Holiday Baby

“Give it time.” Monica grinned and carried Opal the rest of the way down the stairs with no moves toward giving her up.

Cat didn’t have time where Simon was concerned. He’d severed his lease on his jewelry store effective the first of the year. Would Opal change his mind? Could Cat? Did she even want to? The idea of his sticking around just because he felt obligated was horrible. She didn’t want him to feel like he was stuck with them—trapped into being part of a family he didn’t want and wouldn’t have chosen.

When Cat returned to the family room, her mother announced that dinner was ready. Her father had hit the pause button on the TV so they wouldn’t miss the rest of the game. He stood and stretched. “Let’s gather in the dining room.”

“Where’s Opal?” Simon asked.

“Monica has her.” Cat caught the quick flash of disappointment in his eyes, causing her stomach to twist.

He was forming an attachment to Opal. But was that good or bad? Even though she didn’t want him feeling trapped, she also didn’t want Simon going back to his old globe-trotting routine. Was there any kind of middle ground? A way he could be part of their lives on a regular basis, without giving up the life that he’d chosen for himself?

Standing in the dining room, Cat watched as her family gathered around the huge table set with Grandma Zelinsky’s fine china and crystal goblets. Covered dishes were strategically placed down the middle, but the luscious aroma of turkey gravy and sage stuffing escaped, making her mouth water. It had been a long time since she’d been home for Thanksgiving. She waited for everyone to slip into their usual seats and a lump caught in her throat. This was home, loud and loving and terribly bittersweet.

“Here, you two sit at this end so we can tuck Opal in her bouncer out of the way of traffic.” As usual, her mom had everything under control, even seating.

Monica handed Cat the baby.

Simon reached to take the elevated bouncy seat from her mom and positioned it between their chairs. He looked it over while she buckled Opal in. “She won’t tip?”

“It’s solid.” Cat looked away so Simon wouldn’t catch her irritation with him questioning her choice. She’d read countless reviews on the item before purchasing it, making sure it was sound and safe for Opal.

“Let’s say grace.” Her father, at the other end, reached out to hold the hands of her mom on one side and Cam on the other.

Cat clenched her teeth as she reached for Simon’s hand.

His thumb brushed over hers, distracting her from the rote prayer she knew by heart. She stared at their clasped hands, remembering the gentle way he’d touched her on their one night together. The way he’d held her. She’d been half-frozen from the cold rain, but his touch had been so warm.

“Amen.” Simon lifted his head.

Had he thought about her at all?

Cat pulled her hand away, grateful for the increased noise of chatter and the clatter of serving dishes being passed. She glanced at Simon and nearly laughed at the shocked look upon his face. “Crazy, I know, but this is home.”

“Worse than chow time at some mining camps I’ve been in.” He accepted the tray of turkey and offered to fill her plate before his. “White or dark?”

“A little of both, please.” Her mother had always made two turkeys so there would be plenty of leftovers. She watched as Simon served her before choosing an ample portion for himself.

“What about Opal, when will she eat solid food?”

Cat’s head spun. Thinking back to when her youngest sister Erin and brother Luke were babies, she couldn’t remember when they started eating solids. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”

Simon stared at her as if she should know these things by heart. “I bought a book.”

“A book?”

“About the steps of childhood development over the first year. I purchased it at the local bookstore a couple of stores down from me.”

Cat stared at him. Why would he do that? Was he thinking about giving more than financial support?

“What?” His dark eyes looked warm and sweet.

Now wasn’t the time to discuss anything in depth, but she had to know. “Why’d you buy that?”

He shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”

Cat looked away and connected with her father’s piercing gaze.

Dad’s going to give your man a talking-to.

She didn’t want her father or Zach making demands on Simon that they had no right to make. She and Simon were too old for her father to pull out the proverbial shotgun, yet that was exactly what he looked like he might do.

* * *

After dinner and cleanup, Cat’s family gathered in the family room once again for the remainder of the football game. Simon held Opal in the rocking chair near the fireplace, glad for some distance from Cat. The woman’s nearness made his head spin. Not at all a good thing, especially when it made him question everything he’d decided about his future.

