Page 65 of View With Your Heart

“Son,” I huff. I have a son! I spin back to Britton, giving myself whiplash. “Speak.”

“I came up here when I found out I was pregnant. I had to quit dancing, and I had nowhere else to go. Leo and Gertie were the only family I had. I’d met Patrick before you and I were together, but we were only friends. When I left the dance company, he sought me out. I didn’t feel right being with him. Gee wasn’t his, but I was alone, Gavin. Gertie was ill, and I couldn’t raise a baby here when they had so many other issues. I returned to Grand Rapids after Gee was born, after Gertie passed away, and married Patrick. I didn’t want to be alone.” She swipes at a tear.

“But now you’re here,” I state the obvious.

“When Patrick was diagnosed, we didn’t know how long he’d have, but we knew the inevitable. It wasn’t going to be long. I hadn’t worked since Gee’s birth because Patrick was financially sound. He wanted to know my secondary dream after dancing, like I told you. I loved it up here, and I’d always wanted to own my own business. Patrick helped me do the research, secure a loan, and put everything in place so when the time came, I could move here.”

She pauses to take a deep breath, swiping at more tears.

“He always hoped you’d find your way back to me and make your claim as Gee’s father.”

“How fucking noble of him,” I snark. I can’t think about some other guy raising my child right now.

“That’s not necessary,” Dad adds, and I shift so I can view all of them at once.

“Necessary? Perhaps it might have been necessary for someone to tell me I have a fucking kid.” My voice rises with each word.

Mum blinks, looking from Dad to me. “I couldn’t be certain, but he looks so much like you did at his age. How do you ask someone a question like that, though?” Mum glances at Britton, concern in her eyes.

“You ask,” I yell, slipping both hands into my hair again.

“How was I to know, though, lovie? You haven’t been back here since you were eighteen. He’s only twelve.”

My mouth opens and then closes, accepting I’d lied to my parents. They had no idea I was back here for a weekend all those years ago. They had no idea there’d been another time with Britton.

“How could this happen?” Dad wonders, realizing eighteen and twelve don’t equal thirty-eight. I ignore him, not ready for my own confession.

“I can’t think right now,” I say, so angry, so hurt. My eyes leap back to Britton, staring at a woman I once loved. A woman I recently reconnected with and didn’t want to lose again from my life. I thought I was falling in love with her again. Now, we’ll be joined together forever in some manner, but I don’t know this woman.

“You lied to me,” I blurt.

“I did.” At least, she has the decency to admit it. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. Even though Gee and I are here, you never came home.”

“Did you do this on purpose? Were you trying to insert yourself into my family? Into my home? Were you hoping they’d accept you without me?”

“This isn’t your home, Gavin. You say it all the time. And your family had no idea who Gee is. I thought your mother might suspect as she comes into the tea shop often enough and sees Gee at all the baseball games and school functions, but she never asked, and I didn’t know how to tell her.” Britton looks at Mum, who returns Britton’s gaze with . . . compassion.

Is she fucking kidding me? This woman lied to them. She withheld the truth from me.

I have a son!

“He’s mine,” I growl, and Britton’s eyes widen. “Does he know?”

Stepping up to me, she puts out her hands. “Gavin, please don’t do anything rash.” Essentially, she’s answered my question, but I don’t want to make any more assumptions.

“He’s my son. I haven’t known him for his entire life. I think I’m allowed to be a little irrational at the moment, so I’ll ask again. Does he know?” I grit through my teeth, and Britton shakes her head.

“Please, Gavin. He’s all I have.” More tears fill her eyes and silently spill down her cheeks. I can’t look at her. I don’t want to feel sorry for her. Turning away, I reply to the emptiness around us.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.” I step between Britton and my parents, but my dad catches my upper arm. I glare down at his grip and then look up at him.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to think.”

“You have responsibilities now.”

“Are you kidding me?” I slough off his grasp. I would have always been responsible if I’d only known the truth. After a final glance at Britton, I look away from her and continue across the gravel lot for my car. I need to get out of here.