Page 116 of Sweet Little Thing

“Who is she, Winston? We are dealing with family issues.” Hilda’s voice had gotten louder. I didn’t respond to her. Instead, I kept my eyes on Beulah’s. Reassuring her while the insane woman who was possibly the mother of my child ranted behind me.

“That’s Hilda.” I had dismissed Hilda for a second to stay focused on Beulah. She knew enough about Hilda to understand. At least, I hoped she did.

“Is Wills okay?” she asked immediately. There was honest worry in her tone.

“He will be. But my father has hurt him.”

“Oh God.” She covered her mouth. The pain shimmering in her eyes was real. It wasn’t fabricated or worked up. She wasgenuinely worried about Wills.

“Why does she know about our son?” Hilda asked sharply. Demanding attention and hating that she was being ignored.

I slipped my arm around Beulah’s waist. “Beulah meet Wills’ mother, Hilda. Hilda, this is my girlfriend, Beulah. She lives here. With me.”

She hadn’t been expecting a girlfriend. That much was obvious. There was a certain annoyed gleam in her eyes that I read all too well. Women like Hilda wanted to be the most important—the most beautiful. Beulah was nineteen years younger and by far more beautiful inside and out. Hilda wouldn’t care about Beulah’s inner beauty, but the outer was something she would hate. Her looks paled against Beulah’s.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Beulah said. Her voice was sweet and perfect.

Hilda glared at her, but only for a moment. She snapped out of her snit quickly and forced a smile. A smile that was all too vibrant. “Likewise. I am sure we’ll be fast friends.”

I doubted that.

Chapter

Seventy

Beulah

“I didn’t know she was coming here,” were the first words out of Stone’s mouth when we stepped into his bedroom.

“I’d figured that out,” I told him. It was obvious he’d been caught off guard, but there was hope in his eyes. Hilda showing up here was a good thing for Wills. They had to work together to help him.

Stone ran a hand through his hair, messing up his thick locks. “I need her help. Wills needs her help. Honestly, I don’t want her here with us…staying in my place. Our place. She’s toxic.” He was worried about me, and I knew that. Within seconds of entering the apartment, I could tell he was on guard where Hilda was concerned. He was ready to swoop in and save me. I wasn’t that helpless. I knew I could deal with Hilda. Just because I was nice didn’t make me weak.

“We will be fine with her here. This is a good thing. A very good thing. Don’t worry about anything else. You have enough to beconcerned with.”

He walked over to me and put both his hands on my waist. “I’m glad she’s here. I’m not happy with what finally pushed her here. My stomach is twisted in knots over it. But I have a chance now. I also have this.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out an envelope. Frowning, I looked at the envelope and tried to puzzle out what was inside.

“The results. I was waiting until we were alone to look at them. No matter what they say or what these results tell me, I will need time to adjust. Hilda showing up surprised me, and I put looking at this on hold.”

We would both know now. The results in that envelope would decide his next steps. I was confused about what my steps would be and wouldn’t know until after my doctor’s appointment.

“Open it when you’re ready.” I didn’t want to push him. I imagine in his heart and mind there was a lot riding on what the piece of paper inside that envelope said. Stone already loved Wills. He’d lived not knowing if he was his father, but that hadn’t changed his love for him.

Wills and Stone had the same eye color, but the color wasn’t rare. That didn’t make Wills his. And the boy’s dark hair and smile looked more like Hilda to me now that I had seen her. Sure, looking at the photos, the boy could be his. But he could be his brother just as easily.

Stone stood there looking at the photo in his hands. His frown was drawn tightly. So many things running through his head. I would make this easier on him if I could. But there was nothing I knew I could do. Nothing at all but stand here and be his support. He wasn’t alone anymore.

At least not now.

He slowly opened the envelope and pulled out the neatly folded paper. I looked up to find Stone was watching me. He took a deep breath as if to steady himself. I gave him an encouragingnod, and he held the paper in his hand. The slight tremble didn’t go unnoticed by me. It was another small glimpse at his vulnerability.

I wasn’t sure if I was breathing as I stood there waiting for him to say something. The unknown had hung in the air for so long now that he knew it would change so much for him internally.

His hand didn’t give way to the answer he was reading. His body didn’t react differently. I searched for any clue as to what he knew. What to be prepared for. Wills’ chance at a life free of that man would all weigh on this.

It seemed like an eternity as the room stayed silent. I didn’t push. It wasn’t my place. This would all be when Stone was ready to share. Finally, he lifted his head, and his eyes said everything. They reflected his raw pain, his joy, and desperation—so many things stemming from the same truth.

“He’s mine…” There was a pause—a brief moment when he looked unable to speak as if he wasn’t sure he understood himself. I wondered what could have him so shocked. He knew that Wills was very likely his. Something was causing the look of disbelief on his face.

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