“Hopefully, we’ll get her on a schedule by then.” Mom paused, looking at her. “Peyton, have you thought about what you’re going to do? Even if you keep working from home, you can’t do your job with a fussy baby demanding your attention. And if you’re not going to stay in the house…”
“I can’t afford to stay in the house, Mom,” she said. “The mortgage is too much and the house is too big. I wouldn’t be able to keep up with it.”
“Have you started looking at apartments?”
“I don’t know if I’m staying here or going back to Chicago,” Peyton admitted. “Until I know that, what’s the point?”
“Maybe you need to call your boss and ask,” she suggested. “Time is going to go by faster than you think. And your dad and I want to help any way we can before we leave.”
“I probably should.”
“Well, don’t worry about falling asleep. I’ll take care of Stella.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Peyton watched her walk away sadly. Her parents’ plan to move couldn’t have come at a worse time, but it had been in the works for a lot longer than this unexpected pregnancy.
Her parents had offered to help, but Peyton was an adult. She’d gotten herself into this mess and Stella was her responsibility. She had a job, even though it was in Chicago, and it was time to figure out what to do next. She’d been able to work remotely since she’d moved home to Ann Arbor after she and Troy had broken up, but her boss had been hinting he wanted her back in the office. He’d said they would talk about it after her maternity leave was over, but she needed time to make plans.
She made herself something to eat and finally called her boss, Les.
“Hey, Les, it’s Peyton.”
“Hey! How’s motherhood?” She liked the middle-aged man who’d been her boss and mentor since she’d graduated from college.
“Exhausting. I’ll trade you—you come here and take care of her and I’ll come back to work.”
He laughed. “I’ve paid my dues in the baby department. Now I’m waiting for grandchildren, where I can play with them during the day and give them back at night.”
“Fine.” Peyton chuckled.
“So what’s on your mind?”
“I was wondering what the plan is going to be once my maternity leave is over. If I’m going to have to move back to Chicago, it’s going to take me a bit to find an apartment, daycare, and all that.”
“I was going to call you in a week or two to talk about that,” he said. “But yes, I think you’re needed back in the office. Even though you’ve kept up with the workload, it’s easier when you’re on site. And you’re good with the clients when they come in. Ashlyn is young and she doesn’t have your finesse.”
She mentally grimaced but kept her voice light when she answered. “I can do that, but we’re going to have to adjust my hours a little because I don’t have any backup for the baby in Chicago. All my closest friends and family are here in Michigan.”
“We’ll work it out,” he said. “Do you have a place to stay?”
“No. I have to start apartment-hunting.”
“I’ll ask around. I might know someone with a basement apartment for rent.”
“That would be great. Let me know.”
“All right. So I’ll see you in about four weeks.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Take care and kiss that baby for us!”
He disconnected and Peyton put the phone down with a sigh. She didn’t want to move back to Chicago but that’s where her job was so she didn’t have much choice.
As a graphic artist with advertising agency experience, she could get another job, but the money wouldn’t necessarily be better and she might not have a boss as great and understanding as Les.
She was so mad at herself because she had no one else to blame for this mess. Well, Troy had a part in it too, but she wanted nothing to do with him ever again. She didn’t want him to be her daughter’s father and she definitely didn’t want him in her life. As long as Troy wasn’t part of the equation, she’d find a way to manage, but until she knew who Stella’s father was, she had to have a backup plan. Maybe more than one.
5
The drive from Columbus to Ann Arbor was only about three hours but Ryder hadn’t gotten out of the arena until after eleven so it was just after two in the morning when he pulled up to the Legori house. He and Peyton had talked on the phone for most of the drive so he knew she was still awake and Stella wasn’t asleep yet either. He was nervous, which was new for him, but he’d never been in a position like this before.
While he understood Stella might not be his, he wanted her to be. After nearly two weeks of videos and chats with Peyton and the baby, seeing a million pictures, and hearing about every tiny milestone, he felt as much a part of her life as if he’d been there in person. Being a father hadn’t been anywhere on his radar, but now that it was happening, he couldn’t have been happier.
Having a crush on Peyton for two years probably had something to do with it, but he wasn’t a kid anymore. A crush was one thing; a baby was something else entirely. He hadn’t told anyone beyond a handful of trusted teammates, not even his family, because he needed to know for sure he was the father. It was hard not to be excited, though, and he felt a little foolish as he lugged in a stuffed polar bear the size of a toddler, two big boxes of diapers, and three bags of gifts for both Peyton and the baby.
“Ryder!” Peyton looked as gorgeous as ever, standing on the front porch in nothing but yoga pants and a sweatshirt, her hair in a messy ponytail and no makeup on. “What is all that stuff?”
“Presents?” he asked, grinning as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Thank you.” She took the bear and one of the bags as he went back to get more things he’d brought, along with his suitcase.
“Is everyone asleep?” he asked as they walked inside.
“Yeah, my parents said they’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay.” He followed her into a large living room with a fire going in the fireplace. It had gotten cold this week but the house was warm and comfortable.
He immediately spotted Stella in a swing by the couch and he dropped to his knees to get a closer look at her. She was so tiny and precious, he almost couldn’t believe she might be his.
“She’ll probably be awake in a few minutes,” Peyton whispered, kneeling beside him as they both stared at Stella.
“She’s fucking perfect,” he said, a touch of awe in his voice.
“I know, right?” Peyton leaned against him, one hand on his arm. “I still don’t believe she’s mine. This tiny little person who’s counting on me for everything. Probably for the rest of my life.”
Ryder smiled. “Hopefully counting on us for the rest of our lives.”
“Come on, let’s sit.”
“All right.” They moved to the couch and she picked up the polar bear.
“This is huge. She’ll probably be terrified of it.”