Page 80 of The Moments You Were Mine
Shit. Shit. Shit.
My hand landed on my stomach.
A baby.
His baby. The thought made bile rise in my throat.
But it was also mine. A piece of me. It had my DNA. Dad’sDNA.
It would have fierce determination and strong will.
But it would also have Hurly DNA from my mom’s side. And if I was being honest with myself, that DNA was tainted. Gamblers. Thieves. Murderers. Even Mom hadn’t escaped the long list of bad traits, adding prescription drug addiction to the list.
My family was a screwed-up mess of bad decisions, obsessions, and felonies.
It wasn’t like I’d escaped the darkness either. Mistake after mistake after mistake.
The curtain whipped along on the track, and I opened my eyes. The doctor came in, and I slowly sat up. She handed me a brown bag.
“This has all the information you’ll need. It also has a few days’ worth of prenatal vitamins, a brochure on natural remedies for morning sickness, and suggestions on a healthy diet for you and the baby.” Her eyes were kind. “Give yourself time to adjust and think things through before you decide what to do. I recommend knowing what you want before you broach it with your boyfriend.”
“He’s…” I trailed off. It didn’t matter what she thought. “Okay.”
Parker stepped in behind the doctor, his eyes finding me immediately, settling on my wet cheeks. “Fallon?” Concern bled into my name, but he whirled to face the doctor before I could respond. “What’s wrong with her?”
The doctor’s face went blank. “I’m sorry. I can’t discuss a patient’s health without their permission.”
Parker stepped toward her, a glower on his face, but my words stopped him. “Just the shock finally settling in, Parker. She’s told me I can go home. Concussion is the worst of it.”
“Yes. You’ll have to watch her. Let me print out the instructions for you. I’ll be right back.” She scurried around Parker.
He stalked over to me and picked up my hand. “Ducky, I know you. This isn’t the shock.”
I couldn’t meet his gaze. I felt it burning into me, but all it didwas make me want to cry more. Because I’d finally gotten what I wanted. I’d finally gotten Parker, and now there was no way I could keep him. No way I could even finish what he’d started with one life-altering kiss in a field. Not when I was having a baby he’d never wanted. A baby that belonged to someone else.
To JJ.
Those thoughts caused the sinking feeling in my chest to grow as I realized the truth. I’d already made my decision. I couldn’t get rid of the baby. Not even knowing JJ might be able to get his hooks into me and the child if and when he found out about it.
I’d just have to find a way to keep JJ from discovering the truth. I wouldn’t put his name on the birth certificate. I wouldn’t contact him. I wouldn’t post about the baby online. I’d only keep the ranch’s social media accounts and close all my personal ones.
But another wave of panic rode through me, knowing I wouldn’t be able to keep the baby a secret forever. It wasn’t like I could run away and hide. I had a resort to run. An estate to manage. A refuge to build.
And if JJ ever showed up and demanded a DNA test, he’d find out the truth.
And what the hell would I do then?
Chapter Twenty-two
Parker
FALL
Performed by Clay Walker
FOUR YEARS AGO
HIM: Will left me with Theo for two minutes today, and the kid puked and shit through a diaper. My clothes are ruined, and my house reeks. Tell me again why you see babies in your future?
