Page 127 of The Surrender
“Ididtell you that.”
I laugh. “Nick, don’t you think that’s information I would remember? So Frank’s your stepfather? You took your stepfather’s name?”
“Yes.” He shrugs, but I know there’s way more to it, just by how shady he’s behaving.
“Just like that, you took on another man’s name?”
“Mum wanted me to have the same name as her.”
“I call bullshit.”
“I’m telling you the truth, Amelia.”
“You wouldn’t know the truth if it slapped you around the face, Nick.”
“Look, I don’t know what to tell you. I didn’t have the best relationship with my father. He expected a lot from me. I didn’t copewell with the pressure, and after he died, I wanted to be my own man, be recognised as me, not as my father’s son.”
“So you forgot he ever existed? Didn’t think to mention to me that your dad died and you changed your name?”
“I must have told you, Amelia.”
“You never told me.” I don’t need to rack my brain. He didnottell me. “I don’t even know who you are.” I feel like I’ve lived in the dark the whole time I was with Nick. Been deceived, made a fool of way before I met Jude Harrison. “Stay away from me, stay away from my family, and stay away from my work.” I’m one stride away from the front door when it swings open, my brother appearing.
“There you are.” Clark exhales, relieved to find me. “I was worried. Do you feel okay? Sick? Because Rach is getting terrible morning sickness, and she thought you might be too.”
I stare at him. Just stare.
“You’re pregnant?” Nick blurts from behind me.
“Oh fuck.” Clark tilts his head slightly to look past me and confirm who’s here.
“Pregnant?”
I’m frozen, my brain failing me.Think.
“Pregnant?” Nick says again, his voice getting louder, closer. “You’re fucking pregnant?”
“Who’s pregnant?” Mum appears behind Clark, and my whole world just got a little bit messier.
I close my eyes briefly, at a loss. “Me.”
“Oh my Christ,” Mum breathes.
“Is it mine?” Nick asks, his expression everything I hate. Hope.
“Nick?” Dad joins Mum on the doorstep. “Is what yours?”
I stare at Clark in complete despair. Poor thing looks absolutely mortified, his eyes wide and full of apologies.
“Amelia’s pregnant,” Nick declares.
“What?” Dad coughs over his shock. “How ridiculous. She can’t be.”
“I’m pregnant.” I say the words clearly for my dad to hear, looking back at Nick. “And it’s not yours.”
He jerks, like he’s been shot. “Him?” he gasps in disbelief.
I don’t need to answer. This is horrific. Utterly horrific. And not because of Nick; I couldn’t give two shits about him. But my family?
