Page 51 of Love is Grand

“Cal—”

“No. No Cal. I told you that once already today. Now, moving on. I want to see these houses tomorrow, and then I want to hear the baby again and take you to dinner. Weezie too, but if you can break free, I’d like a date.”

“I’m not your employee,” I said with a touch of snark. “I get that this is all new to you, but I’m my own person. I appreciate the offer of the money, and we can sit down with Adam and discuss it because he wants to fund it too.”

“Adam isn’t funding it,” I said, but left it there, deciding to leave that one alone.

Shell’s expression softened. “I’m going to work tomorrow, and then we can have dinner the next day. The two of us. So, I’m compromising. As for the doctor, you’ll have to wait. I have my big ultrasound in a month.”

I watched him swallow, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. Cal wasn’t used to being bossed around, but this wasn’t his show to direct.

“When is that?”

“My appointment is May twentieth, and the ultrasound is set for June third.”

He couldn’t answer right away because Weezie made her way back to us. I glanced over to see Teddi watching her walk all the way. I waved and Teddi blew a kiss my way—surely some secret signal I didn’t get.

“Mom! I had s’mores ice cream with chocolate sauce.”

“Mmm, sounds delish. Now you have to wait to swim again.”

Weezie’s face fell. “I know. Can I watch a show?”

I wanted to tell her we would go play on the beach in the sand, but Cal was already wielding the remote, and I tossed out any ideas that he wasn’t directing this show. He was.

He confirmed this as soon as Weezie was situated. “We’ll eat at the Ritz this time, and I’ll make sure to be here for those appointments. I’ll be in my house, and you’ll be able to go over all the bottling information with me.”

Rather than respond, I went back to my romance novel and sparkling water.

What was the use in resisting?

Cal

Yesterday, after another long run, I’d spent the morning in my room working. A number of clients were ready to sign, and I needed to tidy up some details. Then I called Adam and let him know I’d be funding the syrups. He argued with me, and I kept insisting it was my responsibility, but eventually, we came to the conclusion that it was a family thing, so I gave in.

My brother went on a long rant about trust and relationships and not keeping secrets. Then I moaned about the doctor appointments, and he agreed waiting was a pain, but the women’s bodies were theirs and we had to abide by their wishes.

I hated when he was right ... especially when he said I needed to tell Mom I was becoming a father.

When he and Rylan had shared their news, Mom was especially excited. I had yet to tell her for so many reasons. First, she’d insist that Shell and I get married, and then she’d complain I wasn’t marrying a Jewish girl.

It had been a shitty morning made shittier when I manned up and called Mom, and she accused me of ruining her happiness when it came to Adam. Like Shell’s mom, she mentioned doing things in the natural order—marriage, then babies.

Why was everyone so hung up on that? Didn’t she realize Rylan had been pregnant at the wedding? Not to mention, Shell didn’t seem to want to marry me.

Despite all the craziness, I’d thought about going to see Shell for lunch at Camila’s. But I knew if I did, I’d go back for dinner, and my stalker tendencies were wearing thin when it came to her. Instead, I found myself wandering the jewelry store in the hotel, intentionally ignoring the engagement ring section.

Looking at rental houses had consumed that afternoon. I’d settled on a four-bedroom place with its own pool. Much later, when I showed up at Camila’s for my dinner, I’d share the news and come bearing gifts ... the matching necklace to the anklet for Shell, and a bangle bracelet for Weezie.

I waited until the end of the night to give them to Shell, and while she said it was too much, I noted a shadow of disappointment cross her face.

Did she think I was going to propose? While she was still waiting tables?

She allowed me to drive her home in her car, Jack following, and gave me a chaste kiss at the door before heading inside to relieve her mom. I got the feeling she wasn’t in the mood for me to interact with her.

Which brought me to now, another morning of work, and pissed that I hadn’t seen Shell yet. Deciding it was time for her to be with me, I called her.

“Hello? Caleb?” she said when she answered her phone.