“Emily.”
I stop and Dad turns with me as Jaxon walks up with Roger trailing a few feet behind, watching but not coming closer. It's been a long time since I saw Roger up close and personal and I notice that his eyes are sunken. He looks so much older—I guess grief will do that to a man.
"What is it?" I ask, turning and pausing. Dad hovers beside me, glancing up at Roger and Jaxon expectantly. It's hard not having told anyone the truth. At any second, Jaxon could ask something that would blow up into a whole lot of drama, and that puts me on edge. All Dad knows is that Jaxon broke my heart and I'm having a hard time dealing with repressed anger.
"I was hoping we could talk?" He looks so hopeful, my poor broken heart wants to cave in and say yes. But the very hint of vulnerability makes my body seize up and my blood pressure rise. I clamp up like a rusty bolt and shake my head.
"No, thank you. We don't really have anything to discuss right now… Unless this is about bakery repairs." I look up at Roger, whose expression is still solemn. I don’t want him to think any ofthis is about him because it's not. At this point, it's all about my terror and the panic I feel swelling up in my chest.
"Em, seriously?" Jaxon asks, scowling, but Roger clears his throat. I've known that man long enough to know he's trying to rein his own son in.
My own father must realize the tension between us because he puts a hand on my shoulder. “Come on, Emily. Let’s head home.”
Jaxon lingers, frowning at me as I turn toward my father and start walking. I can't help but feel like none of this should even be happening. I don't regret having Mercy for one second—she's my whole world right now. But honestly, if Jaxon had only called home even one time, maybe I wouldn't have felt so hurt by him that I kept this all a secret for so long. Now I’m in so deep, the only person in the world who won't be mad at me if this thing comes out is Mercy.
Dad and I climb into the truck and he pulls out. The ride is quiet for the first few blocks before he clears his throat. Before he even opens his mouth, I start feeling like I'm going to explode. “You want to tell me what that was about?”
I stare out the side window at the passing trees. “It is complicated.”
“What's so complicated that makes a breakup eight years ago cause Jaxon to act like that tonight?” Dad’s voice stays calm, but I hear the worry in his tone. “You two have history. I know that. But this feels like more.”
I let out a shaky breath. This is all gonna go pear-shaped real fast because Jaxon can't let it go. And when it does, I want the people I love most to be on my side, not fighting me. If I don't say something to someone, I'm going to go insane, so I blurt out,“There is a chance Mercy is Jaxon’s.” Then I immediately feel like I might vomit.
"Mmm," Dad hums, which only makes my nerves fray more intensely. I'm an adult and he won't lecture me, but I can tell he's not really happy with me right now. “A chance?”
I close my eyes for a second and try to hold back the goddamn flood of tears. “A hundred percent chance," I mumble, then I cover my face with my hands.
“Jesus, Emily.”
“I know.” My voice cracks. Tears burn behind my eyes and I press my fingers to them, trying to hold everything back. “I know what I did. I was scared and he was gone and I thought he was never coming back… Roger and Chelsie thought he was dead, Dad. The whole town did."
"Mmm," he hums again. I can't even look at him from the shame. My ears are burning and my face is hot. But when he reaches over and grabs my shoulder, I feel a bit of relief. "Look, kid, we'll figure it out… But a man has a right to know his own child."
He doesn't have to say it. I know that. I know everything he could ever think up to say to me to make me feel like the worm I am. I have said all those things to myself a thousand times already. I don't need to hear him say it.
But I know I can't do this on my own. Enduring his disappointment and potentially his tough love is my only option because I need help.
"Dad… What do I do?" I ask, and I look up at him and let him see the agony I'm in.
One way or another, I have to fight through this and do the right thing, even if it means exposing myself to a lot more pain before it's over.
15
JAXON
When I pull up in front of the bank ten minutes until opening, I can't even see an open spot for blocks. I'd forgotten all about Beaufort's spring farmer's market on Saturday mornings. The booths and tents line the entire court square block and stretch every direction at least one block, if not more. There's nowhere to park close by and even if there were, there’s a sea of people to wade through.
"Christ," I grumble, looking down at my phone. I have a few minutes to kill and a lot on my mind.
I stare out at the sea of people wondering if Emily is one of them out there, buying up produce and wares from local vendors. No matter what angle I come at her, she throws up a wall. I've decided maybe it's me—maybe I'm pushing too hard right off the bat and maybe she'll calm down and come around to talk to me about her little girl if I give her some space. She probably sees me as a threat because I got so angry the first time I saw her.
Besides, I have a while to process the fact that my high school sweetheart had a baby without telling me. What I don't haveis time to sort out this issue with Victor Langford pushing his developments on this small town. It's like all the shop owners cowered and bowed out without fighting. Not one of them thought of the others and what people would be losing or what the town would endure.
If no one else is going to fight, I can't give up. Businesses like my father's construction company and Emily's bakery belong on that boardwalk, not some fancy high-rise hotel that will drag hundreds or thousands of people every year through our streets. Langford is being too pushy and as far as I know, he may even be breaking laws. I have to stop him.
So I dial up Kyle, who did say if I need anything, I could call him. His leave is almost up and he'll be going back to the ship, but if he has a few days to throw at this problem, he's the guy I need on it. His background in security and tech makes him the one trustworthy person I know who could snoop around Langford without getting caught.
"Hey, yo, Jaxon… It's early, man. What's up?"
