AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Megan, stop it. He isn’t worth it.”
I never told anyone but Hunter the truth about my relationship with Chase. They think I told Chase about the baby, and that’s why he left. Everything became a tangled web of hate after that because leaving me was one thing, but leaving his child is another. If he ever came back, I would have a lot of explaining to do.
I wipe my tears as another contraction comes on. I keep hoping it’ll be over soon, and it is. I finish the last of dilation within the hour, and my son is crowning even before I can start pushing. Chase James Stanford comes into the world, screaming his head off. I’m relieved it’s over because the several hours of pain have exhausted me—my choice to name my son after his father was purely emotional. Though I want nothing to do with Chase, his child might one day.
My mother arrives from New Jersey minutes after I give birth. Once they clean him up, they place him on my chest. He’s perfect with a head of thick black hair, cleft chin, and Mediterranean blue eyes just like his father. If Chase ever saw him, he would know that he was his son. But I have no plans to introduce them. He made his choice.
Later in my room, after everyone has visited, Lexi asks, “Are you going to call him Chase?”
“No, I’m calling him CJ for Chase James.”
“Oh great, so we have a JC and a CJ.”
I chuckle and peer over at my son sleeping in his bassinet. After Lexi leaves and with painful effort, I remove my son from his bassinet and bring my him into bed for examination.—his miniature toes, fingers, and adorable button nose. As I run my fingers over his soft skin, an overwhelming sense of love surges through me, and I know it’s going to be alright.
The next day, Steven comes to visit me first thing. He brings me a huge bouquet of white roses and something else, an engagement ring. Since Chase left, he has asked me several times before to marry him, and each time I’ve declined. I didn’t want to marry him out of need. I love Steven, but not with a passionate love that could cripple you when you’re not around that person. We’ve always had a good relationship
My emotions are high when he asks again, and I finally accept it. I want to be a family, a whole family, not a single mother. The ring is huge, but when he slips it on my finger, it doesn’t fit. They’re still swollen. I tell him that I’ll be able to wear it in a few days or so. He smiles, but his disappointment shows through. I can sense that he’s unhappy about his new fiancé being unable to wear the ring he got.
During the day, my family starts to filter in to visit with CJ and me. I tell Lexi that Steven asked me to marry him again, but I finally accepted.
“Is this what you want, or is it because you think you it is?”
“Steven loves me, and I love him.”
“But not like you loved Chase,” she reminds.
I still love Chase and might never get over him, Lexi.
“Chase had his chance.”
“That’s not what I asked you. I asked you if you loved Steven the way you loved Chase.”
“No, but did you love Noah the way you love JC?”
“I loved JC more, and I ended up marrying him.”
“And you were lucky that it ended up that way, but it’s not happening for me. Steven is wonderful, and I know he’ll love and care for us.”
“You should think about what you want. You don’t want to hurt Steven.”
“I know, and I have. He’s the one I want,” I insist. I wasn’t sure if I believed my own words, however. Did I want Steven, or was I settling for him because I couldn’t have Chase?
“Then congratulations. I’m sure that he will make a great father.”
As if on cue, Steven walks into the room with a big smile on his face. He goes straight to CJ’s crib and plants a kiss on the sleeping baby’s head. I look up at Lexi, who had a worried expression.
“How’s my boy today?” Steven asked.
“He’s good,” I answer. “I just fed him.”
“For your sake, I hope he sleeps,” Steven jokes.
“Even if he doesn’t, Emma and my mom are going to help me out for the first few weeks. Plus, I don’t mind getting up in the middle of the night.”
“I can take some time off from the restaurant if you need help. You know I would do anything for you two.”
“Thank you, Steven, but we’ll be fine.”
