Holiday Baby. Jenna Mindel

and he didn’t want to be the source of more worry. “Thank you.”

      She paused before leaving, her brow furrowed. “For what?”

      He took a deep breath and calmed down. “For letting me hold her.”

      Her eyes filled with tears. “Yeah. Sure.”

      He didn’t know if he should try to comfort her or simply let her go. This was all new to him. He’d never been close to a woman before. He’d never wanted more than a temporary or casual relationship. He had to admit that he’d given Cat no indication that he’d care to know about Opal. He’d known there was a chance that their actions could have had consequences, but he’d made no effort to check in with her afterward. Part of him wished he didn’t know, since ignorance was bliss and knowing was...

      Relationships had always ended, but having a daughter wouldn’t. Opal was his and would always be his. The question was, what would he be to her?

      He took a step forward. “Need help with the seat?”

      “I’ve got it. No worries.” Cat waved him away. She looked plenty worried to him, as if she carried the weight of the world in her arms instead of a wee one.

      He watched as she backed up her car and drove away. As he stepped inside his house, it felt far too empty. The hollow sensation in the pit of his belly was unwelcome, as well. He’d lived alone for so long, coming and going as he pleased, he’d never wanted any other way. He’d tried something different by moving to Maple Springs but resisted the community that tried to embrace him. He’d never allowed himself to truly belong.

      Now he belonged to someone named Opal. He was her father.

      Fathers were supposed to be there for their kids, open to all kinds of disappointments and hurts along the way. Simon had experienced God’s love in a tangible way he couldn’t begin to explain and was still trying to figure out.

      God would not want him to simply walk away, but really, the responsibility was daunting. Could he become a good father by starting out with a young one? Only God knew.

      * * *

      Cat entered her parents’ home and leaned against the door after she closed it. Opal still slept in her car seat. Cat wouldn’t mind a little sleep too. Forever came to mind, but she was no storybook princess and Simon was no prince ready to kiss her back to life. In fact, he had a nice escape route planned. Again.

       Simon.

      It hurt that he’d lived in her hometown for months, knew her brothers and yet hadn’t made one move to contact her. Zach hadn’t even known that they knew each other.

      “Cat?” Her mom’s voice pierced the fog of her thoughts. “You okay, honey?”

      She shook her head, horrified at the tears rolling down her cheeks.

      Her mom didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around her. “Tell me what happened.”

      Cat shuddered with a shoulder-shaking sob.

      “Andy, come get the baby out of the doorway.” Her mom led her into the living room.

      “What’s wrong with her?” Cat heard her father’s whisper.

      Then she heard Zach’s booming voice. “Is that Cat? Is she crying? I’ll kill him!”

      “Zach, settle down!” her mother warned and then turned to Cat. “What happened? Is this about Simon? Zach told me. He’s Opal’s father, isn’t he?”

      Cat nodded. No point in denying it.

      “I knew it! That slimy—” Zach’s voice startled Opal awake, so he continued his rant in a whisper. “All this time and he never said a word about you—”

      “Zach! That’s enough.” Their mom’s tone broached no argument and her brother zipped it.

      Cat’s father picked up Opal and walked with her, gently shushing the now-crying babe.

      Cat pulled away from her mom. She hated to admit that seeing Simon hurt more than she’d ever expected. “Simon was fine. I’m just tired and my hormones are out of whack.”

      Zach took a step back as if she’d admitted to having the plague or worse.

      Her mom winked. “Come upstairs. You should sleep when you can or you’ll go crazy.”

      Maybe she’d already gone mad. She thought she could do this on her own, but one look at Simon holding their daughter and she wasn’t so sure.

      It seemed like another lifetime when Simon had wrapped his arms around her, making her feel priceless, like some rare gem he’d searched for his whole life. He’d kissed her that way too, but it had been because of their flight in the night. It hadn’t been real; otherwise he would have tried to see her again. He would have at least admitted to her family that he’d met her.

      She followed her mom, who’d taken Opal, and headed up the stairs. Once in her old room, Cat sat on the bed and watched as her mom laid Opal in the old crib they’d hauled down from the attic.

      “Make sure she’s on her back.” Her voice sounded too shrill.

      “I know, Cat. It’s okay. You said Simon was fine with all this?” Her mom’s voice was whisper-soft as she wrapped the baby in a swaddling blanket.

      “Not quite.” He’d looked like she’d put him inside a snow globe and shaken hard.

      “Then how was he?” Her mom’s shrewd gaze locked onto hers.

      “I didn’t think I’d ever see him again.” It was all Cat could muster.

      Her mom nodded. Like so many times growing up when Cat hadn’t given up the whole story, her mom simply waited. And like always, Cat crumbled under that steady gaze. “He’s leaving after the holidays. But he said he’d give financial support.”

      “That’s good.”

      “Is it?” Cat couldn’t get the image of him holding Opal out of her mind. He’d been captivated, as if he couldn’t believe such a treasure existed.

      Her mom’s gaze narrowed. “The last time you were home, you were adamant about raising Opal on your own. You refused to name the father, let alone contact him.”

      “I know.” The last time she’d been home, Simon had been on his way to moving here. Crazy. She’d been so sure of herself then. Cat didn’t know what she wanted now, after seeing him.

      Her mom brushed Cat’s hair back as if she were still a child. “Sleep now. Things will look better after you wake up.”

      No, they wouldn’t. They’d be the very same.

      “Don’t worry about dinner. I’ll make sure you get a plate.” Her mother kissed her forehead.

      Cat nodded.

      At the door, her mother turned. “Why don’t you invite Simon to join us for Thanksgiving?”

      Not a good idea. “I don’t know his plans.”

      The sudden thought that he might be seeing someone seared her belly and turned it sour. But surely he wouldn’t leave if that was true. And anyway, Ginger would have said something.

      Her mom smiled. “Just ask.”

      “I don’t know.” Cat lay back on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

      “Cat, if Simon wants to be supportive, let him be more than a monthly check.”

      Did he really want to be part of Opal’s life—part of her life? Maybe everything he’d done and said today had just been the result of surprise. He might feel differently in the morning. It wouldn’t be the first time.

      Leaving Simon in the dark about Opal might not have been fair, but if he’d cared about her at all, he would have contacted her. She would have told