Page 122 of The Only Heart that Matters

Nope.

I take a deep breath and just say it. “Knox. Sawyer is your son.”

“Excuse me?”

“That night after the Grammy’s at Nicolette Gwen’s….”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Watch it, brother.”

“Why are you just telling me now? Isn’t the kid like two or three already?”

My cheeks heat, but I use my anger to his reaction to steel myself and sit up straighter. Standing my ground. “Well, that same night you made it pretty clear you never wanted to be a dad and any woman who claimed to be pregnant with your child was only after your money.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“She’s being kind. You said all that and a lot more. Made a total ass of yourself. The entire family was there.”

“You said it shortly after we... well, you know.”

Gus’s knee bounces in irritation.

“Okay, so don’t you think I should have known from the start, regardless?”

“Yes, I see that now and I’m sorry, but I didn’t want you to accuse me of being after your money. After everything you said, when I realized I was pregnant two months later, all I wanted to do was protect my child.”

“So, that’s what this is? A way for you to clear your conscience so you can be with my brother?”

“I’ve always loved your brother from afar and if it weren’t for Sawyer, I would regret our drunken two minutes, but how can I when it gave me my beautiful boy?”

“So, what do you want from me?”

“Nothing. You have a right to know and now you do. I want nothing from you.”

“You don’t want child support?”

I shake my head.

“No money of any kind?”

“No, Knox. I have a good job, with insurance and day care paid for. I won’t keep him from you if you want to see him, but I willalwaysbe his primary guardian. I will fight you with everything I have if you ever try to take him away from me.”

“Honey, you don't have to worry about that. Besides, it looks like he’s already got a father figure.”

Angus’s jaw tics. “Don’t be like that. We stopped everything between us once she told me.”

“Well, you have my blessing. Now, is that all? I have to get to soundcheck.”

“Knox, come on. Let’s talk about this.”

“Listen, I really have to go, but I have one question.”

“What’s that?” I ask, and even I can hear the nervous shake in my voice.

“Does the rest of the family, or all of Goose Hollow, for that matter, already know?”

“Nobody knows, but Mom has a feeling. She says he looks just like you.”

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