Halloween Secret Baby: This Secret Baby, #9

By Rachel Foster

Anthony is a rancher on his family farm. Struggling after his girlfriend Morgan left him for her dream job in the city, he puts all his time and effort into his career on the farm. Not only did he lose his relationship with Morgan, but he also lost it with her brother and his best friend Jude. Now Morgan is back and Anthony realizes he definitely isn't over her. To his surprise, she wants him back too. A quick hookup should repair things, right? Until Anthony's Ex-girlfirend Laura shows up and makes Morgan jealous enough she runs. Now Morgan is pregnant with his child, but will their off and on relationship be able to work raising a child? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: 3rd Publishing
• Release date: Mar 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215022450

Book preview

Morgan

I

took my lunch break a little earlier than I normally would have, just so I’d have a little extra time to talk on the phone.

I’ll make up for it later. I need to make sure I have enough time for this.

I locked up my office and went down the hall to the elevator. Since I was a few minutes ahead of everyone else who would also be heading out, I didn’t have to speak with anyone for the whole way. I was glad. Especially when the elevator was totally empty. This wasn’t a good time for socializing, not when my stomach felt like it was liable to lurch up my throat at any second.

I rode the elevator all the way down without any stops and headed across the lobby to the revolving front doors of the company building. The weather outside was a little chilly, being so close to Halloween. I shivered and hugged my arms around myself and wished that I had thought to bring a jacket with me.

The city was a bustling, alive place, cars zipping constantly down the streets and people flowing on the sidewalks. I followed the sidewalk and then turned along the side of the building to reach the parking lot. The wind dropped significantly, and I was able to lift my head without my cheeks feeling like they were going to freeze off. My glasses had fogged up somewhat from my breath, and I realized I had nearly walked past my car without realizing it. I turned and went to my car, sticking my hand in my purse to find my key. I unlocked the car, climbed inside, and turned it on to get a little heat flowing.

I sagged back in the seat and sighed.

I had made it. There was no time to be nervous now, as that would just delay what I had to do.

I took my phone from my purse and called my brother. I leaned my head over, trapping the phone between my cheek and my shoulder, listening to the steady ringing.

The phone just kept ringing and ringing as the seconds passed.

I frowned, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel. This was when we were supposed to have a talk. Had Jude changed his mind without me realizing it? I should have seen it if he texted, unless the text hadn’t gone through for whatever reason.

The ringing cut out. Jude?

A recording began to play, telling me his voicemail inbox was full. I ended the call and took the phone in both hands to check my texts.

Before I could even get to the messaging app, the screen changed with an incoming call.

Jude!

I fumbled in my haste to answer.

Hey! My brother’s voice was breathless, thin. I’m sorry, I was in the bathroom when I heard my phone ringing. Got here as fast as I could.

I hadn’t realized my heartbeat was a little fast until Jude told me that and I was able to calm down. That’s okay. I hope I didn’t rush you.

I’ll spare you the details. Jude chuckled. "So, what was so important that we absolutely had to talk on the phone as soon as possible?"

Jude was a busy man. Rather than keep calling over and over to try and find a time when he was available, we had gone ahead and planned beforehand, which was why I’d had to leave work a bit early. That was simply the only way we’d have a proper amount of time.

Hypothetically, if I moved back home, would you be able to help me?

There was silence on Jude’s end as he processed what I’d said. He was taken aback, and I couldn’t blame him. To him, it had come out of nowhere, as I hadn’t discussed this with anyone at all.

Well, Jude said, I would do anything for you, sis. You know that. Did something happen, though?

Tears suddenly rose into my eyes even though I had told myself that I wouldn’t get emotional over this. It was only theoretical, not at all worth crying over. I blinked hard to try and fight them back. I just miss everyone.

Oh.

I thought moving to the city for this job would be such a dream, I admitted. And I really do like my job. You know I used to dream of opportunities like this. My own office, my own clients. Great pay, great hours.

Yeah, of course, I know that, Jude said. You’ve worked really hard to get where you are.

"Everyone who works here is so friendly. My apartment neighbors are always checking up on me, inviting me out to bowling and things. And my co-workers ask me out to bars and to have dinner, and there’s always office activities I can sign up for. Biking and playing basketball, trips to the zoo and aquarium... I couldn’t ask for anything better. But I miss the town so much. My voice broke. There was no point in trying to hide it. I miss all the friends I grew up with, the people, the places, the little shops and stores. I miss being in a small town. I’m so out of my element here."

You’ve only been settled in for a little while, Jude said, his voice soft and compassionate. First you had to move, and then you had to settle in at your job. You had to meet new people, get a new routine. You don’t think you might be feeling this way because it’s still unfamiliar territory? If you gave yourself some time, you might start to feel these feelings going away.

