That New York Minute. Abby Gaines

cursed and turned on the faucet. He stuck his thumb beneath the running water. Stephanie moved into the kitchen and took over the job of putting the lid on the press. She was so big with that—that thing in her stomach, Garrett felt as if he couldn’t get away from her.

      “So now you’re concerned about me and Dad?” he asked. “Shouldn’t you have thought of that, say, fifteen years ago, and not married him two minutes after my mom died?”

      She ignored his dig. “Dwight’s been supportive of this baby in the obvious ways….”

      “But not emotionally,” Garrett said.

      She nodded. “I told him if he can’t prove to me he can be a loving father, I don’t want him in our child’s life.”

      “He’s a loving father to Lucas.” Garrett still couldn’t figure out what the heck was going on, why Stephanie was really here.

      “We both know that’s because Lucas is in the navy and hasn’t yet needed to butt heads with your dad. Dwight needs to open his heart to this baby no matter what choices it makes.” She pushed the plunger down on the press. “Cups?”

      With his unscalded hand, Garrett indicated a cupboard to her left.

      Stephanie poured coffee into one mug. She glanced from the press to the other mug, bemused.

      “Fill yours halfway, then top it up with water,” Garrett instructed.

      She shook her head, as if to clear it, and laughed. “Sorry, I struggle with the most basic decisions these days. Blame the hormones.”