Page 50 of Twins for the Silver Foxes

“Megan? What are you doing here?” I almost released Hannah, but what was the point?

“What am I doing here?” She took another step into the room and stopped. “What am I doing here?” Her voice reached ear-piercing levels. “You invitedme, remember? You asked me to come here for Christmas.”

Yes, and she’d refused. Vehemently. With lots of cursing and hell no’s and a host of other obscenities I’d forgotten.

I took in the scene from her perspective. Ryland, Scott, and myself naked in bed with Hannah. Ultrasound photos littered the side table. The pacifier, bottle, and blocks sat in a place of honor on the headboard. The sheets were rumpled and the room smelled like sex. Hannah burrowed in closer to my side and tried to cover herself with the sheet. Scott had it tucked beneath his hips and he yanked a portion free to cover all of us with a flip of his wrist.

“I’m scarred for life. As if it wasn’t fucking bad enough already, I had to walk in and find you in bed with them.” She flapped her hand toward Ryland and Scott. “So are you gay, trans, bi? What’s the deal?” Both hands lifted in front of her face. “You know what, never mind. I don’t care.”

“It’s not like that, Megan.” I refused to relinquish my hold on Hannah. I’d learned enough to understand she’d take that as rejection.

“Is this why you left Mom?” Megan started to turn away but wheeled back and slammed her hands on her hips. For all her talk about being scarred at the sight of us, she sure didn’t seem to mind blasting her thoughts while we remained trapped in the bed. “Were we too boring of a family lifestyle for you? You always claimed you were a traditionalist.” A loud snort echoedthrough the room. With one last scowl and a toss of her hair, she ran out the door.

Hannah pushed against my ribs. “Go. Talk to her.”

“She won’t listen.”

“Doesn’t matter. You have to try, Arthur. Don’t you dare let her leave thinking she wasn’t a good enough daughter. That’s what’s going through her head right now. I know because it’s what would be in mine. Now go.” She practically kicked me from the bed.

My heart broke for Megan. She’d finally accepted my invitation and I’d ruined everything. Same old Arthur. Would I never get it right? I yanked on my pants and threw a shirt over my shoulders. Walking and zipping at the same time, I made it to the door only to be greeted by the sound of Megan’s boots pounding her way down the steps, her curses blasting throughout the house. I hoped Deena kept Liddy out of hearing range. I pushed that problem aside and focused on my enraged daughter.

“Megan, wait.”

“No, Dad.” She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and glared up at me. “There’s nothing you can say that will make this better. You chose someone else. A lot of someone else’s apparently.”

“I didn’t leave your mother.” I shot the words at her. I’d never said them before, choosing to always let my ex tell whatever story she chose. I’d hoped Megan would see through the lies, but since she was never allowed to spend time with me, her entire life was built on dishonesty. I risked a step forward but stopped when Megan retreated. “Please, stay. You are not required to talk to me. You can stay as far away as the house allows, but please, please stay.”

I’d done what I thought was right for her and her mother at the time. I knew better now, but nothing about my newfound knowledge could take back the years and give me back mydaughter. I’d have to work for it. I was willing, but first I had to get her to talk to me.

27

SCOTT

“Damn it.” I muttered under my breath as I fell back and let my arms fall to my sides.

Ryland scooted toward the edge of the bed and started to stand. “Should we go?”

“Where?”I scoffed and rubbed the grit from my eyes. I ached for Arthur and the sudden turn of events. He’d been trying to get Megan to join him for Christmas for years, and she’d turned him down repeatedly. How was he supposed to even suspect that she’d show up, especially after the rather hateful rejection she’d given him when he asked a month ago? He wanted a relationship with Megan, but her mother’s constant bashing of Arthur pushed her further and further away.

Hannah tuggedthe covers up to her chin. “That was embarrassing.”

I didn’t feelher shame, though I probably should have a little more regret that Megan had caught us all naked. “She’ll get overit. Maybe.” I rolled over to face Hannah. “When will you find out the genders?” It still struck me with a bolt of joy every few minutes. I was going to be a dad.

Twins.Hannah was pregnant with twins.

A goofy smileappeared on Ryland’s face. He flopped back onto the bed and stroked Hannah’s hip beneath the sheet.

“Not for a couple more months.”The tightness around her eyes eased beneath Ryland’s touch.

I stretched out my arm and placed a pillow in the crook of my shoulder, then patted it, inviting Hannah to move closer. I’d never been good at pillow talk. I left women too quick for deep confessions following sex. Things were different with Hannah.

“I’mglad you finally told us.”

“It would’ve beenhard to hide it much longer.” She gave a self-deprecating laugh and rubbed her stomach. “I’m sorry I waited so long. I should have told you all as soon as I knew. You deserved to know you were going to be fathers.”

Fathers.She said it easily, like it didn’t turn my world upside down in the best possible way. “I’m going to be a father.” I said it out loud, just to hear it in my own voice.

“We all are.”Ryland set his chin on Hannah’s shoulder. He still wore the goofy smile. “Two babies.” He stopped grinning. “Does Liddy know?”

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