Page 83 of Derecho

“Did you ever decide what you wanted to do with the letter from Dakota?” I asked, trying to take the attention off of me. “I saw it on the counter again this morning.”

He nodded, looking down the road in front of us. “I thought tonight, maybe after Reid goes to bed, we could use the fire pit out back.”

“You want to burn the letter?” I didn’t blame him for wanting to get rid of it, but I wanted to be sure that whatever decision he made, he felt completely ready for it to be final.

“I don’t need to keep it anymore.”

“What did Sloane say?”

Lachlan reached over, adjusting Reid’s sun hat. “She agrees that it’s healthy to keep that chapter closed.”

“Alright. Then we’ll shut that door tonight. Together.”

“Thank you.”

“I don’t know if you want to thank me just yet. I do require marshmallows and chocolate at all campfire activities.”

“It’s not really a campfire,” he teased.

“You didn’t let me finish. Campfire and campfire adjacent.”

“If you want marshmallows and chocolate, I’ll make sure we have it there.”

“You’re the best.” I laughed as we came around the curve in the road right before the house came back into view. “This walk was so nice. Is your leg doing okay?”

“It’s fine. Figure I need to be on it more in the next few months so I’m ready for when Reid starts boot scoot and boogieing all over the house.”

“I can’t believe he’s almost a month old already. It feels like time is just fly⁠—”

There was a truck in the driveway, one that didn’t belong to Lachlan or any of the Fords. And its driver was standing outside, staring right at us.

“Lachlan.” I grabbed his arm, my other hand coming up to cover Reid’s back, even though he was strapped into the carrier on my chest.

I felt it, the instant Lach realized why I was frozen in place. He looked at me, blinking once before turning to the driveway.

Greg was leaning against his truck, the smirk on his face unbearable as Lachlan walked up to him.

“Get the fuck off my property,” he growled. “Lainey, take the baby inside.”

I felt relief wash over me, knowing Lach hadn’t said Reid’s name. There was no reason for Greg to ever know it. I hadn’t listed him as the father. He was free to go live his life with his perfect family.

“You didn’t put me on the birth certificate,” Greg hissed, his eyes unblinking as he waited for my reply. “That’s my son you gave the wrong last name to. You fucking bitch.”

The way Greg sneered made my skin crawl. “You think you’re going to keep him away from me now? You think I won’t use every fucking connection I have in this town to ruin you, Lainey? I don’t even want the little bastard, but I’m going to have so much fun taking him from you.”

“He is NOT your son!” I shouted. “He is mine. What the hell are you even thinking? Your wife isn’t going to want my child around. Leave us alone.”

“Lainey.” Lachlan said my name, but his eyes were locked on Greg. “Go inside and call my dad. Now.”

“Yeah, run away, Lainey,” Greg mocked. “It won’t change the fact that I’ll be right back here in a few days to pick up my son. I told you, he’s not staying with you. You’re nothing but the pathetic slut I accidentally knocked up.”

Lachlan’s body went so still I thought something was wrong with him. But his eyes flickered to mine for just one second before he nodded, tipping his head toward the house. I stormed up the porch steps, ripped the front door open, and flew into the kitchen where I’d left my phone.

“Hey, kiddo,” Daniel answered. “Ready to call in the Grandparent Cavalry for some Reid watching?”

“Danny. I need your help.”

His response was immediate. “What’s going on?”