Happily Ever All-Star: A Secret Baby Romance - Sosie Frost Page 0,93

wasn’t wearing pants—even worse when my butt scooted to the edge of an exam table and my legs stirrup’ed wide enough to give Genie a little fresh air.

“Um…Mom…” I cleared my throat. “Is this the best time?”

“I haven’t been fair to you, Aurora,” she said. “I haven’t been helpful. I haven’t tried to connect with you since learning about the baby.”

So we were having this heart-to-cervix chat right now. But I had to pee. I also hadn’t finished my cinnamon roll before being late to the appointment. And I’d just left the man I loved because I couldn’t stand to watch him bash his brain on the football field. I was not in the mood to Cat’s-Cradle this relationship.

“Well…” I might have been slightly bitter. “You’ve only had five months to process this. I can see how you’d need more time.”

Regan stiffened. It wasn’t kind to pick a fight with my step-mother, but with the gloves tossed down and the legs spread wide, I thought we could handle a couple harsh truths.

“I was worried about you,” Regan said. “And angry.”

“Just say it. Disappointed. I’ve always disappointed you.”

“I didn’t want to see you fail.”

“Good news. I’m not planning on it.”

“I know. I know the woman you are. You will exceed my expectations.”

“No, I won’t.” I laughed. “I’ll never live up to your expectations. But you know what? I refuse to try anymore. I’m going to be a good mother to my daughter. I’m going to provide for her. Love her. Care for her.” I touched my tummy. Genie thudded against me, and I imagined she fist-bumped me back. “I know you had a vision of a perfect future for me—but I know what I want in life. I want to be a doctor. I want to be a mother. And I’ll prove to you I can be great at both.”

“I don’t doubt you.”

“Nothing will stop me from practicing neurology. It’s been my dream since I was a little girl.”

“No, Aurora.” Regan averted her gaze. Was she…ashamed? “That’s been my dream for you. I pushed you into medicine.”

“But I wanted it too.”

“I had expectations for you,” she said. “Rigorous ones. From your education to your extracurriculars to the schools you attended and the projects you studied. I controlled your life, Aurora. I wanted the best for you.”

Regan’s voice actually wavered.

Damn it.

“You know I’m grateful for that.” I picked at a fraying corner of the sheet. “You got me to where I am today.”

“That’s not how you really feel.”

It so wasn’t the time for this—not with the stress and the worry and the baby and Jude. Not to mention the exam room and my exposed baby-cannon poised to fire.

“I’m glad you gave me the opportunities I had…” I bit my lip. “But I know the truth.”

“What’s that?”

“You favored your sons over me. I know you regretted taking me in. You were upset that my father had a daughter when you married him. It ruined your image of a perfect family. We had to compete for his attention, and you knew I’d win, no matter what you did.”

“He did love you. Very much.”

“And then he died,” I said. “And you decided to raise me how you wanted, not how he’d wished. But it didn’t matter. I wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t you. I couldn’t get the grades and perform the recitals and do the projects and manage the volunteer work and look beautiful and have all the boyfriends. I tried, but I failed. And I know it disappointed you.”

“Is that all?” she asked.

“No. You’ve always resented that I was the fairest in the land.”

“What?”

I shook my head. “I never wanted to compete with you, Regan. And I never hated you. Hell, if I could’ve strapped on Eric’s helmet and played ball to win your approval, I would have. But all I had was academics, and I did what I could.” I looked away. “I’m sorry if it wasn’t enough, but I’m not going to endure the stress of trying to please you. Especially since you can’t spare a minute to call and ask about your grandbaby-to-be. It won’t happen.”

Regan reached for my hand. I froze.

“You’re right, Aurora. But you’re also so wrong.”

“Where have I heard that before?”

“We aren’t flesh and blood, but I see so much of myself in you.” She heaved a regretted sigh. “I wanted to foster it, make it grow, I wanted you to become the best person you could be.”

“You wanted me to be you.”

“I wanted you to be better than