Page 19 of The Biggest Secret
I eye her. “Who’s inside Farrah?”
“Adam, now isn’t a good time. You should get back to work. Your sister has wedding stuff all over the place and I know howtalking about her wedding gives you hives, especially when you start thinking about her, Jackson, and the honeymo?—”
I push past her and into the house. I’ve had enough of this strange behavior. Someone is inside here that they do not want us to see. Billy follows close behind me.
“ADAM! BILLY! IT’S SO NICE TO SE?—”
I cut her a glare that shuts her right up. “Why are you yelling?” I continue walking through the living room and into the kitchen. I see my sister in the backyard through the window. Farrah and Britt are nervously watching Billy and me. Hearing the door from the garage open, my head swings to the left and Adley, Chelsea Jo’s sister, walks through. She pulls up short when she sees me. Now I understand why they didn’t want me in here.
Chelsea Jo is here. In my house.
I swing my eyes back to the two girls. “Is this why you were locking me out of my own house?” I raise a brow and drop my tone of voice. “Is she here?”
Both girls start talking at the same time and it’s then that I catch a glimpse of a little boy running through the back yard with my sister close behind. She catches him and swings him around, turning and laughing as Chelsea comes into view as well. My breath catches in my chest.
I wasn’t ready for this today. She said she wanted to see me, but I thought I had a few more days to wrap my head around her visit.A few more days to process that the only woman who could break me into a million pieces was still the only woman I’d hand all those pieces back to.
“Whose kid is that?” I ask as I start making my way around the island and over to the backdoor. Billy is trailing right behind me. He hasn’t said a word, and that sets my nerves on edge more.
I reach for the door handle, and Britt jumps in front of me. Again. “Jesus, Britt! Enough! Let me through!” I push her out of the way. I’m sure I’ll hear shit from Bobby later, but something is not right here.
And then it happens in slow motion. Francesca and Chelsea are laughing, and the boy is squealing, excited at being swung around in acircle. His face comes into view and like a record scratch, everything stops.
It hits me like a ton of bricks.
“Adam…”
I’m staring at the boy. He’s staring back at me. I can’t take my eyes off him. I feel everyone looking at me, but I can’t move. My feet have grown roots and my heart has splintered.
And I know.
That child is mine.
“Holy fuck,” Billy whispers out. “I thought I was the only twin around here.”
I slowly feel the breath come back into my lungs. The blood is pumping through my body so fast I feel dizzy. I can’t process anything else around me except to know that I am looking at my son.
Francesca approaches me, holding the boy tight. “Adam? I think you and Chelsea should go inside and talk. We’ll all wait out here.”
I shake my head. He buries his face into my sister’s neck and only then am I able to peel my eyes from him and swing them to Chelsea. Hers meet mine with a worried look. Her face reflects fear, and I hate that she’s feeling that right now. I don’t want to make her feel afraid, but I know the emotions inside me are bubbling to the surface in quick fashion, so I’m sure that my face is reflecting the same confusion, anger, and fear of my own.
“Is he mine?” I ask, never removing my eyes from hers. My fists are clenched, and I feel the strain on my forearms. I don’t need to ask, it’s very clear he is my son, but I need to hear it. “I need the words, Chelsea. Tell. Me.”
“He’s yours,” is whispered so lightly I almost don’t catch it. I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I have to adjust my stance, so I don’t fall over. My body has locked up as I still try to process what the fuck is happening here.
The boy wiggles from my sister’s hold and she places him on the ground. On instinct, I drop to my knees, making myself less intimidating, and he walks steadily toward me with his hands out. His tiny little hands with fat fingers are reaching forme. I put oneof my hands out, and his pace picks up as his smile widens and holy shit, it’s like looking in the mirror.
I almost can’t make a sound as his hand lands in mine. Our connection is instant, and I know without a doubt, I love this kid more than life. I throw out my other hand as he stumbles into me, laughing a little baby laugh, so trusting and loving of a stranger. He climbs into my arms, and they encircle him automatically. I breathe him in, he smells like apple juice and fresh air. I stand, holding him.
My son.
I hear a sob escape and look to my sister, who is smiling with tears running down her face, but I realize it wasn’t her who made the noise. It was Chelsea Jo who is wiping her own tears from her eyes as she chokes up again. Breaking from the spell of silence surrounding us, Chess puts her arms out nudging me aside, doing the same with Chelsea. “You guys stay out here; we’ll go inside, and I’ll get Dom’s sippy cup ready. Come on everyone.” She tries rounding everyone up, leaving me alone with Chelsea and our son.
“See ya in a few, Big Daddy,” Billy says with a sly smile and a clap to my back as he follows the girls inside.
Chapter Fifteen
CHELSEA
