Page 96 of Forbidden Desire

I look at my screen and see it’s Beth. I blow out a breath of relief before sliding to accept the call.

“Hello?” I answer.

“I just sawThe Chatter,” she says worriedly.

I groan. I foolishly wished it would just disappear.

“What the hell happened?” she asks.

“I don’t know…Someone is leaking information.”

“But who? Who would do this?”

“I don’t know. Probably someone from Josie’s daycare.”

“Jesus Christ. You can’t trust anyone. And to do this to a baby!”

“I know. It makes me sick.” I groan,

“It’s not about her, though. They’re just trying to run Marco’s name through the mud…”

“And unfortunately, she’s collateral damage.”

“There’s no mention of you though. Maybe they don’t have all the facts.”

“Yet,” I say, wondering when the other shoe will drop.

The daycare has to know I’m the mother. They saw us in there together. I just don’t know why they’re not releasing all the information yet. Maybe they’re trying to drag it out, releasinga little at a time, trying to get as much money as they can. The thought makes me so angry. That someone would be that desperate for money that they would put a baby’s wellbeing on the line. If all the truth gets out, it will stick with Josie forever. I can’t have that happen.

“Does Marco know?” asks Beth warily.

“He does now. I showed him this morning, right after I gave him the custody papers.”

“Oh man. You’ve had a busy morning. How did he take it?”

“Not well. We both said things we probably shouldn’t have…”

“He’s hurt. You both are.”

“Yeah…”

“I wish you two could work together, at least to sort this whole thing with the press out. For Josie’s sake.”

“I know you want more for us too…” I say softly.

“Well, of course I do. I want you to be happy. I know he makes you happy. And I know as much as you don’t want to admit it, it was nice seeing Josie with a dad. Herrealdad.”

I stay silent, not wanting to admit she’s right.

“It’s why you brought him to meet her. And invited him for dinner. And went to the zoo. There was a part of you that wanted it. I know that’s a hard thing for you to admit, and I know I’m usually the one who has her head in the clouds…But I do want a happy ending for you and Josie. Not just because I see it in the movies or read it in books. It’s because I love you both endlessly.”

I feel the tears fall down my cheeks before I even knew they were forming because everything Beth is saying is true. I wanted it badly, and was a fool to pretend I didn’t. I didn’t want just any dad for Josie, I wanted Marco. For her. Forme.

Still, I’m so mad at him right now. It’s easier to place blame on him for everything than to take accountability in the mess I’ve made of my life by keeping his daughter a secret. It’s easier to place blame on him for the tabloid because if he wasn’t who he was, no one would care about a secret baby.

“I love you, too, Beth,” I say softly.

“Let me know if you need anything, okay?”

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