I headed over to City Hall to find out about the gardening career, but I was minutes too late. I started mumbling about gardening not being my career of choice, but it's not like I have a choice. A farmer overheard and stopped me.
"Wouldn'a pegged you for a gardener." So what if he was right to wonder if I'd so much as touched the soil. I was instantly defensive.
My hands found their way to my hips. "I'm not, but I need to learn. That's why I'm here."
"Well, you might want to read a book or two first. You know, make sure you'll enjoy it. The Science center holds a weekly class, too. You'll find the ad in the morning paper."
My defenses lowered. Okay, so he was just trying to help. "Um, thanks, I guess." I held out my hand. "Lola."
"Luke McDermott."
I was about to say goodbye, focused on checking the paper, when I remembered why I was here. "Luke. So, you're a farmer, huh?"
"Yes, ma'am. Live up on the farm at the end of ***. Family's been providing this town with most of its produce for generations now." His drawl was kind of sexy.
Hmm. So he must have known--or known of--my great uncle. Flirt, Lola. The faster you get knocked up, the faster you'll see some of that money. "Well what would you say to a private gardening lesson? I could, ahh, make it worth your while. Group classes aren't really my thing."
He got this silly smile on his face. He was kinda cute. "You know, I think we could arrange that."
And then I noticed the creepy woman watching us from behind the column. She seemed awfully interested in our conversation. "You're not married, are you Luke?"
"Actually, I am. I'm waiting on my wife and son now. So, you come on by tomorrow, bright and early, and we can, ah, get our hands dirty." He had the audacity to wink, too, the bastard.
I bit back a sigh. So this was how it was going to be? I'd need to ask potential fathers straight up, or I'd end up in hot water. My contract said no married or engaged men.
"I don't think it will work out after all. Goodbye, Mr. McDermott."
* * *
On my way home, I checked the bookstore. Sure enough, they had a multitude of gardening books to choose from. I chose one, took it home, and settled in for a night of reading. I forced myself to read until I'd learned how to plant some basic seed types, then put the book aside to make dinner. My first meal in my new home.
I decided on Autumn Salad. My favorite meal, and a simple one to prepare. Eating alone made me aware of how lonely I was. Maybe I'd get another cat, but replacing Ruffles just made me sad. I never should have taken her to the shelter.
I washed the dishes and climbed into my new-to-me bed. Tomorrow I'd work on planting a small garden.
* * *
The next morning, after a quick breakfast of cold cereal, I set about planting the seeds Great Uncle Adelard had given me. Simple crops, a couple of tomato plants, some lettuce, and an apple seed.
After planting the garden, I set out to explore my new town. I checked out the library, the grocery store, and ooh, the town had a spa. If only I had the money... Speaking of, I walked to the Science Center to inquire about the gardening class, but when I discovered the cost, decided I'd be smarter to stick with my books.
As dusk fell, I found the community garden... and Cullen Whitmore. He was handsome, with his coffee colored skin and his soul patch. I wasted no time and asked if he was single. He was single, and unemployed. A motivated man would have been nice, but I'd met no one of interest all afternoon and was starting to get desperate. It wasn't like I would need child support.
I started imagining what our baby would look like, and wasted no time asking him if he'd like to come over.
He was excited to join me.
Seducing him was no trouble at all...
...and, success! He left soon after, and I thought we were both on the same page. Casual fun.
* * *
The next day, Cullen called to invite me to a party. I hesitated, but realized that maybe this way I could meet some more of Riverview's eligible young men. So far, I hadn't had much luck. I stopped by the local boutique and bought a dress I couldn't afford, but hey, I needed to dress to impress. And besides, I'd just tuck the tag in and return it tomorrow. No harm, no foul.
Ahh, yeah, so much for that. I'd barely met Cullen's friends when I started to feel nauseated, and the bathroom was occupied. I hadn't even had a drink yet! I headed outside for some fresh air.
Nope, didn't work. I vomited all over Cullen's front path. Ugh. I had never been so embarrassed. Ever. And that dress? Well, guess I'd be eating that $400. I hightailed it out of there, shoes and the hem of the dress splattered with vomit. At least no one had seen it happen.
* * *
The next day, I discovered the cause of my nausea. I was pregnant. I headed to the library to read up on pregnancy--after that mistake of a dress, which would have the added expense of a drycleaning bill, too, I couldn't afford to buy any more books--then worked on my garden and cleaning the house. I headed to the thrift store to find some maternity clothes, and all I found was a dress that would look more fitting on a prairie than here. But beggars can't be choosers, or so Nanna always said.
I borrowed a fishing pole from Cullen, hoping to catch some fish to fertilize my growing plants. I didn't bother telling him he'd be a father. I figured he wouldn't care or want to be involved anyway. It was just a one night stand.
I fished until I was too tired to stand, then went home and managed to break the toilet. Seriously. So gross. I had a nasty mess to clean up before I could sleep.
The next morning, I slept in. Pregnancy was exhausting. After stopping by the community garden, I had the produce the proprietor of the Karaoke bar had requested. So what, I hadn't grown it myself, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. And I made enough money to buy a crib!
Lucky, too, because not long after I started chatting up potential Baby Daddy #2, Dallas Shallow, my water broke. Right there on the pavement. I wasn't ready for this.
Dallas freaked out. "But, but...I didn't even know you were pregnant!"
Dallas hailed me a cab as the first contraction hit. I had no idea how I'd pay the hospital bills, but all I knew was this was much more intense than I'd expected, and without having taken any childbirth classes, I certainly had no plan to give birth at home.
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