Page 70 of Kiss Me Ever After
“I am so sorry! If I’d have known, I would never had let him anywhere near you.”
“You weren’t to know. I guess my bullshit radar is faulty.” A small laugh came out of my mouth.
“Can I get you anything? Hot, sweet tea? Brandy?” Lucas held me at arm’s length and wiped away my tears.
“I think I just need to go to bed.” I stood up on shaky legs. “Thank you, though.”
Once in the sanctuary of my room, I slid under the duvet without bothering to get undressed. Knowing Lucas wouldn’t be able to hear me, I started sobbing.
I missed Justin so much.
31
Justin
I wasin a fucking antenatal class.
How had my life come to this?
Seated in the circle were six other women and their partners, along with a midwife. Candace sat between my legs, leaning back against my chest. I hated having her this close, her perfume cloying and overpowering. When I’d broached the subject with Candace of getting a test done, so I could be sure, she’d waved away my concerns, promising to look into it if I went with her to these classes.
Even though I still had my doubts, I’d promised I’d do the right thing. I had to man up and be responsible.
Even though it meant losing the only thing I truly loved.
Lennon blanked me. Every message I sent had no reply. I even contemplated going up to London and turning up on her doorstep. If I couldn’t talk to her, I couldn’t get her to understand what I was doing. I still had to try to understand myself.
“Justin?” The midwife saying my name brought me back into the room.
“Sorry, I was miles away.”In London with Lennon.With a sigh, I tried to focus.
“It’s okay. I know this can be overwhelming, but we’re here to support you. Isn’t that right?” She looked around at the others, who all nodded in agreement. “I asked whether you had a preference for a boy or a girl.”
“We want a little girl, don’t we, babe?” interjected Candace, squeezing my hand. “A little princess we can spoil. But either way we’ll be happy, because we’ll be blessed with a child.”
There was a chorus of oohs and awws and other sympathetic noises. I wanted to throw up.
“Who are you and what did you do with the real Candace?” I hissed into her ear. “Blessed?”
She wriggled around to look at me, her wide grey eyes the picture of innocence. “It’s true. Girl or boy, this baby has brought us back together again.”
Poor kid. If only it knew the trouble it had caused before it even arrived.
“That’s lovely,” sighed the midwife. “Now let’s get back to what might happen in labour.”
I managed to concentrate for the rest of the hour without drifting off or being snide to Candace. I took that as a win.
As we walked out, Candace turned to me. “Shall we get a drink? Unless you have somewhere to be?”
Every fibre of my body screamed no. There was nothing I’d rather do less than spend any more time with her than I had to. However, for the sake of this baby—until I knew the truth—I had to do it.
“Sure. Why not?”
I drove us back into town and contemplated going to the Blue Goose. I hadn’t been in there since the day after Candace made her announcement. What the hell. Bryony might even be pleased to see me. Ha, who was I kidding?
Bryony was there, along with June. A warm feeling spread through my chest as I remembered the happier times here.
“Justin, hi.” Bryony came to the table, order pad in hand. “How are you?” she asked, looking between me and Candace. “You sorted things out?”
