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I glance at my minibar and the urge to drink is ever-present, but I can’t do it. I can’t go back to my old ways. I have a child on the way and a wife to look after, drinking my problems away won’t solve anything.
There is a knock at the door, and I glance up as Judy stands in the doorway. Shock colors my face as I hadn’t expected to see her.
Why is Judy here?
I clear my throat and loosen my tie. “How can I help you?”
She sits in front of me with her head down. “You were right.” Her eyes meet mine. Shame clouds her face and tears run down her cheeks. “I have been letting guilt eat at me, and my husband would have wanted me to come clean about what I saw the night of your mother’s death.” She reaches into her purse and hands me a thumb drive. “Whatever you do, please don’t get me locked up. I have two grandchildren who have autism, and they are nonverbal. I need to take care of them. Their mother isn’t a good person and their father abandoned them. Please.” She wipes the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.
I was never going to turn her in. I just wanted my mother to get justice.
I have grown soft.
And I don’t like it.
Loving Poppy has softened my cold heart.
Poppy makes me a better person.
I need her.
Nodding, I take the thumb drive from Judy, and she gets up from the chair. “Thank you,” she tells me.
She disappears from my office and I slide the thumb drive into my computer. I wiggle the mouse and a video pops up. She had the video that shows what happened to my mother all along.
I fiddle with my wedding band. I should take it off, but I can’t bring myself to do it because I still love Poppy. I still want her more than ever. I don’t want to watch the video without her, so I hit Pause and grab my phone. I get up from the desk chair and pace my office back and forth.
Fear wraps around my chest, squeezing the life out of me.
What if she doesn’t pick up?
I dial her number, and it rings two times before going straight to voicemail. She hit the End button. I call her again. She doesn’t answer, so I shoot her a text.
Me: We need to talk. I know we’re at odds with each other, but I need you.
She reads it right away. When the three dots pop up, my heart swells in my chest. It was stupid to go to her after I accused her of trying to trap me with a baby. I’m a fucking moron.
Instead of a text message, my phone rings and her name pops up on my screen. With my pulse jumping out of my neck, I swipe the Answer button and hold the phone to my ear.
“What is it?” she snaps.
“I need you to meet me in my office in an hour.”
“Why?”
I hate exposing myself, but she did tell me Judy was going to come around soon, and I don’t want to face this alone without her.
“Judy stopped by, and I want to look at the footage she gave me of my mother. I know we’re not on good terms right now, but I need you here with me. I can’t watch the video without you. Please.”
She sucks in a breath. “Please don’t make me regret this, Jasper.” The line goes dead.
I glance at my watch, knowing she’ll be here in an hour. I’m nervous. I know I said some things to hurt her, and I regret it all. My new assistant, Chase, walks in with a tablet in hand and he tells me my schedule for the rest of the day.
The anticipation is killing me.
All I do is think about her.
An hour goes by before she walks into my office, wearing a polka-dot skirt. Poppy removes her jacket and hangs it on the back of the chair opposite my desk, and she looks around the room. My heart drops in my chest seeing her look so radiant. My eyes venture down to her stomach, wondering how our baby is doing.
