Page 55 of Missing Marcus

Returning to the kitchen, he turned the heat on low to give her enough time to dress. He paced the kitchen restlessly as anxiety overtook him. When he saw her standing in her robe, he fought the urge to wrap his arms around her and kiss her gently. Knowing he lost the right to hold her, made his stomach sink in despair.

Hearing her open the door to her bedroom, he poured the hot water over the strainer to steep the tea and pushed down the lever on the toaster. Pulling out a stool for her, he gently held her elbow as she wriggled her way up to the seat, holding her belly.

“How did you sleep??” he asked as he poured the tea into a cup, added honey and passed it to her.

“Okay, I guess,” she replied, sipping the hot brew.

“Does the baby move at night? Bryanna says it keeps her up sometimes. I wondered if it happened to you.” Knight pulled the toast out and buttered it before passing it to her.

Gabby’s gaze went from surprise to suspicion. “No.”

“Kassie mentioned something about a Lamaze class. Have you given it any thought? I want to go as your partner if you don’t mind.”

The cup settled on the counter a tad bit hard as she stared at him as if he suddenly grew two heads. “Why all the sudden interest in my baby? Before you left, I attempted to discuss custody, but you didn’t want to. Now, you’re offering to act as my partner. You’ll have to excuse me while I recover from whiplash.”

He pulled out a check from his pocket and slid it toward her. “I used my time in California to think about our situation. I’m at fault for not communicating with you. I overreacted to a situation and came to a very wrong conclusion. An apology doesn’t begin to express my sorrow at all the hurt I’ve caused both of us. I want us to try to work things out. We’ll be parents before you know it and I want to raise this child with you.”

She turned over the check and her eyes widened as she saw the sum.

“This represents your half of the house. You deserve it after all the work you put into it. I never want you to think I won’t support you and the baby.”

She turned the check over, pursed her lips tightly, and brought the tea to her mouth, swallowing it down. “I don’t want or need your pity, Marcus.” She pushed the check back to him. “The time for you to show you cared has long since passed. The baby and I will get along without your help. After all, I’m an accountant. Just because this firm ended up crooked and dirty, doesn’t mean there aren’t several other accountant jobs available. I already accepted three interviews for this week.”

“You can’t leave the mountain. How the hell do you expect to hold down a job? You’re supposed to take it easy,” he fumed as he shoved the check in her direction.

“I’ll ask one of the team to act as my bodyguard until we figure everything out. After all, I’ll need one when I return to California next week.”

He stiffened as he realized she meant the date to return to court for their divorce.

“I want to postpone the hearing,” he admitted as he watched her expression.

“Why?” she cried as if the mere thought of postponement meant a death sentence.

“Because I realize how much I love you and I’ve screwed everything up. I want?—”

“Don’t.” Gabby slid from the stool. “I’m tired of hearing about your wants. It’s time I focused on mine. I don’t want you to stay here with me. I’m perfectly capable of handling myself. I know I can’t run through the town, declaring who I am, but I don’t need to live with you either. After next week, I’m no longer your burden.”

Knight stepped closer to her and she stepped back.

“I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like a burden,” he whispered. “I always considered you a blessing and I took it for granted.”

“As soon as Leo and his team say I can leave, I plan to return to California. Admit it. It’ll make your life easier if you don’t have to see your ex-wife with her lover’s baby,” Gabby venomously replied. “You didn’t give a damn about the baby when I tried to tell you about it. Let’s pretend you still know nothing.”

“I can’t. I want it and us,” he admitted as he slowly moved toward her.

Gabby shook her head. Tears pooled in her eyes. “Don’t do this. You’re trying to confuse me. You can’t have my baby. I don’t want you to treat this child with the same animosity you’ve shown me the last few months. Don’t you dare fight this divorce. We have one week to go. How can you do this to me?”

The anguish in her voice halted him. “I want to make things right. Starting with giving you half the proceeds of the house. It’ll give you some security and you won’t need to search for a job right away,” he explained as watched her closely. “I don’t mean to upset you. I have a lot to atone for and I’m asking for a chance to undo the damage I’ve caused.”

Her hands balled into fists at her side. “I want the divorce. Promise me you won’t try to stall it,” she demanded desperately.

Pain shot through his chest at her request, but he only nodded. “I won’t deter the divorce in any way as long as you agree to let me stay here until you’re safe and allow me to stay in this child’s life.”

She glanced away from him. “Once you doubted the baby’s paternity. Now, you’re making demands.”

He shook his head. “Not demands, requests. Eat your toast,” he coaxed, knowing he needed to break the news about her friend. “You’re my priority and I’ve done a poor job of proving it to you.”

Easing back onto the stool, she picked up the toast and bit into it while watching him warily. He refilled her tea. “Thank you.”

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