back. We used to work a
taco stand together over on a 131
^st
street back in the
day.”

I smiled, I could see Joe’s wheels
turning. This wasn’t what I came for, but I wasn’t going to turn
the help down if he offered it, and fortunately he did.

“You got his number on you?” I took
out my cell phone and rattled off the number to Joe who put it in
his. He hit send and a few seconds later I heard him say, “Hey! Is
this Frank Sinatra?” Then he busted up laughing in his raspy voice.
After the catching up was out of the way he said, “I got this
little girl who worked for me for a few years. She was the best
waitress that I ever had. She had to leave for some family issues
and now that she has all of that under control she’s looking for
work. I asked her to come back here, but she’s looking to relocate
to Scarsdale.” Joe listened for a few and then he said, “Yeah, I
knew you were looking because she actually has an interview with
you on Friday. Listen Frank, her only concern is that she’s a
couple months pregnant. You can’t tell by looking at her, but she
didn’t want to start off a new job with a lie. She’s a good
kid.”

He was silent again for a minute or
two and then he said, “I sure do appreciate it, Frank. You know I
wouldn’t steer you wrong. You’re gonna be thanking me. Hey, we need
to get a beer and catch up. Yeah, I got your number now, I’ll call
you.” He hung up and turned to me and said, “He’ll have your hiring
paperwork ready when you get there on Friday.”

I jumped up and threw my arms around
his neck, “Oh thank you, Joe! You’re awesome, I love you! Thank
you!”

He laughed again. I loved the sound of
it. Then he said, “I didn’t tell him nothing that wasn’t true. You
got the job on your own merits, but I wish you’d been around for my
last three marriages, you could a told ‘em how awesome I
am.”

“Well you call me before the next one.
I’ll make sure she knows,” I said with a grin. Joe’s multiple
marriages were a source of amusement for us around the café. He
said he would, “Keep going through ‘em until he found Mrs.
Right.”

I left there feeling blessed
to have such great friends, and for the first time in a while,
looking forward to a new beginning. I’d saved enough money from my
weekly pay that I should be able to get a place and pay for the
first two months. I’d like to find a two bedroom and when Mom
finishes her program maybe she’d like to stay with me and the baby
for a while before going back to her own house.
Me and the baby,
it sounded strange,
but amazing at the same time. I suddenly processed it…I’m going to
be a mother.

***

I took the train out to Scarsdale on
Thursday morning. My mother was finally able to have visitors and I
found myself anxious to see her. I waited nervously in the visiting
room for her to come out. It was like a big, pretty greenhouse,
full of plants and flowers and pretty vases. There were couches and
chairs for visiting and a big pot of coffee and carafe of tea. This
place was really nice.

There were several other visitors
there and I watched as the residents came in one at a time, looking
for my mom. The first lady who came in was about Mom’s age and an
older, tired looking man was waiting for her. They didn’t seem
happy to see each other; they just looked like they were going
through the motions. They had both likely been here before.
Alcoholism was a sad disease and it destroyed many a
family.

Another resident came in, this one a
girl that couldn’t have been much over eighteen. The visitors
looked to be her parents and maybe a younger sister. They looked
ecstatic to see her but the only thing I heard her say to them was,
“Did you bring my phone?” Her sister handed her a mobile that they
weren’t allowed to keep here. She took it and started scrolling
through it. Then, she looked happy. I felt bad for her parents. I
would imagine that being in their shoes with a child with an
addiction would be even worse than having a parent with
one.

The lady who came in next was dressed
in a pink jogging suit and her long brown hair hung down to her
shoulders in shiny ringlets. Her brown eyes shone and her smile was
bright. She was thin, but she looked healthy. She was my mother and
I barely recognized her.

“Mom, oh my goodness, you look
amazing!” She smiled and blushed a little.

“Thanks, my roommate let me use her
curlers last night.”

“Well, your hair looks fabulous, but
it’s not just that. It’s you, all of you. You look so healthy. Your
skin and your hair, you’ve put on weight. You look like your old
self, only prettier.”

“Thanks, it’s amazing what a little
nutrition can do for you. You look pretty amazing yourself, but
then again, you always do. You take after your daddy.”

