Page 24 of Unmasked

“Congratulations,” Everleigh said quietly. “I’m happy for you both.”

Jaxon’s gaze flicked back to her, and he grinned. “There’s about to be a whole lot of hormones flying around here, so be careful. Maya’s pregnant”—he pointed at the blue-eyed blonde next to Aiden—“and if I haven’t missed my guess, I’d say Audrey is too.”

Adalyn and Everleigh both glanced over at the willowy redhead.

“Really?” Adalyn asked.

“Mhmm… Definitely something in the water around here. Better watch out.” Jaxon grinned down at Everleigh.

She forced a smile, glancing down at Jaclyn to hide the sudden blur of tears filling her eyes. “I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that.”

Her heart ached as she shifted Jaclyn the slightest bit. The little girl tipped her head up to study her, and Everleigh looked into her gray eyes, so much like her mother’s. As she peered up at her, Everleigh imagined them a dark, chocolatey brown, her hair the color of cocoa. In another lifetime, had everything not gone so wrong between her and Knox, this could have been their little girl.

The sound of welcome cheers filled the air, drawing her attention to the corner of the house by the driveway. She turned, and her gaze clashed with a pair of dark eyes that she knew as well as her own, yet were as unfamiliar as a stranger’s. From his place across the yard, Knox stared at her, face white like he'd seen a ghost.

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

THEN

Knox wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and took several deep swallows of the water he poured from the tap. The crunch of tires on the driveway pulled his gaze to the ancient clock over the kitchen table, and he lifted a brow. Vivi was at her friend’s house that afternoon, and she wasn’t due home for another forty-five minutes. He had just finished mowing two lawns and had hoped to take a shower and get dinner started before she got there.

Setting the glass down, he cut through the living room and made his way to the front of the house. As soon as he opened the door, he halted mid-step. Conrad Beaumont stood in the driveway next to his expensive Mercedes. Their eyes met, and Knox dipped his head respectfully as he stepped onto the porch and closed the screen door behind him. “Sir.”

“Mr. Castillo.”

Every muscle in Knox’s body tensed as Beaumont moved forward. He paused at the base of the stairs, as if he couldn't bring himself to actually step foot near any part of the house, the porch included. He gazed up at Knox. “I'm here to talk about Everleigh.”

Knox felt a surge of dread. He had known they couldn't hide it forever, so he drew on every reserve of strength he had and hoped for the best. “Sir, I just want to start by saying that I love your daughter very much.”

“I know you do, which makes this all the harder.”

Knox was so surprised by his words that he almost missed the second part of the statement. He swallowed hard as a sense of anxiety and foreboding curled through his gut. “What's that?”

Mr. Beaumont drew in a deep breath, his chest and shoulders rising with emotion. “Everleigh told me about the baby.”

Everything inside Knox froze as he stared at him. He had expected anger. Disappointment. Fury. Instead, Beaumont looked… sad. “Is everything okay?” Worry slid like ice down Knox’s spine as Beaumont shook his head.

“No, it's not. Everleigh...” He gave his head a little shake. “She has her whole life ahead of her. Soon she'll be off to college. I’m an alumnus of Georgetown, did you know that?”

Knox hadn’t. He didn’t even know where that was, not that he cared. His head was spinning at the abrupt change of topic. “No, sir.”

Beaumont gave a perfunctory nod. “I’d like Everleigh to go there, too. Family tradition. I’m sure you can understand that.”

Knox swallowed down the sick feeling that was creeping up his throat. Why was Beaumont telling him all this? He didn’t have anything against Everleigh going to school, but this wasn’t at all what they had talked about. It was going to be incredibly difficult for her to attend classes while caring for their baby, especially if Knox was overseas. Not to mention the cost. He couldn’t begin to imagine what a school like that charged. If they could find her something online, so she could study from home…

Mr. Beaumont seemed to read his mind, because he shook his head. “She just has too much ahead of her to be saddled with a baby.”

The way he said it made Knox’s blood run cold. “What are you talking about?”

Mr. Beaumont sighed. “Look, son. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Everleigh asked me to come tell you.”

“Tell me what?” Knox’s hands clenched nervously by his sides and his body trembled with barely restrained emotion.

“Everleigh went to see a doctor yesterday.” He hesitated, his eyes fixed on the ground near his feet. “The pregnancy’s been terminated.”

No. Knox felt his mouth open, but no words came out. He couldn't believe it. He managed a slow shake of his head. “She wouldn't…”