Page 105 of Embracing Trust

Aubree smiles and sits down close to me on the couch. “Ryan, it’s good to see you. I was telling your parents this morning how much I miss you. Everything is going well with the baby.” She looks at me, her eyes twinkle as if she doesn’t have a care in the world.

“Aubree had a check-up yesterday afternoon and the doctor said it’s all looking good.” Mom smiles and takes a seat on the other end of the couch.

I sit up straighter, push my shoulders back, and take a deep breath. “I’m here to set some things straight.”

“Ryan,” Aubree says with a grin. “Let’s not get your parents involved in our relationship difficulties.” She tries to hold my hand and I push her away.

“There’s not going to be a wedding.” I point between myself and Aubree. “I’m not in love with Aubree—never have been. We’re not getting married.”

Mom’s eyes widen and she covers her mouth with her hand. “Ryan!”

“What are you talking about?” Dad’s voice is firm.

I take a deep breath. “I hired an attorney who got the court to order a DNA test—to find out if I’m the father of Aubree’s baby and—”

“DNA test?” my mother practically shrieks. “Why?”

“What are you talking about?” Dad looks between us, his eyebrows pinched.

Aubree sobs. “I know we can work this out, darling.” She leans into me.

I nudge her away. “This charade has gone on long enough.” I stand from the couch and face my family. “I can’t allow this to continue. It’s time to end this once and for all.”

Aubree huffs. “Ryan refuses to take responsibility and is accusing me of sleeping with someone else. Not a great way to treat your fiancée, huh.”

My blood roars through my veins like a river that’s out of control.

I can’t let her get to me and take me away from the reason I’m here. “You’re not my fiancée and we’re not getting married.”

“Yeah, so he gets me pregnant and shoves me and the baby out into the cold.” Aubree sniffles.

Dad shakes his head. “This is not the responsible thing to do.”

“If the baby is mine, I’ll provide the financial support needed. I’m not marrying Aubree, but I will do the right thing if the child is mine. She’s been assured that from the beginning, but she’s manipulated me. Manipulated my family and taken advantage of this situation.”

Mom opens her mouth but doesn’t speak. She rubs her forehead as she stares into the distance. She looks at me. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” She looks to Aubree. “And you. Why would you lie? You told us Ryan asked you to marry him.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t.”

Aubree shrugs. “I love Ryan. I do want to marry him and I’m at home here. You’ve been so kind to me. I thought I could get Ryan to change his mind.”

“You’ve been lying to us the whole time then,” Dad says as he scowls at Aubree. “You’ve engineered quite a scenario, missy.”

Aubree huffs. She purses her lips, her brown eyes wild. She looks at each one of us, stands, and makes her way upstairs.

***

The three of us are on the porch as Aubree backs out in the packed rental car and drives away. I let out a deep breath and plop down on the porch swing. The rain has let up and the sun struggles to peek through the heavy clouds.

Mom and Dad each take a seat in the wicker porch chairs.

I rock quietly.

Aubree’s gone and this is where Dad is going to have it out with me.

Mom speaks first. “You said you were never in love with Aubree. Was that true?”

“It’s true.”

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