He’d put plans in place that were hard to change. Namely, a gem hunt in January for a high-end investor. He couldn’t exactly back out and keep his reputation solid. He needed this for future income. Bottom line, he didn’t want to back out. He loved gem hunting. It was his life—always had been.

He gazed at his daughter’s pretty little face as he cradled her in his arms. Holding her might not have been the best idea. He’d used rocking her as a shield against Cat and her family and all that small talk. He wasn’t part of the jokes they shared as they loaded the fridge with leftovers and the dishwasher with dirty dishes. He didn’t want to be part of them, but using Opal as an excuse for distance had backfired. He’d climbed from one hot pan into another because this baby pulled hard on the heartstrings. This precious little bundle was sinking her sweet little brown-eyed hooks into him fast.

Opal blew bubbles and cooed and kicked her legs. He reached for her hand, amazed at the baby’s grip. “You’re a strong one.”

She gurgled back.

He spotted Cat in the kitchen, talking with one of her sisters-in-law who held a large boy of her own. The child fought to keep his eyes open. Cat’s sisters were busy placing pies on the counter and making coffee.

The Lions were down by seventeen, so the game had lost some of its appeal. Simon glanced around the room. Cat’s younger brothers were sprawled on the floor, sleeping. Even Andy Zelinsky, sitting in a recliner, had closed his eyes. Zach did too, with his wife, Ginger, cuddled into him.

What was he even doing here?

Anger he hadn’t felt in years roared to life. This was what a family was supposed to be, was supposed to have—a warm holiday meal, served with comfortable trust. No drama, no sirens and no TV dinners. The absence of all of this from his own childhood left him with a bitter taste in his mouth that no amount of pie they served could dislodge.

Part of him wanted to make a scene, to vent some of his anger. But that wouldn’t be fair to the people here, who’d been nothing but welcoming. And it wouldn’t be fair to Opal, who deserved exactly this type of wonderful family occasion. Days like this were things he didn’t want Opal to miss.

Would she grow up missing him?

His gut twisted. If he wasn’t careful, he’d miss her.

Simon stopped rocking. Buying that book had only confirmed that he didn’t have what it took to take care of a baby. One day, he might be of more value than financial child support, but that wasn’t now. Cat had a fine support system in her family right here. She wouldn’t be raising Opal alone.

He carefully stood and crossed the expanse of floor toward Cat.

“Want me to take her?” Cat asked.

“Please. It’s late. I’d better get going.” He wanted out.

“But you haven’t had dessert.” Cat’s sister-in-law balanced her boy on her hip.

“Some other time.” Simon couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Cat’s mom stepped forward and took Opal. “Thank you for coming, Simon. Cat will walk you out.”

Cat looked hesitant but nodded. “Yeah, sure.”

“Thank you for dinner.” He should have said his goodbyes to the rest of the family, to Cat’s father, but they were sleeping.

At the door, Simon silently donned his coat while Cat slipped into hers and then pulled on a pair of boots. She followed him outside.

The air was crisp with an icy bite to it, but Simon breathed deeply, letting his thoughts settle down. The sun had long since set, leaving behind only remnants of light showing from beneath the dark clouds clustered on the horizon.

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Cat offered.

“It’s cold. You needn’t.”

“It’s okay. I wanted to ask you something, anyway.” She looked a little nervous.

That made him want to bolt even faster, but he kept his pace even next to Cat’s. “Something on your mind?”

Cat pulled the collar of her coat closer. “Yes. You don’t have to give me an answer right away, just think about it.”

“What’s that?” They were near his car now.

“What if you kept your shop open?”

“I’m committed in January to an investor to buy rubies and tourmaline in Mozambique. It could very well turn into something long-term.”

Cat took a deep breath and let it out. “What if I managed your shop for you while you were away?”

He looked at her. “Why would you want to?”

“I gave my notice at the magazine before coming home and I need a job. One that’s local.”

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