Page 123 of The Only Heart that Matters

“Well, I assume the family will know soon. Please send me a text when that happens, so I’m prepared for the onslaught of calls and texts that will follow.”

“Of course. Not a problem.”

“Do you have questions about him or anything?” I ask.

“Nope. All good. Gotta go. Talk to you later.”

The screen goes blank, and Angus and I sit in silence for a beat before he pulls me into his arms. I’m numb from the inside out. Maybe I’m in shock. He lays us down on the couch and he holds me until Sawyer wakes up from his nap with crazy bedhead and no clue that the wheels are now in motion.

Sawyer’s life has changed forever.

Chapter Forty-Five

Angus

Mia and I have kept the Knox news to ourselves for the past few days, figuring family dinner would be the best time to tell everyone. Today is the day Mia’s secret is no longer hers. After today, everything will change for her.

Sure, my life is about to change, but only for the better. I’m getting Mia and Sawyer out of all of this. Mia will get a label. A reputation.

Will the family judge her? Treat her differently? Accept us together? Will they judge me for being with her instead of Knox?

Those are the questions I ask myself as I watch each of my siblings, waiting for their reactions. We’ve just shared that not only is Knox Sawyer’s father, but that we’re in love and moving in together. Mia explained her reasons for keeping the information to herself, reminding them of the conversation that took place that night. I’ve shared the timeline of our relationship.

Now, the house is silent as the news sets in. It’s a lot.

Even Owen, who always has something to say, seems dumbstruck. We didn’t plan on him being here tonight, but he’s family and his presence changed nothing.

“Who wants pie?” Mom asks, breaking the silence, then dashing into the kitchen before anyone answers.

“Whoa,” Cal says as soon as she’s out of earshot.

But it’s Daisy who sounds more than shocked. Narrowing her eyes at Mia, she says, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn't have kept this from everyone.”

“No, you shouldn’t have kept it fromme!Or Knox! How could you?” She throws her napkin on her plate.

“Daisy, come on. We were all there that night. I heard what he said. It makes sense.” Cal turns his attention from my sister to the love of my life. “I just hate that you've had to go through this on your own. You’ve always been like family, but now, well, shit. There’s no getting rid of us.”

He takes Sawyer from Charlotte’s arms. Cal’s taking this in stride. He already knew I was in love with her. I guess Mom did too. Heck, Mom knew Knox was Sawyer’s father. So, there was less to share than we might have thought, but my brother will never know how much his acceptance means to me.

“I always knew you were special,” he says, rubbing noses with his nephew.

Daisy isn’t ready to let it go. “I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me. How did I not see it?”

Mia scoffs. “Who would have ever thought I would be with Knox? Pretty sure this was the one and only time I was ever alone with him.”

My dinner nearly comes up at the repulsive thought of the two of them together.

“I should have told you, but for more reasons than you’ll ever know, I couldn’t.”

Mom is back with pie. Clearly, she didn’t miss a word while she was in the kitchen. “What reasons, other than my oldest son and his blathering on like a fool, about not wanting a family?”

Mia clears her throat and I take her shaking hand under the table, so she knows she’s not alone.

“I was afraid he and the world would think I was just some groupie who got knocked up for his fame and money. I don’t want to be famous, and I certainly don’t want Sawyer to grow up in the public eye. I don’t want his privacy compromised. You rarely hear good things about the children of famous people? Forget about the rest of the world. I didn’t want to have to walk around Goose Hollow with a scarlet letter on my chest. I don’t want anyone to look at Sawyer as anything other than the loved child he is. He deserves better than just being seen as Knox McKinnon’s son.”

She takes a big breath, and then, speaking to everyone, looks at me. “The day I found out, the thought of Angus knowing broke my heart.”

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