Page 46 of Derecho

“No. He’s not. I’m a mom, but he’ll never be anything to either of us ever again. I can’t believe the one thing I never wanted is exactly where my life ended up.”

“Where?”

“I’m a single mom. The man I…he’s never going to…and I’m responsible for it all.”

“No. None of this is your fault.”

“It is. I should have left him before I got pregnant.”

“How could you have known this was going on?”

“I should have seen the signs. Read the room. Listened to the way my sister noticed everything and tried to warn me.”

Lachlan sighed, his hand running over his face. “It’s not healthy to think that way. If I said something like that in one of my sessions, Sloane would set me straight right away.”

My hands dropped away from my face as I groaned. “So you’re a therapist now?”

Lachlan chuckled. “I might have picked up one or two helpful things in my sessions. Don’t tell Sloane I said that.”

“Your secret’s safe with me. Just like I hope mine are with you.”

He shook his head, looking over his shoulder out into the hallway. For a split second, my heart jumped, scared that his family was somehow there and had heard my confession. But it was only us here.

“I don’t think you should keep what he did a secret. Everyone in this fucking town should know what a scumbag he is so they can have your back.”

“That won’t happen. The Lourys are almost as influential in this town as your family. Look at what happened when I tried to get that order of protection. Greg’s uncle is a Clarence County judge. I don’t want that kind of attention. I…” My hand went to my belly, smoothing the fabric of my shirt over my bump. “I will have to live every day knowing we’ve never been wanted.”

“Maybe you’ll think that from time to time.” Lach sighed, shaking his head. “But I’ll be here to remind you why that isn’t true. Okay?”

“Thank you. I shouldn’t have gotten so upset. It doesn’t matter. I’m not putting his name on the birth certificate. I’m not giving him those rights. He wants them, he can come try to take them. Let him explain that to Jasmine.”

“You shouldn’t have to do it all on your own. You should get child support from him. Forget about him being a part of the baby’s life, but you shouldn’t have all of the financial burden on yourself.”

I snorted. It was an incredibly ridiculous sounding one, too. The kind that is filled with every ounce of incredulousness in your body. But it didn’t phase Lachlan. He just sat, his hand rubbing his left leg, staring at me.

“We shouldn’t be sitting here on the floor. I’m sorry. That has to be really uncomfortable for you.”

“I’m fine.”

“Well, I’m okay. All cried out. Nothing more to throw up. I think…we should probably say goodnight.”

He nodded, getting up to his feet before offering his hand to me. Somehow, between the two of us, we managed to hoist me up. Lachlan disappeared downstairs while I brushed my teeth before waddling back to my room, another round of tears pressing violently against the back of my eyes as I climbed into bed.

He walked back into the room, setting a glass of water and a slice of pie on the nightstand, his eyes bouncing over my face.

“Could you stay?” I asked, heat flooding my face at the ridiculous question. Why the hell had I asked that of him?

“Of course I can.” Lachlan’s cane leaned against the wall and I moved over, allowing him plenty of room to sit. He stayed on top of the comforters, but sank down, opening his arms to me.

I wasn’t going to push away the comfort I desperately needed. “Thank you,” I whispered as I rested my cheek over his heart.

“I’ve got you. Just close your eyes and rest. Tomorrow’s a new day. And it’s going to be great.”

Lachlan

I’d woken a few minutes ago, a little thump against my side jolting me from that twilight feeling into full consciousness. I didn’t dare move, didn’t dare reach out and place my hand against Lainey’s stomach.

But I wanted to.