"I know. I’ve thought about that a lot. I could really get used to being here. I could be happy. But it just wouldn’t feel right! I think I would wind up moving anyway and at that point, it would be even more difficult because of how much time I’d spent planting roots here. I think if I’m going to do it, it should be now."

I see.

You don’t have to help me, I said quickly. I can do it on my own if you don’t want to. I just thought I should ask.

Hey, Jude said quickly. I didn’t say I wouldn’t help. I will help you. You tell me when and I’ll be there. It won’t be like this when we both have to fiddle around with our schedules. I’ll make it happen.

Tears rose again. I sniffed. I love you, Jude.

Love ya, too.

I mean, I still have to put in my two weeks at my job and talk to my landlord, and...

Right. I know. You just tell me when. I mean it.

Thank you. I swiped my hand across my eyes to get rid of the tears threatening to drip. How much time do we have left to talk? I don’t want to just monopolize the conversation.

You’re fine, Morgan. We’ve still got plenty of time. I’ve got an idea, though. You could call and tell Kendra about your plans. I know she’d love to hear the news straight from you. Jude paused. I can tell her myself, if it would be too difficult for you.

That’s actually a good idea, I murmured.

So you want me to tell her?

No, I mean I should tell her. Are you sure you don’t mind if I call her?

Jude laughed softly. Of course, not. We set up this time to use however you needed.

I nodded. Thank you again, Jude. You’ve got no idea how much I appreciate you.

Yeah, but I’m sure you’ll make it clear to me come the next holiday.

I could just hear the wink in his voice and smiled. We were pretty close in age, so we had grown up almost as twins and had always had each other’s backs. He knew exactly how to cheer me up. I really was going to owe him.

We said our goodbyes and I switched over to calling Kendra. Her days were pretty leisurely compared to Jude’s, and I figured she would be available to talk.

I was right, as she answered much faster than Jude had. Morgan, hi! Kendra cried, sounding both surprised and delighted. I didn’t expect to hear from you. Isn’t it your lunchtime? Aren’t you eating?

I really hadn’t thought about it. I’d been too worked up about having this call to be hungry. I’ll eat later, I said, being evasive about it. Do you have the time to talk?

Of course, I do! What’s up?

I just got off the phone with Jude. I filled Kendra in on what Jude and I had talked about, and once again laid out my reasons for wanting to return to the small-town way of life.

Oh, Morgan, you poor thing. Kendra’s voice was full of sympathy. It must be lonely.

Lonely? I hadn’t thought about it like that.

Well, you’re just a country girl. You know how to slow down and appreciate the moment. Meanwhile, you’re surrounded by people living this fast-paced life who want to do everything and make the most of it, never taking the time to breathe and reflect. Isn’t that right?

Now that Kendra had put it into words, I realized that was what I had been feeling that had dissatisfied me all this time. I felt alone, a sense of displacement. Even though I was popular and invited to all these different things and had plenty of ways to spend my time, I wasn’t built to just keep going and going. I didn’t have the stamina, the background for it. I wanted to be able to sit and watch dawns and sunsets without feeling pressured to go to bed and get to work on time the next day, to hurry up and do something significant.

I wanted to take things at my own pace, but there wasn’t any time for that here.

You know I’m right, Kendra said softly.

You’re right, I told her.

Well, you just go on and do whatever you need to, and if that’s come back home, we’ll all be so glad to have you back.

Thanks, Kendra. I really needed to hear all that.

That’s what I’m here for. Any time you need a little pick-me-up, there I am.

I smiled. There you are, I agreed.

Kendra was my best friend in the whole world. We’d gone to school together from kindergarten to college, though we had chosen different career paths. She was an artist, capable of making beauty in any medium, whether it was fabrics, paint, or clay. I, on the other hand, was a financial consultant. I did very well with figures, facts, logic. That was why I wound up pursuing this job in the city, even though it turned out not to be good for me on an emotional level. It was an obvious step up and I had seen no other option than to take the step.

Because Jude and I were also so close, that meant all three of us had been nothing short of a gang. It had been unusual to see us apart as children. Whereas Kendra and I were like sisters, Jude’s feelings for her had grown in a different way. They were married now.

Jude was a little more logical than Kendra, so I had gone to him first. I was glad to have gotten Kendra’s perspective too though, and her understanding.

