Happily Ever All-Star: A Secret Baby Romance - Sosie Frost Page 0,94

me. And you are—in so many ways. I’m proud of you. I’m proud that, even after what’s happened, you are able to take control of this situation and care for your family.”

I swallowed, my heart straining against my chest. “You’ve never said that before.”

“I know. And that changes now. I’m going to help you with this baby. I want to be a part of your child’s life, if you let me.” She lowered her eyes. “God knows I don’t have a strong relationship with my mother, but if I had put in the effort with her…maybe things would have been different.”

“I don’t know if you realize it, but Grandma Mildred is awesome.”

“I know…she’s the one who told me to come to my senses and talk to you.”

“Doesn’t sound like Mildred.”

“She actually said to get my head out of my ass before you ditched me in a second-rate home once I retired.”

“That sounds like Mildred.”

“She was right.”

I groaned. “I’ll put you in a good home. Jesus.”

“Not about that.” Regan squeezed my hand. “I haven’t seen you for the amazing woman you’ve become. I’m sorry. And I want to change that and be a part of your life.”

And…maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Regan’s influence made me strong and independent, but not so stubborn that I’d refuse help.

Especially since I needed so much of it.

“I appreciate that, Mom,” I said. “I’d like for you to know your grandbaby.”

She squeezed my hand again. Not a hug, but I didn’t expect a total thaw. I let myself relax.

“Where’s Jude?” she asked.

And then I tensed so hard I nearly squirted out the baby.

How was I supposed to explain this?

I couldn’t come clean about Genie, and I sure as hell couldn’t tell Regan how I’d slept with my attending and gotten pregnant.

“I don’t think Jude…he won’t be around much,” I said.

“What happened?”

“His head. The concussions and all the side-effects are starting to take their toll. But he’s refusing to sit out of the game. He wants to play in the championship on Sunday, and now he’s talking about next season.” The words bumbled out of me, but Regan listened. “He can hardly take care of himself. I can’t expect him to help with the baby. He has to prioritize his health, and I need to put the baby first.”

Regan nodded. “I understand.”

“You do?”

“I’ve told Eric time and time again to step away from the game. He’s had three shoulder surgeries in six years, and he’s lucky he can afford the orthopedic specialists I’ve met over my career. He’s not young anymore, not healing as easily.”

“Eric will never listen.”

“Of course not. Neither will Jude. Football is who are they are.”

“Jude is more than the game.”

“Does he know that?” Regan arched an eyebrow. “This is his life’s ambition, Aurora. Your life is only beginning—finally out of school, entering the medical field, starting a family. But Jude’s only dream is ending. Walking away isn’t an option.”

“Even if it destroys him? Pulls us apart?”

“No. Because you’re the one who will put him back together. Where will you be during the game? Are you going to the stadium?”

“Not as part of the medical team. I’m not sure how useful I’ll be waddling the sidelines. But…”

“But?”

“I have a ticket.”

“Will you go?”

“I can’t watch him do this to himself.”

Regan didn’t like my answer. “You’re going to the game.”

“But—”

“You’re in love with this man. Love means supporting your family, even when it frightens you. If you don’t go, you’ll regret it. And if you leave him—” She paused. Cleared her throat. Brushed a quick tear from her eye. I watched her in amazement. “Don’t waste the time you have with the man you love. I lost your father in that car accident. And not a day goes by I don’t regret that I didn’t take two minutes to sit and eat breakfast with him before he left for work. I sacrificed our final minutes together so I could fix my makeup…even though the last thing he said before he left the house was that I looked beautiful.”

I stayed quiet. We never spoke about Dad. An unwritten rule cast by two mourning women.

“This will be the greatest moment of Jude’s career,” she said. “Don’t let him experience it alone. Fight for every second you have together. Don’t walk out of his life when he’ll need you the most.”

“He won’t listen to me. He knows how dangerous it is.”

“Of course he does.”

“The only thing I’ve ever wanted was a life with Jude,” I said.