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“You aren’t leaving the state,” I respond firmly, my fingernails digging into my palms as I try to rein in my emotions.
“I’m not trying to, Nox. I’ll go back to Richmond Hills, but I’ll figure out a place to stay. Thank you.”
“Have the kit delivered to my room, 4127… But there’s no doubt in my mind what those results will be.” I know the truth. One look is all it took, and I’m sure of it.
“Okay,” she whispers as she leans into her son, pressing a kiss onto the crown of his black hair. Another Monroe trait. All the men in my family have jet-black hair.
I can't resist the urge to ask the next thought that crosses my mind. The need to know is overwhelming. “What’s his name?”
For the first time since she saw me, a real smile graces Emerson’s face as she looks at her son. “Kiran.”
It fits him well. So many more questions clog my throat, and I have to force myself to pull my eyes away from him. I feel a protectiveness over him I haven’t felt since Emerson moved in next door all those years ago. But right now, I need to walk away and protect him from me.
I am breaths away from exploding.
Glancing back one last time, my feet lead me through the motions and out the gate. Golden-brown eyes that still haunt my dreams and little green ones with a touch of yellow stare back at me.
Five
Shit!
Shit!
Shit!
This wasn’t how I wanted him to find out.FUCK. I close my eyes and steady my breaths as I hold on tightly to Kiran.Reaching for my phone with my free hand, I dial Jade.
“Hey, are you ready for dinner already?” she jokes upon answering.
“Lennox saw us at the park.”
Her silence on the other end of the line does nothing to ease my anxious thoughts.
Jade clears her throat. “Why don’t you come back to the room.”
“Yeah, probably a good idea,” I say, taking another deep breath.
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few… Try not to freak, Em. It will all be okay.”
“Thank you. Be back in a few.”
Composing myself, I gather Kiran’s diaper bag and motorcycle toy he refuses to let go of and buckle him into the stroller.
I can’t believe Nox saw us…
I wince slightly when I recall the pain in his expression when I asked for the DNA test.It’s as if I had stabbed him directly in his heart. You did.What he doesn’t understand is that it wasn’t the time or place to have that conversation. It’s not that I wasn’t ready for him to see Kiran, it’s just that I was supposed to tell him my side of things. Help him understand what happened.
God, how I wish things were different.
* * *
“So where areyou going to stay in Richmond Hills?” Jade asks as I rock Kiran to sleep in my arms.
We decided to order some takeout from the diner and stay in. It was late and almost bedtime by the time I was done retelling the story to Jade and we had to get the kids to bed. When we were in the middle of eating, Cliff’s office sent over an email with all of his contact information., spurring on a whole other conversation.
“I'm not sure yet…” My eyes begin to water as I stare at my beautiful baby boy.
“Listen, moving back to North Carolina was always your hope. This is what’s best. It will be hard to settle back into the swing of things, but you will get there. And I promise I’ll be by your side to help you.”