We talked a short while longer before Kendra managed to bully me into getting off the phone and grabbing something to eat before getting back to work. I wound up stopping off at a coffee shop and grabbing a prepackaged sandwich, a cup of tea, and a banana. I ate on the short drive to work and was surprised at how much better I felt with some food in my stomach, even though I hadn’t been hungry. My body had something other than my nerves to occupy it now.

The nerves didn’t go away fully. They came buzzing back as I reentered the building and rode the elevator up to my office. I was nearly there, key already in hand, when I heard a familiar voice.

The HR manager was nearby.

I paused and looked around and saw Sherri leaving another office a short way down the hall, a smile lingering on her face from the conversation just finished. She saw me and her smile grew. Hi, there, Morgan. How are you?

I swallowed hard. All at once, I knew what I had to do. This was my chance. It was now or never.

I’m okay. Can I talk to you about something in my office?

Sherri looked surprised, her smile falling into a slight frown. Well, of course.

I nodded my thanks and headed to my office door and unlocked it, and stepped inside. I turned on the light and moved aside to let Sherri in.

Sherri sniffed the air. Oh, what is that? It’s lovely.

That’s my candle. It’s maple syrup and blueberry pancakes. I pointed out the small, unlit candle perched on one of my filing cabinets. We were allowed small, homey touches in our offices as long as we were careful and didn’t go overboard with it. Cardboard cutouts of celebrities and blow-up dinosaurs were specifically not allowed, which meant other workers had tried them in the past. None of the higher-ups would talk about it, though. They just sighed and acquired mild shell-shocked expressions.

Sherri pushed the door shut behind her. It smells like the real thing. Where did you buy it?

My best friend makes a few candles every now and again. She gave me this one at some holiday or another. Thinking of Kendra helped to remind me why I was here, as if I needed the reminder. I swallowed hard. Sherri, I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just come right out with it. I need to put in my two weeks’ notice.

Sherri looked at me as though she didn’t understand, and then her mouth dropped open and she stared at me, clearly aghast. What on earth? Why? Has something happened?

I shook my head and sat down at my desk. Sherri hastened over to join me, pulling the other chair over so the desk wasn’t between us. I looked down at my hands, folded tightly in my lap. It’s not the job. It’s being away from my hometown and my family. It’s the city. I don’t feel right here, and I’ll never forgive myself if I just stay and be unhappy.

Sherri put her hand to her face and closed her eyes. She pulled in a deep breath. You’re one of our best workers.

I’m sorry.

No, no, she said quickly. I’m not guilt-tripping you. I’m saying that if this is how you perform when you’re unhappy, you’re going to excel when you get back home.

I lifted my head. Does that mean you approve?

Well, technically, I have no choice. I’m just concerned for you, dear. Where do you plan to go? What will you do?

I don’t know, I said. I haven’t gotten anything lined up. I just know that this is what I need to do.

Well, I’m glad that you’re following your heart. I’ll put your notice into the system. If you ever come back to the area, or if you need a reference letter, anything at all, you just let me know. Sherri put her hand over one of mine. I’m not saying that because it’s my job. I truly believe in you, Morgan. I’m here to help.

For what felt like the hundredth time that day, I had to hold back tears. Thank you so much.

Sherri nodded and smiled. I’ll get everything set up later tonight. You probably don’t need me to tell you what to do, but you might want to alert your clients to this change and think about setting them up with others that you recommend.

I nodded. Right.

Sherri patted my hand and stood. I walked with her to the door and watched as she went down the hall, until she turned out of sight.

I sighed and turned around. I had so much work to do now that I didn’t know where to start.

3

Anthony

"N

ow, let’s bow our heads in prayer. Speak with our Lord. Open your heart to him and let him bring you peace."

Everyone in the church pews bowed their heads, lifted their hands in prayer. I also bowed my head and closed my eyes, but I knew I wouldn’t be praying. I felt hollow and empty on the inside. God wasn’t there to listen to me. I didn’t know exactly where he was at all, if he had abandoned me or was busy elsewhere.

Truthfully, I didn’t know if he had ever been there. My faith was in shambles, these days.

I still went to church with my family, though. Sometimes. It was what they wanted, and I didn’t want to let them know that I was having this crisis of faith.

I opened my eyes and took a look around the church while everyone else was silent, focused on their prayers. A few people had tears on their faces as they prayed. We might have been simple farmers for the most part, but that didn’t mean we didn’t have things to worry about. Our success depended upon the ever-unpredictable weather and the health of our animals. We had financial issues, familial issues. Someone we knew was always hurt or sick. And there was the state of the world to consider. Plenty of prayer material.

A little girl sitting a couple people down from me was praying her little heart out, her lips moving while she pressed her clasped hands to her forehead. I watched her for a time, picking out the shape of a couple words here and there on her lips. Bicycle. Dress. Hamster.