“Oh hush, I look just like you and you
know it,” I told her. It was true. My dad had been a good-looking
guy, but he’d had red-hair and blue eyes. I got the dark hair and
eyes from my mom.

“I know,” she said with a sly grin. “I
was just fishing for a compliment.” We both laughed. Finding a cozy
little couch in the back, we sat down.

“So, all is still well here? You like
it, they’re good to you?”

“They are such nice people, and yes,
they’re very good to me. All of the counselors are recovering
alcoholics or addicts, so they really understand where we’re coming
from. It’s sad, but it’s easier for me to hear that I’m an
alcoholic from someone who has been there themselves.”

“It’s not sad, Mom. We all need to
hear things from people with experience. Otherwise it’s just an
opinion, or an educated guess.” She smiled at me, and then nearly
knocked my socks off by reaching over and putting her hand on my
belly.

“Speaking of things I’m experienced
in, is there something you want to tell me?”

“My belly is literally a pooch. How
did you know I didn’t just gain a little weight?”

“I can see it on you. Your body looks
suddenly more like a woman and less like a young adult.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing
or not but I said, “You’re right. Are you ready to be a
grandmother?”

Her smile couldn’t have been broader,
“I am so ready,” she said. “Are you ready to be a
mother?”

I smiled nervously and said, “I guess
I have to be, don’t I?”

“I’m guessing you were aware of your
other options. Selfishly, I’m glad you chose this one. Is the daddy
going to be involved?”

I sighed; I suppose it was time I told
her what was going on. She seemed strong enough to handle it at
this point. I had kept it from her before because I didn’t want her
mind muddled up with my problems when she had huge ones she was
trying to deal with of her own. I began with Aiden coming into the
café. I told her how he would just make casual conversation with me
at first and then one day, he started asking more personal
questions. That led up to the proposition and my acceptance and
ended with him being drunk and me packing and leaving while he was
passed out. She listened quietly before speaking.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I wasn’t
around to help you through all of that. I know that I’m probably
the last person you’re hoping for advice from but if you’ll indulge
me, I do think I have one or two wise words left in me.”

I put my arm around her. It was so
nice to feel meat there. “I’d love to hear your advice,” I told
her, honestly. It had been a long time since she had even wanted to
offer it. That told me a lot about her state of mind right
there.

She took my hand and said, “First of
all, I think you are going to be a wonderful mother. I can see a
flicker of a doubt in your eyes when you talk about it. I’m not
just saying that because you’re my daughter. You’ve stuck by me for
ten years, Holly. Ten long, miserable years, and you’ve taken care
of me in every situation. When you have a baby, it will be joyous
and fun and awful and tiring, but you’ve already proven over and
again that you have the stick-to-itness that it takes. You’re a
much better woman than me, Holly Valentine.”

“Thanks Mom, but please don’t put
yourself down like that either. Look at you. I know you didn’t get
back to yourself without working your ass off for it. Besides, I
only did what family does for one another. You don’t walk away from
your family.”

“No, most people would have given up
long ago, family or not. But, you never did and for that baby girl
I am going to be eternally grateful. Without you I’d probably be
one of those homeless women you see panhandling on the streets. I’m
sure there are lots of reasons you’re going to Heaven, but I’m sure
all of this would have earned you a place there on its
own.

Now, about this Aiden. I don’t know
him, so I can’t speak to how he feels. But, I do know you and I can
tell when you talk about him how you feel. You didn’t come right
out and say the “L” word, but I can see it in your eyes, baby, and
on your face. I also see pain and confusion. You’re telling me that
he won’t open up to you. That he’s afraid and he’s built up walls.
Don’t get mad at me for saying this, honey, but you’ve got a few of
those walls up yourself. I know a lot of that is my fault and I’m
so sorry. I know that you probably took one look at him passed out
drunk and had a flashback of all the times you’ve had to deal with
me in that condition…” (The scary part of that was that was exactly
what happened). I didn’t say that though. The last thing I wanted
to do right now was hurt her. She went on to say, “But, you need to
realize that if you want him to be open with you then you have to
be open with him as well.”