“But we also have to think about the medical bills that are coming up. Having this baby won’t be free, and there isn’t going to be some magical thing that saves us.”
“I want to do it all.” Dean said it shortly. “She can’t get away with this.”
“Technically, she’d be getting a restraining order,” I said softly, but even I knew that it wasn’t enough.
“Mom, you’re on my side here, right?”
Virginia pressed her lips together and thought about it, then sighed. “Sometimes this is how justice goes. Only those with enough money get it.”
“I can work with Clyde more,” he added. “I can save up for both.”
“Don’t you wanna be here with the baby, though?” I asked.
That got him.
He sighed and leaned back. “Yeah, I do.”
I fought against a twinge in my stomach, another reminder that what was coming was imminent. We were on limited time. Even if I made it to forty weeks, that was only a month away. I didn’t want to spend that in court if I didn’t have to.
“So, a restraining order for both of us,” I said.
“And I’m asking the town to keep a lookout,” Dean added. “Some have offered.”
“That’ll also help. I’m sorry we can’t do more.”
“It’s okay. She’ll be away from us.”
There was a part of me that was sad it had come to this. Maybe I always would be, but me being sad didn’t mean I was making the wrong decision. It just meant that I felt something about it.
She was the one who pushed me too far, and I knew without a doubt that my life would be more peaceful without her in it.
“Are you opening your shop today, Grace?” Virginia asked. “I could go and help out.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“We’re family,” she reminded softly. “And I haven’t gotten nearly enough practice to take it over when the baby is here.”
I’d been taking too many days off and knew Ihadto go in, even if it was just for a distraction.
But I didnotfeel up to it.
“You know what? I should open it today. Dean, would you like to join? You don’t have a job right now.”
“I’m tempted to find one for extra money,” he muttered, but then sighed. “But I won’t. I don’t think Wren or Clyde would let me work with how little sleep I’ve had.”
“And I don’t think I will either. You didn’t sleep well, did you?” Virginia asked.
He sighed. “Not really. Or maybe I did but I’m just too exhausted.”
“Get some rest,” I said. “I’ll be back tonight.”
Dean fought it up until he broke out into a loud yawn and knew he had lost the battle. Virginia and I got ready and headed down to the shop.
I tried to keep it cool, but I was feeling worse and worse. The contractions went from being dull and achy to more and more intense. I couldn’t wait for them to stop.
“You know,” she said as she folded clothes, “Dean came pretty early.”
“Really?”