Page 52 of The Homewrecker's Fate

“Unfortunately, there’s only one possible father for this little cantaloupe and it’s the idiot making a fuss out there.”

Brax and I sat through Dr. Martinez taking swabs from my nether regions to test for Group B Strep, then we listened to mine and the baby’s hearts, and he did some poking around of my belly before measuring it and telling me that all was good, and he’d see me in two weeks. After that, I would see him weekly until I gave birth.

“We’re almost at weekly visits,” Brax stated as we walked out with my appointment card in hand.

“Yep,” I agreed as the nerves started to hit me.

“Janine will be here soon,” he added.

“I know. I’m so freaking excited and scared, and holy shit, Brax… I’m scared to death.”

“I’ll be by your side for everything, I promise.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Hey guys!” We both looked up to see Mel standing there next to her car. “I have some news and thought it best if I share it with you both.”

“Did they arrest Rich?” I asked a little too excitedly. Mel laughed but shook her head.

“No, sorry. The security guard did throw him out and told him he’s not welcome back. They said if I want him at future visits, I will have to change doctors and I’m not going to do that. Rich took off in a huff.

“So, if that’s not what you wanted to tell us, what is it?”

Mel turned from me to Brax and smiled sweetly as she grabbed hold of his hand. “You’re off the hook, Pal.”

“Off the…” He started and then caught on to what Mel was telling us. “How do you know?”

“They did an amniocentesis on me at my last visit, and I asked that they do DNA testing. Rich gave a sample. I didn’t want to bother you for it at the time.”

“I would have gladly given one, Mel.”

“I know, but the process of elimination worked. Rich is the baby’s father.”

My stomach tumbled. I knew it was a possibility, but it just highlighted, yet again, what a duplicitous asshole the man was. He had slept with me and Mel at the same time, as we were together when she got pregnant. He had slept with both of us unprotected, not caring if either of us could possibly pass something to the other. I wanted to punch his lights out.

“I’m sorry, Mel.”

She looked taken aback. “You’re upset for me that the baby isn’t Braxton’s?”

“Well, yeah. Rich is a dick, in case you didn’t realize that yet. I was honestly hoping that your child could have a better dad than your other two have.”

“Then yours has…” She reminded me.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t really think Rich will stick around and be much of a father to my child. In fact, I’m hoping when he realizes that he’ll have to pay child support or be involved in her life, that he’ll willingly sign over his rights. There’s no way we can have a mature, co-parenting relationship with the way he has been acting, or the way I feel.”

“I wish I had that option,” Mel stated. “Anyway, I have to get back. Elizabeth – my neighbor – is keeping an eye on the kids for me. Thankfully, the rest of my visits can be scheduled when the kids are back in school, so I won’t have to worry about who will watch them.”

“They have a father,” I reminded her.

“Not much of one this past year,” she tossed back.

“Maybe he needs a reminder.”

It was Mel’s turn to shrug before she gave both of us a hug and whispered something in Braxton’s ear. After that, she turned to leave, and we made our way to his car.

“Don’t you want to know what she said?”

“Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious, but at the same time, it’s between the two of you. If she wanted me to know, she would have said it out loud.”

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