Page 54 of The Runaway Billionaire's Inconvenient Baby
“I’m not going,” I say to my mom as soon as Christina’s out of earshot.
“Of course you are,” she says firmly, sitting down next to me again.
“I can’t see him,” I say, shaking my head so firmly my brain feels like it’s spinning. “I don’t want to cry in front of everyone.”
“It might be good news,” she says.
“Is this how damn annoying I usually sound?” It’s the weakest joke imaginable, but it’s enough to defuse some of the tension.
Mom gives me the most real smile I’ve seen her give in weeks and brushes a knuckle over my cheek. “Yes, my darling. This is exactly how enthusiastic you usually sound.”
“Is it always this annoying?”
She chuckles. “Not always. And it gets things done. It always has.”
“So why couldn’t I fix this?” The words stick in my throat, barbs that claw my insides on their way out. “Why did this have to be the only time I failed?”
“There’s still time,” Mom insists. I scoff, but she keeps going. “Go to the meeting tonight, for me. Listen to what he has to say. You don’t have to speak to him. You don’t even have to let him know you’re there. But what if he says something good? Don’t you want to be there to hear the news for yourself?”
“I guess.” I sigh, but she’s right. The idea of finding out what he has to say secondhand is even worse than hearing it straight from his mouth. At least if I hear it from him, the words won’t have a chance to get skewed by someone else, twisted intosomething better or worse. If he’s going to speak, I won’t let him be paraphrased.
It’s not what I want, but I’ve run out of arguments. “Okay. I’ll go.”
“And,” Mom continues, “tell him about the child.”
“What?”
“He deserves to know, don’t you think?”
“Yes, but I wasn’t going to tell him yet.”
Her eyes burn into me. “When were you going to tell him?”
I look away. “I don’t know, okay? Later. When I’ve figured out the right words.”
Gently, Mom lets out a breath. “Honey, there is never going to be a time when you figure out the right words. It’s best to tell him now and get it over with.”
She’s right. Of course, she’s right, but I can’t bear it.
“What do I say?” I ask.
“The truth,” she says simply.
“How did you tell Dad?” I ask softly.
Her breath catches in her throat. We haven’t talked about him in a while. I know it still hurts her to think about him. It still hurts me. We both miss him so much, but I love to hear her stories about him. I always have.
Now, more than ever, I could do with a good one, and I think she could too.
She takes a moment to gather her thoughts, then nods slowly. “We hadn’t been married long,” she starts, and we spend hours talking about him, sharing stories and laughing. Doing anything except packing. It’s exactly what we need.
CHAPTER 27
BILLIE
Isneak into the town hall meeting a few minutes after it was supposed to have started. I know Briggs too well to arrive early, especially when I’m trying to stay hidden. I would be more surprised if the thing started on time.
As usual, though, it hasn’t and I’m safe.