I had to smile. Using Jesus like he was Santa Claus. Well, who knew? Maybe she’d wake up one morning to find her parents had bought her a bicycle and that would be just like a miracle to her.

If we think something is a miracle, does it matter if it really isn’t?

I was too much of a farm boy for such philosophical questions.

I kept up my survey of the church while the prayer went on. The pastor here always had very long prayer times. Something about giving us time to feel the Holy Spirit or something along those lines.

The usual families were here, every single one of them that normally attended. I could name them all. This being a small church, that meant the pews were crammed full. Children and babies sat on their parents’ laps or in the aisle in some cases.

The lighting was rather dim and sparse, warm-toned, painting the simple walls with areas of gold and smoky shadow. The few windows never let in as much light as it seemed they should have, and the only stained glass was two small panels on either side of a simple wooden cross behind the pulpit. The carpeting was cheap and green. It seemed to me that every church I had ever been in had the same type of carpeting.

Suddenly, I noticed someone in the pews, at the very back of the church. He was a very broad, very angular man, almost rectangular, from his wide shoulders down to his thickly muscled legs. His face was smooth, impassive in prayer, as though this was a business transaction rather than a religious experience.

Jude.

My best friend, once upon a time. He wasn’t a religious man, and I had only known him to attend church a couple times a year, usually around holidays. Yet he was there right now with his family.

Even though it had been such a long time since we last spoke, I knew that I wanted to go over and talk to him after the sermon. I had to find out what had brought him here. I hoped that something bad hadn’t happened, especially to...

The preacher suddenly called an end to the prayers. People were slow to react, needing to finish their trains of thought and say their Amens. I had just enough time to face forward again and act like I’d been praying the whole time before everyone started opening their eyes and looking around.

I glanced at my sides. No one seemed to have caught me. Well, except for that little girl who was still innocent enough to believe God could give her presents. She was staring at me, giggling in my direction.

Subtly, I put my finger to my lips.

She responded in kind. Then, her parents were scolding her, telling her to face forward and pay attention.

Finally, the sermon ended, and people began to filter out of the church. A couple stayed behind for more prayers or to get a chance to speak with the preacher in private. Jude was one of the people who stayed behind, surprising me even more than he already had.

This is your opportunity. Go on.

I slid out of the pew and made my way over to Jude. Hey, I called.

Jude looked up sharply. His black hair was shaven very short, and he had no bangs to speak of, meaning there was nothing to hide the way his brows shot up at the sight of me. Uh, hey, he responded in kind, his tone a little tense.

I held out my hand to him. It’s not often I see you in here.

Jude looked at my hand and then shook it. His grip was phenomenal. I was no small man and his hand engulfed mine. Yeah, well, I felt like I had some things to discuss with the big man upstairs, so I came out with everyone else.

Is everything okay?

With me? Yeah. Though there might be some changes coming to the farm pretty soon. Jude spoke evasively and it was clear he didn’t want me knowing what he was talking about.

I relented on my curiosity.

"How is the farm?" I asked him. His family were farmers, like mine, like most around here.

It’s going about how it should for this time of year, Jude said. One of our barn cats had kittens. She lost one.

Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Stray cats weren’t really an issue around here. Most of the big farms had thriving populations of semi-domesticated cats. The females tended to stay in one location while the males roamed, moving from barn to barn and creating the occasional litter along the way.

We loved our barn cats. They caught mice and rats, and they helped to discourage wild animals from coming near. There was nothing quite so terrifying as a group of three angry, terrified cats with fangs and claws out. Even the coyotes stayed away when cats were around. It was too much effort for a meal.

I wasn’t sure what others did at their farms, but at my family’s farm, we caught our cats and took them to the vet for all their shots and for any injuries. We fed them twice per day and made sure they had access to water. They were just another aspect of the job and they needed care, too.

Yeah, Jude said, nodding his broad head. We were watching her for signs. Knew where her nest was and everything. If she’d had them during the day, we could have tried to bring her to the vet. But she’s got four others to care for now. The other female cats are taking good care of her.

Do you know the father?

We’ve only got one male cat around right now and the kittens are all suspiciously his color. He’s been pretty useless so far. Just struts around with his tail up in the air, proud as can be.

I chuckled. Like most human fathers. Happy and useless.

Hey, I’ll have you know, when I was born, my dad wasn’t useless, Jude said. "He was worse than useless. He completely passed out."

I laughed.

How have things been going with you? Jude asked me.

Other than being outsmarted by a chicken, pretty good.

Oh, yeah? Jude asked. "I’ve got to hear about