Page 72 of Flawed

"No, I won't tell anyone ever. I will never, ever tell anyone."

"Is he married?"

My gut flips. It's something I never even considered. Could Luca be married?

I answer, "No."

A moment passes then a tiny smile forms on her lips. "Am I having a granddaughter or grandson?"

Relieved that at least she's not accepting this news as badly as my father would, I answer, "It's a girl."

Her eyes fill with tears, and she claps. "Okay, so we're having a girl. I get to be the first one to hold her."

I laugh. Then I start sobbing.

"Oh, ma chérie," she coos, pulling me into her arms. "Don't cry. It will all be okay. I'll help you."

Her words only make me cry harder. I finally choke out, "Dad's going to kill me. He's never going to talk to me again."

She rubs my back, claiming, "Your father will be fine. I will handle him."

I look up. "How?"

In a stern voice, she orders, "I will handle your father. He's going to be upset, yes. But he's going to mostly be worried about you. But don't worry, everything will be fine."

"Do you promise?" I sniffle.

My father's hurt voice booms, "Chanel, you're having my grandbaby, and you hide this from me?"

My gut drops. I don't know why I didn't ask my mom if he was home and assumed he was out. I spin toward him. "Dad, I'm sorry."

"Who is he?" he demands.

I raise my chin, trying to appear as confident as possible. "I'm not telling anyone."

"Tell me right now who he is," he orders.

I shake my head. "No. He's out of my life. He will never be in my baby's life. It doesn't matter who he is."

My father walks over and kneels in front of me, grabbing my hands. "This is the father of your baby. He has responsibilities. But if he's a bad person, then I will handle him."

Fear fills me. I have no doubt my father would do just that. I assert, "No! That's not necessary."

"Then why can't he know?"

"Enough," my mom states.

He addresses her, "Sophia, it's not okay for a man to impregnate our daughter and leave her on her own to raise a child."

"He doesn't know," I inform him again.

My father looks at me with disappointment. "It is not right to hide a child from the father."

"It is if she has her reasons," my mother claims in my defense.

"Which is why I should deal with him if needed," my father declares.

Silence fills the room.

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