Then it was gone and he just stared, his jaw loose, his brows drawn in confusion.
“I’m pregnant,” she said softly. “And I’m very much alone in the situation.”
“What?” Jonah repeated his question, louder this time. “Who’s the father? Where is he? How can you be alone?”
She swallowed, waiting for Dad to say something, but he seemed frozen. His mouth almost moved, but nothing came out. Maybe he was praying. Maybe he was trying not to scream and wake the whole house. Maybe he was putting together the words to disown her.
“Meredith.” It was all he could manage, the color draining from his face as he processed this news.
She sighed. “The father’s name is Trevor Whitlock, and I think I mentioned him to you before you came down here with Aunt Vivien in March. But it’s over. I’m alone now.”
Her father took a deep breath, then lifted Atlas an inch higher. “Jonah, can you take him, please?”
“Of course.” He shot around the island to ease the baby out of Dad’s hands without waking him. Seconds ticked by even though they did the hand-off in record time. And with each passing heartbeat, Meredith watched her father’s face and tried to brace for the reaction.
His chest heaved with a battle for air. His eyes narrowed. His jaw locked.
Here it comes.The great big, “How could you?” or, “What were you thinking?” or, “You’ve ruined your life!”
But he didn’t do any of that.
Instead, he turned away, lifting his arms slightly, palms up, eyes closed. “Thank you, Lord, for this incredible gift.” He mouthed the words, but she heard them. “Please help us as a family. Please give me your words. We need you.”
Wait.What? What did he—did he justpray?
Then he opened his eyes and looked right at Meredith, his arms still out as he rounded the island.
“One thing you are not, Meredith Lawson, is alone.”
She hesitated. “You aren’t mad?”
“Next-level furious,” he said gruffly. “Could definitely murder someone. But not you. You’re my daughter. Come here.”
She practically fell into his arms, but the hug felt…undeserved. She inched back, knowing there was even more bad news.
“Dad, it’s worse than you think. It was a brief and meaningless liaison.” She flinched as she said the word.
“I’m getting that impression,” he said, stroking her hair and bringing her back to hug. “And I’m trying to tell you that I’m not upset. Well, I am, but I’m also processing the fact that you’re having a baby. A baby!”
Not upset? He would be.
She swallowed and pushed back. “There’s more. I didn’t know this. He didn’t tell me, but he’s married, Dad.”
He winced and let out a grunt and a moan like the words punched him in the throat.
“I swear I didn’t know. I would never have?—”
Pain contorted his features as he grimaced and took the blow. “What a horrible man,” he murmured, barely audible over Jonah’s grumbling and name-calling.
“He doesn’t want anything to do with the baby,” she said.
“Of course not,” Jonah snapped. “Because he’s sub-human.”
“Jonah.” Dad held up a hand, quieting him and getting control. “Are you sure about all of this?”
He sounded like he wanted it to be a bad dream that he’d wake from. And, oh, how she longed for it to be just that.
“I’m positive,” she said. “I talked to him, and he freaked. That’s when he told me he was married, which I swear he never, ever mentioned or implied.”
