As a single mom in a small town, there's only one thing I want. Another baby. When all the roads to getting what I want lead to dead ends, I turn to one of my best friends for help.
In my mind, Trent Castillo is the perfect baby daddy. He has good g...
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"How was the fall fair yesterday?" Tyler, my older brother, asks on Monday morning. "You went with Trent?"
The second question is loaded with meaning. He's aware he can't ask more than that. From Mom to Maggie to Tyler to even Lila, who was somewhat resentful when she asked, everyone wonders if there's something going on between me and Trent.
We've been friends since last year when we all organized a fundraiser for our hometown of Little Falls. But even I can admit we've become closer since my dad's death, since Maggie and Grady got back together, since Lila left for New York.
But there isn't anything more than friendship between us. Not even a little. He doesn't want it, and I don't want it—not that we've talked about it. No one seems to believe us. Which often makes me mad. Men and women can be friends. Even when one half of that equation is a guy who oozes charm and sex appeal.
"Yeah, we went together," I say breezily as I check that I have everything needed to look after Victoria for the morning.
Although Tyler has the money, courtesy of Victoria's famous popstar mother, Mia Malone, he hasn't hired a nanny. Instead, he's cut back his thrift store and his clothing creation business. For the hours he does work, family and friends are cobbling together a schedule. It's not ideal, but I also understand why he's doing it.
As he told me, he's not sure he'll have another chance to be a dad, so he's going to soak in every subtle change in Victoria as she grows. Paired with that is the fact that Mia is so famous, and photos of their baby are in such high demand, it's hard to know who to trust. So, I get that part too. At some point, that might calm down, but so far it hasn't. Tyler has security at the house and store now, but it's still more madness than I'd want to deal with.
My house showing schedule and my client bookings are usually reasonably flexible, so rearranging my schedule once a week during a morning or afternoon to look after Victoria at Tyler's house isn't a hardship. Amir is in school, so I get all the baby snuggles to myself. And since I don't know when I'll get this much baby contact again, it's a win for everyone involved.
"That's all I'm going to get a is "yeah, we went together"?" Tyler prods.
"Heard from Mia?" I ask, giving him a pointed look.
"All right, all right." Tyler holds up his hands. "I get it. Trent, as a topic, is off limits. He's your friend yadda, yadda, yadda."
And Mia is also off limits, but I don't point that out. She's been gone since late July, and it's now late October. At first, I thought she'd return sooner rather than later. I can't imagine leaving a child behind, despite the arrangement she made with Tyler, despite her level of fame and scrutiny. A child. I could never.
And I'm not as sure she will come back now. I imagine it's a hard pill for Tyler to swallow. Much like my friendship with Trent, whatever is or isn't happening with him and Mia, is not up for discussion.
