AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you want to see him?” My hands hold her shoulders.
The usual strength she portrays has evaporated. This is fragile May, not the woman I’ve become accustomed to being around.
“Yes, of course I want to. He’s my son. Whatever has happened in the past is in the past. I only hope he can forgive me for what I’ve done to his family.” Her head falls.
“May, look at me...” I wait for her eyes to meet mine. “What I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room. Do you understand?”
She blinks.
“Do you understand?” I push.
“Yes, okay. What’s wrong? Are you all right?” There’s the May I know.
I release her arms, and my hand comes up and runs through my long, brown locks. I take a deep breath and release it slowly. “I’m...I’m pregnant.”
Her mouth falls open. “What?” she practically screams.
“Shh...don’t yell, or the boys will come rushing in here, and I don’t want them to know. Well, Landon already knows, but Hunter doesn’t.” I blurt it all out so fast that it’s a wonder it makes any sense.
May holds her hand up, stopping me. “Hunter is the father, and he doesn’t know?” There’s no missing the concern in her question.
“That’s right. I can’t tell him, or he won’t let me be a part of all this and finally get everything sorted out. Hopefully, when I do tell him, it will be the start of a peaceful time between the families.”
May takes my hands. “I’m so happy,” she whispers before pulling me in for a hug.
“Please don’t tell him, May.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” She grips my body tighter, then releases me. “How far along?”
I shrug. “I think it’s very early on. Maybe five weeks? I’ll get a checkup once things settle down and I’m a little further along.”
“Okay. Oh my goodness. I’m going to be a great granny. I don’t feel old enough for that.” She giggles to herself.
“All right, let’s go get this sorted,” I say and turn toward the door. It’s as though a weight has lifted off my shoulders.
Telling May was the right thing to do.
* * *
I feel sick.
There’s a turbulent storm brewing within me, and unease sits in the pit of my stomach. My father is here. I don’t know what to expect.
Is he going to be vile to me like he was when he rang me? Is he going to try to kill me?
The sliding door opens, and I sit at the dining table, my hands twisting together. The sun has completely set now, and darkness surrounds the house, but lights fill the home.
May’s hand rests over mine as she sits on the chair beside me. I glance over at her, and she gives me a warm, calming smile. It still doesn’t settle my nerves.
Hunter walks in, followed by the man who stood out in front of my apartment all those months ago, and Landon brings up the rear. He’s not holding his gun, so there must not be a threat.
May stands and races over to her son. “Oh, Arthur,” she cries out, wrapping her arms around a man who has seen better days and is in need of a good scrub in the shower.
His clothes are ripped in places, and a coat hangs over his frail-looking body. I didn’t think he might be without running water and clothes in the cabin that Landon told me about.
I don’t move, watching curiously as May and the man she called Arthur hug again. Hunter has made his way to me and stands behind my chair. His presence brings comfort, but a tumble of nerves still rolls about in my gut.
“Hello, Mother,” he says, his voice deep and not threatening like it was over the phone.
