Unexpectedly Expecting || BWWM

The week flew by, and I'd been seeing Jeffrey far too often. Every time he stopped by the store, he came bearing gifts for the baby—clothes, bottles, pacifiers. Yesterday, I found a shipment of diapers on my doorstep. He seemed more like the father than Dean, though I couldn't exactly blame Dean for his absence. He had no idea he was going to be a dad.

Jeffrey's kindness weighed on me. The more he gave, the more guilty I felt for not telling him the full truth. He thought this baby was some anonymous child he could spoil, never realizing that it was his grandchild. I knew I had to tell him.

It wasn't about the gifts or his generosity. It was about doing what was right.

The bookstore was quiet as usual. My shift was halfway over, and boredom had taken over. I'd spent the last hour flipping through the magazine with Dean on the cover, trying to piece together who he was now versus the man I'd met. The articles painted him as a playboy—pictures of him with different women, at clubs, always charming, always carefree.

It made my stomach churn. How could someone so reckless also be the father of my child?

The bell above the door chimed, and I quickly slid the magazine away from me. Jeffrey walked in, a wide smile on his face and a bag in hand.

"Jeffrey, you've got to stop," I said, laughing as he placed the bag on the counter. "I don't have room for all these gifts."

"I know, I know," he said, his tone light. "I just can't help myself."

I peeked into the bag and saw more baby clothes—neutral colors, practical for a boy or girl. Some were even toddler-sized.

"I really appreciate this," I said, smiling up at him.

"Of course. I'm not sure my son will ever give me grandkids, so I might as well spoil you and this little one while I can," he joked, chuckling softly.

His words hit me like a brick. My smile faltered, and I looked away, fidgeting with my hands. I couldn't keep this from him any longer. He deserved to know the truth.

"Jeffrey," I started, my voice shaky, "I have something to tell you."

He noticed my tone and set his other bag down, his expression shifting to concern. "What is it?"

I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. "This baby... I know who the father is."

His eyes lit up, his concern turning into a warm smile. "That's wonderful, Ivory. Have you told him yet?"

"No." I swallowed hard, my hands gripping the counter. "The thing is... he's someone very prominent, and I'm not sure how to tell him."

Jeffrey's gaze dropped to the counter where I'd moved the magazine. His eyes narrowed slightly as realization dawned on him.

"Ivory," he said slowly, his voice careful, "who is it?"

I took a deep breath and forced myself to meet his eyes. "Jeffrey... it's your son."

The silence that followed was deafening. Jeffrey's warm, friendly demeanor vanished, replaced by a guarded, unreadable expression.

"How do you know it's his?" he asked, his tone measured.

"He's the only one I've been with," I said firmly. "It has to be him."

Jeffrey let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. For the first time since I'd met him, he looked genuinely upset.

"And you're telling me this now?" he said, his voice laced with frustration. "After asking me about Dean, about Keller Enterprises... how do I know this isn't about money?"

His words cut deep, but I couldn't blame him for being cautious. I squared my shoulders and met his gaze.

"I'm not asking for anything," I said, my voice steady. "I didn't know who Dean was when I met him. I didn't even know who you were when I started working here. I'm telling you now because it's the right thing to do. You deserve to know the truth."

Jeffrey studied me for a long moment, his expression softening slightly. "And you're sure about this? You're not just trying to..."

"I'm not trying to do anything but make sure this baby has the chance to know their family," I interrupted. "I've been supporting myself, working hard to prepare for this baby. I don't need your money, Jeffrey. I just thought you'd want to know."

He sighed again, rubbing his temples. "I'm sorry. You're a brave young woman, I'll give you that. And I can see you're not lying."

I relaxed slightly, though my nerves were still frayed.

"I'll talk to Dean," Jeffrey said after a moment.

"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "I want to tell him. I just need to figure out how."

Jeffrey frowned but nodded. "I'll have his assistant arrange a meeting. Dean's office is more private than his apartment, and you'll be able to speak to him without interruptions."

"Are you sure he won't be... upset?" I asked hesitantly.

Jeffrey chuckled softly, his demeanor finally softening. "That, I can't guarantee. But if he gives you any trouble, you call me. Understood?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety.

Jeffrey stepped around the counter and pulled me into a warm, fatherly hug. "You'll be fine, Ivory. No matter what happens, I'll be here for you. That's my grandbaby in there."

I blinked back tears, overwhelmed by his kindness. "Thank you, Jeffrey."

He pulled back and gave me a reassuring smile. "Go home, get some rest. I'll have his assistant reach out to you soon."

I nodded, grabbing my bag and the gift he'd brought before heading to the door.

As I walked to my car, I couldn't shake the nerves building in my chest. Telling Jeffrey had been hard enough. Telling Dean would be a whole other battle.