Page 43 of Secret Southern Promises

I finally gathered myself and got out of the car. The chill in the air bit at my skin, reminding me of how raw I felt inside. I fumbled with my keys, finally managed to unlock the door, and stepped inside.

The warmth of the house welcomed me, but it only heightened the emptiness. I kicked off my shoes and made my way to the bathroom, yearning for the comfort of a hot bath.

As I filled the tub, I couldn’t help but replay the day in my mind. Nash’s guarded expression, the way he’d shut me out—it all stung. And then there was Renee and Sam. I needed to ban those two from the store.

I sank into the water and let out a shaky breath as the heat enveloped me. The steam rose around me, but I could still feel the coldness inside. I tried to focus on the soothing sensation, but thoughts of Nash and Boone kept intruding.

The memories of the past weeks flooded back—the laughter we shared, the tentative steps toward rebuilding our relationship. But now, it felt like a delicate house of cards that had just collapsed.

I buried my face in my hands, letting the tears flow freely. I was scared of what lay ahead, scared of the damage my choices had caused. I had wanted to protect Nash, to give him a good life, but I had underestimated how much he needed his dad—and how much I needed Boone.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Boone

“They’re talking about her.”

I looked up from the sink, my hands buried in a pile of dirty dishes. Nash stood in the kitchen doorway, his face a mix of frustration and something else I couldn’t quite read. “What?” I asked as I dried my hands on a dishtowel.

“Everyone keeps talking about her in the store,” he repeated, sounding more aggravated this time. “They don’t even care if she can hear them. Today, these two annoying women told her that you should get a paternity test.”

What in the actual hell?

I stared at him, processing the words. Magnolia Grove had always been a rumor mill, but I thought people had the decency to do it behind each other’s backs, not right to their faces.

“You know who told her that?” I asked, feeling my temper start to rise.

Nash shook his head. “I don’t know them. Just some customers.”

Hmm. I’d have to figure that out on my own later.

“Do you think we should get a paternity test?” Nash asked hesitantly, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

I shook my head firmly. “No.”

“You believe Mom?”

I turned to lean against the counter and faced Nash fully. “I know this is really hard right now, Nash. It’s confusing. I get that. I know your mom lied about me being your dad, and it’s not something I’m ever going to be okay with. But you’ve got to look at the bigger picture. You can’t just stop at ‘she lied,’ end of story. She thought it was the best thing for me. For both of us.”

“But it wasn’t,” Nash insisted, his voice gaining strength.

I nodded slowly. “You’re right. It wasn’t. She made a mistake, a big one. But do you think we need to punish her for the next fourteen years to get even?”

Nash looked down, thinking it over. After a moment, he shrugged. “I don’t think we need a paternity test. I overheard some gossip the other day, and nobody seemed all that surprised that I’m yours. They kept saying how much you and Mom were in love in high school.”

I smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. “Yeah, we really were in love.”

“And then she broke up with you,” he added, his voice soft.

I sighed heavily. “Yeah, she did. But Nash, we can’t keep getting mad at her for that. It’s been a long time. She’s apologized more than once. She’s explained why she did what she did, and I know she wishes she could take it all back.”

“But she can’t.”

“No, she can’t,” I agreed. “But you and I can forgive her.”

Nash frowned, still struggling with the idea. “But I’m still mad,” he admitted.

I nodded, understanding all too well. “I get that. But let me ask you something: is being mad doing anything for you? Besides making you cranky and making your mom sad?”

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