Page 98 of Two Wrongs

Charlie is nearly as attractive as Griffin. It’s not fair really. Those young co-eds don’t stand a chance.

“Right, well, that might be what brought him in, but I overheard him talking to Donovan. Griffin left last night.”

Now it’s my turn to take a deep breath. I want to know of course, but I need to cut this off. He’s either chasing after Liam, or god forbid at that club with a new distraction. I had hoped he’d be a little sad, but maybe I won’t tell him about the baby. As soon as the thought enters my head I dismiss it. He’s a great father, and I know I can’t keep this from him, but I can get my feet underneath me first. He deserves to be a part of the baby’s life, but he doesn’t have to be involved with my pregnancy.

“I can’t hear about him,” I insist.

“Too damn bad, girlie.”

“Why? This is my pregnancy, and I can deal with it however is best for me,” I seethe. Damn pregnancy hormones. I’ve been irritable a lot the last week or so, but I thought I was grieving or something.

“Your what now?” I could hear a pin drop on her end of the phone. She doesn’t even sound like she’s breathing now.

“Uhm, yeah, so it just occurred to me that you totally didn’t know that since I only figured it out this morning, which means that is not your reason for telling me about Griffin. But, I just can’t keep track of him. He let me go. Hell, he insisted for weeks that when Liam got out of rehab this is what I needed to do, and so I did. I’m gone.”

“Okay, preggers, zip your lip for a sec, ‘kay? Griffin is on his way to Florida. I only have a minute before Donovan finds me hiding in the storage closet and it won’t be as much fun as when you go in here, feel me? I take it he doesn’t know?”

“Why would Donovan know about the baby?”

“Girl, did you shove cotton between your ears today? Griffin, does he know that his bun is in your oven?”

“This is how it happens, isn’t it. I’m already dumber. I’m a dumb blonde now.”

I hear a click and check to see if she hung up on me. “What was that?” I ask when I see the call is still connected.

“I can’t snap in your face, so I snapped into the phone. You’ve got a serious case of mommy brain. Drink lots of water and take a nap. You’re going to need your wits about you, because he. Is. Coming. Charlie was asking some of the women about your aunt. One of them I guess is a friend of hers, and she was only too happy to tell Charlie all about where she lives and stuff. Your aunt needs better friends, he coulda been a psycho.”

I shake my head. “Only in Harriston can you find out a person’s personal business over a beer or in line at the drugstore,” I grumble.

“Yeah, but remember, I overheard what Griffin is doing the same way, and am able to warn you, so don’t knock it right now.”

“Do you know when he’s going to be here?” I ask.

“I’m sorry. It depends on how long he stopped for last night.”

“He left last night!” I screech.

I stand and try and wipe the sand off my feet. Then I start shoving everything in my bag. “Bess, I’ve got to go. I went down to the beach, and I guess I need to go back to the condo before Hattie comes back and try and do damage control.”

Bess groans. “You didn’t tell her about Griffin, did you?”

“No, she, uh, thinks this is Liam’s baby,” I rush out.

“I know I didn’t hear you let your aunt think you’re having the baby of a cheating thief.”

I scoff. “What was I supposed to say. ‘Don’t worry, Aunt Hattie. It’s not Liam’s baby, it’s his dad’s.”

Bess giggles, and it grows into laughing so hard she gasps as she tries to speak. “You’re having your husband’s brother or sister.”

Maybe it’s the hormones, or the absurdity of my situation, but I find that so funny I snort. I laugh so hard I nearly pee myself. “Shit, I almost peed, and I can’t even say the baby is sitting on my bladder yet. I’ve been downing Gatorade and water for the last few hours because I’m a little dehydrated.”

It takes less time to get back to the condo as it did to walk to the beach, but I still wasn’t fast enough. A familiar truck is parked in front of her place, and Hattie is most definitely back.

“Shit,” I whisper into the phone. “He’s here, and Hattie is yelling at him.”

“Sorry I didn’t find out earlier. Text me later and let me know how it goes.” The line goes dead and I hurry to the front door.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here, Hale? So your son is such a chicken shit that he knocks up my niece and lets his daddy come fix things for him?”

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