Page 79 of Found By You

I pull myself off the ground to stand on unsteady feet. A choked sob escapes me at the jostle of the door handle and Duke’s begging from the other side.

My stomach knots. My heart hits the floor. Every word he’s ever said to me is a kick to my chest. How could I be so blind?

Gathering myself, I wash my hands and fix my makeup. With tears still streaming down my flushed cheeks, I unlock the door to the face that’s brought me nothing but comfort for months. So many emotions swirl in his dark eyes…I don’t know what to do with them.

“Maci, I—”

I put a hand up to stop him. “Not here,” I say quietly.

His jaw tightens, but he nods. I wait in the hall while he retrieves something from the kitchen, but when Lily’s worried gaze locks with mine, I have to turn away from breaking down any further.

He comes back to my side with a pie and bag of cookies, and when he reaches for my hand…I let him take it. Because as bad as I want to push him away, this is Cassidy’s baby shower. And the last thing she needs is me making a scene when the day’s gone so beautifully for her.

We walk to the table to grab my sweater and purse. Hoping to leave without having to say anything to anyone, I fight to control my emotions when the hope is short-lived.

Butch lifts his chin. “You guys heading out?”

“Yeah,” Duke grunts.

“Oh, Maci, are you okay?” Cassidy asks gently, noticing my puffy eyes, I’m sure.

I wave her off, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Just got a little sick is all.”

His brother’s brow furrows as he shares a look with Duke.

“Well, I hope it wasn’t anything you ate,” Cassidy says with concern.

I keep a pained smile as I tug on my sweater. “No. I think it’s just a little late afternoon sickness. They say it can come back toward the end.” I clear my throat and glance at Duke. “Ready?”

His jaw ticks with whatever he’s dying to say to make this all go away, but there’s nothing he can say to make this one better.

We say our goodbyes, and Duke helps me into the car. We drive the three minutes to the cabin in silence. When he parks my car beside his truck, he kills the engine with a sigh. “Maci.”

My bottom lip quivers as I scramble to gather my things and get out. “Please, don’t.” He jumps out after me as I make my hurried way to the cabin, wanting nothing more than to put some space between us.

“I don’t know what you heard, angel, but you have to know everything out of my grandmother’s mouth is said with malicious intent.”

I put my hand out. “Give me my k-keys, Duke.”

He doesn’t acknowledge my request and simply opens the front door. When he holds it open, I enter—only to stop in the door frame and block him from following me.

“Maci—”

“I think you should stay at the house tonight,” I say with as much strength as I can muster.

His brow furrows as he reaches for me, but I take a step back, gripping the door as if it’s the only thing keeping me upright. “I’m not going anywhere, angel,” he growls. “You’re upset. I’m not leaving you.”

“Is it true?” I ask weakly. I need to know. It might not seem like a big deal, but I swore to myself I’d never let anyone make me feel this way again—inferior, not good enough, second best… Not after Evan. “Was she pregnant when she died?”

He grits his teeth. “Maci, that’s not—”

“Is it true?” I cry, clutching my belly to protect my daughter from this heartbreak.

His dark eyes pain as he snatches me by my waist before I have time to protest. I try to push him off, my entire body wracking with sobs. “Let me go…”

“Listen to me, please,” he says, holding me close. “Yes, she was only six weeks at the time—we never even made it to the first appointment. It was five years ago, Maci, you have to know it has nothing to do with us now. You could never be a replacement, beautiful. Olivia isn’t a replacement.”

I shake my head, crying at his use of my unborn daughter’s name.

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