Read Online That New York Minute by Abby Gaines - Free Book Online Page A

amount of coffee he was scooping into the press with misgiving.
    “Is he upset about the baby? I would have thought he’d be delighted to have another chance at a son he could mold in his own image.”
    “Dwight would never expect this baby to replace you,” she said. “Or Lucas.”
    Mention of his brother was an obvious afterthought, presumably to make Garrett feel less left out of his father’s affections.
    “I don’t care if it does, if it takes the pressure off me.”
    The kettle began to whistle. Garrett poured water into the press.
    “I asked Dwight to come see you because I don’t want him making the same mistakes with this baby that he made with you,” Stephanie said.
    Garrett’s head jerked up; boiling water sloshed over the side of the press and onto his thumb.
    He cursed and turned on the faucet. He stuck his thumb beneath the running water. Stephanie moved into the kitchen and took over the job of putting the lid on the press. She was so big with that—that thing in her stomach, Garrett felt as if he couldn’t get away from her.
    “So now you’re concerned about me and Dad?” he asked. “Shouldn’t you have thought of that, say, fifteen years ago, and not married him two minutes after my mom died?”
    She ignored his dig. “Dwight’s been supportive of this baby in the obvious ways… .”
    “But not emotionally,” Garrett said.
    She nodded. “I told him if he can’t prove to me he can be a loving father, I don’t want him in our child’s life.”
    “He’s a loving father to Lucas.” Garrett still couldn’t figure out what the heck was going on, why Stephanie was really here.
    “We both know that’s because Lucas is in the navy and hasn’t yet needed to butt heads with your dad. Dwight needs to open his heart to this baby no matter what choices it makes.” She pushed the plunger down on the press. “Cups?”
    With his unscalded hand, Garrett indicated a cupboard to her left.
    Stephanie poured coffee into one mug. She glanced from the press to the other mug, bemused.
    “Fill yours halfway, then top it up with water,” Garrett instructed.
    She shook her head, as if to clear it, and laughed. “Sorry, I struggle with the most basic decisions these days. Blame the hormones.”
    “Yet you decided to leave Dad.” Garrett couldn’t keep satisfaction out of his voice. It seemed like poetic justice. Dwight had abandoned the memory of Garrett’s mom for Stephanie, and now Stephanie had abandoned him. He shut off the faucet. “Was he furious?”
    She handed him his coffee. “I don’t know. I left him a note this morning, and I haven’t turned on my cell phone.”
    Garrett couldn’t imagine how mad his dad must be. Served the old goat right to have someone else rebel against his coldhearted rigidity. He found himself grinning. “Well, I appreciate you coming to tell me what’s going on. Where are you staying?”
    She blew on her coffee, then took a slow sip, closing her eyes as if even a watered-down jolt of caffeine was heaven.
    “I thought,” she said, “I might stay with you.”
    Garrett slopped coffee over the side of his mug, burning himself again. “Dammit, Stephanie!” He stuck his thumb back under the faucet. “Why the hell would you think that? Not even the kookiest hormones could make you believe I’d want you here.”
    Her mouth slipped slightly. “I didn’t say you’d want me. I said I’d like to stay.”
    “You can’t.” When she eyed him steadily, he said, “I’m not set up for guests.”
    “And you don’t want me.”
    “That’s right.”
    “I don’t have anywhere else to go, Garrett. You may remember my parents died some time ago.”
    “There are hotels around here. Cozy bed-and-breakfasts. I’ll phone one for you.”
    “I want to be with family.”
    The fact that his father had chosen her didn’t give her the right to put that label on him. “You must have other family.”
    “There’s no one,” she said flatly. “You’re it,