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“This story is about Will’s cousin Henry. Sorry, Lily, I wouldn’t bring him up if I didn’t feel it was vital to my situation.” She shrugged as ifwhatever. “You can’t repeat this to anyone. Do you all understand?”
Again, they nodded with stupid cheesy grins on their flushed faces.
“During his fourth year of college, Will’s Uncle Peter got his girlfriend, Diana, pregnant. Now, this didn’t happen that long ago, but it was still scandalous for the St. James family. Diana was only eighteen and not of the same social status—well below them in fact—and Peter wouldn’t have married her because of it. Are you following me so far?”
They nodded with intrigued expressions this time.
I exhaled a calming breath and resumed the story. “So, Will’s grandfather gave Henry’s mother one million dollars to sign over her parental rights to Peter. It was a known fact the St. James raised their own. Diana was given no other choice but to accept the money. I’m sure it had killed her to give up her baby.”
My trio of friends all appeared somber as I paused to take a sip of my water.
I cleared my throat and picked up where I left off. “During Henry’s childhood, he only saw his mom on Mother’s Day, every other Christmas, and three weeks during the summer. Now that he’s an adult, he sees her whenever he wants, but imagine the heartache for both mother and son being separated during his childhood. I’m sure it strained their relationship too.” I took a deep breath to settle my nerves. This next part was why I’d kept the baby a secret. “Guys, when Will told me this story, my heart broke for Diana. Even Will had difficulty sharing it with me. Just imagine how you’d feel, knowing your family took your cousin from his mother, but the story gives me pause. I’m afraid to tell him about the baby if we’re not going to be together.”
Their grim faces told me they understood what I was saying.
“Now I get it. You’re worried he’ll take the baby from you if you dumped him!” Lily’s voice cracked there at the end.
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” Exasperated didn’t come close to how I felt. “I’ve always believed Will was better than his father and grandfather, less ruthless. Will has always been so sweet and loving to me, but the last couple of months, really since Jason’s been in town, Will’s changed. I’m sure it has to do with his lover.” Mentioningherstripped me raw.
“You can’t tell him,” Tate declared before taking another shot of tequila. “You can’t give him an opportunity to take your baby.”
“But it’s his baby too,” Viv countered. “He has rights.”
“I don’t give a damn about his rights. He’s a lying, cheating scumbag.”
“He has rights,” Viv repeated firmly. Her resolute response made me quake inside. “How would you feel if I did that to you?”
“Would never happen.” Tate forcefully shook his head. “Because I’m not a lying, cheating scumbag! Is that the kind father you want for Miranda’s baby?” Tate asked, staring Viv down. I’d never seen him look at her with such a sour expression.
“I can’t lose my baby, Viv.” I interrupted their stare-down. “And I can’t be with Will if he’s going to be unfaithful for the rest of our lives. I would go crazy. This isn’t just about his rights. It’s about mine too.”
“There are laws to protect both of you. You could have shared custody,” Viv said as if shared custody would be no big deal.
I could tell she was trying to comfort me, but it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. “You think having my baby only part of the time is a good thing?” I tried to stay calm, but Viv’s reaction to all this wasn’t what I’d expected.
My stomach started doing flips. I shouldn’t have eaten all that pizza and brownies.
“I didn’t say it was the best solution, but you wouldn’t lose your baby altogether,” she explained.
“Babe, you’re out of your fucking mind.” Tate cut his dark eyes to Viv, aghast. Now I knew he’d had too much tequila. He was seriously getting hot under the collar with his wife.
“Viv, I couldn’t nurse the baby full time or bond the way I’ve always dreamed of. I can’t be a part-time parent.” I choked back tears. “This isn’t how it was supposed to be.”
Through the back and forth with Viv and Tate, Lily had remained quiet. After several minutes of silence and stare-downs, the conversation took a turn I wasn’t expecting.
“You could leave.”
“What?” I blinked several times, not sure I heard Lily right.
“Okay, hear me out on this. Break up with Will and move out of California. Never tell him about the baby.”
I was pretty damn sure she stunned us all.
The room fell into an eerie stillness as we processed Lily’s idea. It seemed incredibly wrong… and yet I considered it. I would choose my baby over the man I loved in a heartbeat, but could this crazy plan work?
“I think that’s over the top.” Viv shook her head, utterly appalled. “How can you even suggest it?”
“I don’t think it is. As much as I’d miss you, I want you to be with your baby.” Tate smiled, taking my hand.
