Page 64 of In this Moment

“So if Tony told me that being with you meant that he could be with his son, I wouldn’t like it, but I’d do it. For Tony. For Jonah.”

“Lauren, it’s not like that.” Evie shook her head. “I told Tony it was a stupid idea and we didn’t need to be together to have Jonah. I mean, there was a brief moment when I actually considered it, but only for a moment. I told him, Lauren. He loves you. Not me. And I don’t love him. Being together just for Jonah’s sake isn’t a good idea. Besides that, I refuse to be with someone who doesn’t love me.” She choked on the last part, but refused to cry in front of this woman she barelyknew.

“I know,” Lauren said simply. “He told me everything.” She shook her head. “I love Tony, but…” She shook her head and when she looked up there was a small smile on her face. “We talked and I think he understands now that he doesn’t have to be with you in order to be part of Jonah’slife.”

“Good.”

“But,” her face grew serious once again, “I also think that more and more, Tony is seeing that family is important. He feels like he missed out so much on Jonah’s life and he really wants to be involved now. And I also know that if you said the word, he would leave me for you and Jonah.”

“No.”

She nodded. “Yes. And that’s why I’m here. I need you to promise you will never take him away fromme.”

Of all the things Evie expected her to say, that was not one ofthem.

“What?”

“I need you to promise.” Lauren was dead serious. “I love him, Evie. I can’t have you taking him away fromme.”

“I won’t.” She shook her head and then again. “Ever. I don’t want him.” I want Declan. “It was me who told Tony no, Lauren. I don’t want to be with someone I don’t love. And besides—”

“You have Declan,” Lauren finished for her. “I know you’re engaged to be married and I know I shouldn’t even think that you might try to get back together with Tony, but it’s so hard, Evie.” Lauren crumpled to the couch and dropped her head in her hands.

Unsure of what to do, Evie tucked her left hand in her pocket so Lauren wouldn’t see her now bare finger, and sat next to her. “What’s so hard?” The entire conversation was so crazy and so unexpected, Evie was having a hard time keeping up. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“All I’ve ever wanted is to have a family, Evie. But I waited, ya know? I wanted it to be the right guy. So when I met Tony, I just knew he was the right one. And then when he told me about Jonah, it took me so long to convince him that reconnecting with his son was the right thing and especially when we had a child, we could be a family. All ofus.”

Evie tried to ignore the twinge of hurt in her chest. She knew the other woman didn’t mean anything by it, but it wasn’t that long ago that she and Tony were trying to fight for full custody of herson.

“I don’t understand,” Eviesaid.

“I can’t get pregnant,” Lauren wailed and once again dropped her head in her hands. “All I’ve ever wanted and I can’t have it. I just want a baby. A baby with Tony. And if I can give him that, he won’t ever think about leaving me for the mother of his child again, because I’ll be the mother of his child.”

Evie took a moment to process everything she’d just said and finally when she thought she had it, she stopped to go through it again. “Wait,” she finally said. “You want to have a baby because you think it will keep Tony away fromme?”

“Well….yes. Sort of, I guess.”

She didn’t mean to, but Evie laughed. “You do realize that it’s not just Tony making these decisions, right? I mean, I have to agree to be with him and let me tell you right now so it’s perfectly clear: I don’t want Tony. I don’t want to be with him. I don’t love him. And beyond the fact that he’s the father of my son, I don’t really want anything more to do with him. Do you hear me when I saythat?”

Lauren nodded.

“And do you believeme?”

She nodded again.

“So you don’t need to worry about me stealing your man, okay?” Evie patted the other woman’s back. “It’s not going to happen. Not as far as I’m concerned, okay?”

Lauren sniffed loudly and nodded. “Okay.”

“So can we put this craziness behind us?” Evie forced a laugh. “I mean, if you’re going to be Jonah’s stepmom, we do need to be friendly and work together, right?”

“Right.” Lauren dug a tissue out of the pocket of her shorts and blew her nose. “That’strue.”

“So we’regood?”

She smiled. “We’re good.” She then impulsively pulled Evie into ahug.

Evie hugged her back, but she’d had just about enough of other people’s drama. She needed to get back to her own, and feeling sorry for herself. After a few more hugs and some more reassurances, Evie finally got Lauren to leave.

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