Page 63 of A Return For Ren
Zane’s business was growing too and Zara was happy to say she was doing better than she ever imagined.
In her professional life. For once she saw a glimpse of more in her personal life too.
“We hear about Willow wanting a baby brother or sister all the time,” Poppy said.
“Maybe Aunt Zara will give me one,” Willow said. “She has a secret friend so maybe that means a secret baby too. Does it work that way?”
There was dead silence in the room over that statement, then some hands over mouths and a giggle from Poppy.
“Zara,” her mother said. “A secret friend? Something we need to know about that everyone there seems to.”
She let out a sigh. “Why don’t you finish this video chat and I’ll call you later tonight?”
“Or you can go in the other room and call me now,” her mother said.
There were a lot of eyes on her and no way out of this.
“Willow,” Lily said. “Why don’t you tell Grandma and Grandpa about school this week and then we can let them go.”
Zara got up and went to the kitchen to fill her wine glass back up. “Sorry about that,” Zane said. She hadn’t realized he was behind her.
“No reason for you to apologize. I know how your daughter is. It’s not her fault either. She doesn’t understand.”
“No,” he said. “I didn’t think she’d say that or do it the way she did. What are you going to tell Mom and Dad?”
“The truth. It just means Mom will be calling more and checking in on me. At least I don’t have to worry about how to tell her now before Christmas, so one good thing out of it.”
“I should tell you I was at the marina the other day. They wanted a price quote for some work to be done.”
“Ren said his mother was going to call. Are you going to do it? Do you have time to? I know you’re crazy busy.”
“I am, but it’s nothing that I can’t squeeze in between jobs while I wait for materials for other projects. She was going to get back to me by tomorrow if she wanted it done. I figured all things considered and your relationship with Ren, that I would give them a decent price and my time.”
“That was nice of you,” she said, “but don’t overextend yourself.”
Zane laughed. “I don’t, you know that. But you’re family and it’s the right thing to do if I’m able to make it work and I am.”
“Thanks. It’s more for Ren’s mother. I know he can’t wait for that place to be sold so she can start her retirement.”
“Knowing how much Mom and Dad are enjoying their retirement was part of my motivation,” Zane said.
“Grandma says to call her, Aunt Zara,” Willow said, coming back to the kitchen with the laptop in her hands.
“Wish me luck,” she said to her brother, then pulled her phone out of her pocket and went to sit in the front living room for privacy.
“Who is this secret guy?” her mother asked when she answered the phone. “And how long has it been going on that Willow mentioned a baby? We haven’t been gone that long.”
“A few weeks. Don’t worry about babies. At least not from me. He does have one. That isn’t why Willow said it though and you know it. She is all about wanting someone to give her a baby to play with.”
“Is it someone that has a child at your daycare?” her mother asked.
That was the truth at least. “Yes.” She took a deep breath. “It’s Ren, Mom.”
“Ren Whitney? Your ex that you cried over for months? The guy that made it hard for you to date for almost a year after? That Ren?”
She sighed. “One and the same.”
“I hadn’t realized he was back in town and least of all had a baby. What is going on?”