Holiday Baby. Jenna Mindel

start now, not years later. That wouldn’t be fair to Opal.

      She glanced at the baby lying peacefully in her crib, asleep once again. Her heart twisted at the sweetness of her daughter’s face. She reached for her phone and took a quick photo. “You deserve the best, baby. I hope I can give you that.”

      Every child deserved to know their father. Now that Simon knew, and while he was still here in Maple Springs, she owed him the chance to be part of Opal’s life. That meant being involved with the Zelinsky family, as well. Simon knew Zach, he might as well get to know the rest of them.

      * * *

      The next day, Simon watched for Cat. She’d called and asked if they could go for a drive to talk and he’d agreed. When she pulled in, he was already waiting outside and slipped into the passenger seat. “Hello.”

      “Good morning.” Cat looked pretty with her blond hair mostly pulled back with some of it loose.

      He glanced in the back seat at Opal and smiled. “Good morning, Princess.”

      Cat stared at him as if he’d lost his mind.

      “What?” he asked.

      “Nothing.”

      “Well, where to?” Simon liked the idea of talking while driving, although he’d rather be the one behind the wheel.

      “I need to pick up a few things for Opal in the next town over. Do you mind going with me?”

      “They carry good stuff?” Simon asked.

      “Yes. Traverse City has more stores, but that’s two hours away.”

      “We don’t need to go that far.”

      He’d been thinking a lot about this situation, coming up with nothing new. All he knew was that it wasn’t right to abandon his own child. Paying child support was part of being a father, but would it be enough?

      They slipped into silence while Cat drove out of town. Even the baby remained quiet.

      “Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?” Cat’s voice sounded strained.

      “Nothing special. Why?”

      “My mother wants you to come to our house for the day.” Cat didn’t look over at him as she rounded the bay.

      Simon fought his instinct to refuse outright and stalled. “What do you want?”

      “I want you to come. I’d like you to get to know my family.”

      If the rest of Cat’s family reacted as Zach had, he’d rather face a firing line. Still, perhaps that was what he deserved. His actions had consequences. Opal being one of them. Time to take responsibility, even as he searched for a way out. “I don’t want to intrude.”

      “You wouldn’t be. They’re nice people, Simon.”

      “I’m sure they are—”

      “If you don’t have other plans, then what is it?” Cat glanced at him.

      He shrugged. “I’m not used to family gatherings.”

      Cat softened. A little. “What about your family? You mentioned having a brother and sister.”

      He might as well let her know where he came from. “My brother’s in jail for assault the last time I checked and I haven’t spoken to my sister in years. Both are much younger than me.”

      “And your parents?” Cat squeaked out.

      “My mom died a few years back and I never knew my father.” He kept his voice even.

      Cat watched the road a moment longer before stealing another peek at him. “I’m sorry.”

      He didn’t want her sympathy.

      She kept going, trying to make conversation. “So, your mother never remarried?”

      He laughed and it came out as a harsh-sounding bark. “She never married in the first place. I didn’t know my father because I don’t know who that man might be. I don’t think my mother knew either. My siblings are pretty much in the same boat. Only, they know their father. But he’s never wanted anything to do with either of them.”

      “Oh.” Cat looked truly sorry.

      “I vowed never to follow those footsteps and yet here I am.”

      Cat winced. “Yes, here we are.”

      They’d messed up.

      They arrived at the store. Cat pulled into the parking lot but hesitated about getting out. She turned to face him. “Look, I’m sorry this happened.”

      He didn’t like the repentant look on her face.

      He’d never meant to slam her like this was all her fault. He reached for the bit of her hair that brushed her shoulders, feeling the silkiness of it between his fingers. “I’m not.”

      Her eyes widened.

      He couldn’t believe he’d just said that, but oddly he meant it. He realized that seeing her was better than not. Even though she came with serious baggage that had the same brown eyes as him. “We’ll figure it out.”

      She gave him a hint of a smile. “You keep saying that.”

      “We don’t have much of a choice, now do we?”

      She looked away, clearly disappointed. “No, I suppose not.”

      He couldn’t expect to chase away her fears when he had so many of his own. But he’d try. He had to try.

      * * *

      Cat’s stomach sank as she got out of the car. She had no right to be disappointed in his answer. Simon was doing his best to deal with their situation. It was not as if he’d had much time to get used to becoming a father. She’d stolen that time from him by not telling him.

      He opened the door to the back seat and Opal. “How do I do this?”

      She came around and slid the car seat out of its base. “Like that. Super easy. And if you hold her, I’ll get the stroller from the trunk.”

      “Stroller?”

      “You’ll see.” Cat popped the trunk and withdrew the folded stroller. She then snapped the car seat into place. “I’m not real comfortable setting Opal in a shopping cart. The car seat might not fit right and then what if she fell or something fell on her?”

      “I see your point.” Simon tucked the edge of the blanket that had flopped over around their daughter’s shoulders. “Will she be warm enough without a coat?”

      The temperatures were still cold, but the sun shone from a cloudless sky. Cat felt her baby’s nice warm cheeks against her cold hands. “The blanket keeps her warm. It’s not far. If you’ll push her, I’ll get us a cart.”

      Simon took over stroller duty. He hadn’t shaved and the day-old whiskers roughed his face. He looked like the man she’d met in Africa. Only, he wore jeans and a thick woolen sweater instead of dusty khakis and a sweat-soaked T-shirt.

      She looked down at her feet. She didn’t match his smooth style wearing her Goth-style clunky black boots, leggings and a long black sweater. They didn’t match at all, and that was part of the problem. Despite his promises to figure it out, they were not any closer to a plan or solution to the question of “what now?”

      When they entered the store, Cat took in the Christmas decorations with a frown. She hadn’t expected Northern Michigan retailers to be in sync with bigger cities. “Thanksgiving’s not even over yet.”

      He nodded. “I need to decorate my store. Part of a holiday liquidation plan.”

      “I’d like to see it. The engagement ring Darren bought for Bree is gorgeous.” She wanted to see more of his work, especially what he may have done with those