Page 75 of Christmas with the Baby Daddy

“No. No, no, no, no.” She shook her head as she walked outside from what looked like Target. “No.”

“You didn’t know? Funny, because your reaction was not one of surprise.”

“No, I did know.”

“And didn’t tell me!” I bit my lip, holding in a growl.

“I only recently found out. Don’t get mad at me for not telling you. Blake asked me not to.”

That hurt. That she’d go so far to lie to me. Right when I had to fall in love with her.

“I overheard her talking to Sara at the holiday festival. And Iwasshocked. I didn’t know. Like since George was born, but like, I was younger then and it wasn’t my business, and yeah. Ididn’tknow. Until, like, a couple of weeks ago.”

That sort of helped. It helped that she hadn’t lied to me, too. “Does Grandma Jenny know?”

She shook her head. “As far as I can tell, no. But I wonder if she’s wondered. I told Blake she had to tell you. I insisted that she tell you. That’s why I thought to take George to that movie. Remember, I said I’d give you and Blake time to talk.”

Aha. That’s why she was acting weird when she said that.Then Blake and I didn’t talk at all, preferring to have sex all night.My… bad?

“She felt terrible not to tell you yet.”

“Then why the hell didn’t she?” I struggled with a spike of slight anger, confused but hurt. “I had a right to know.”

“Well, in her defense, you weren’t here. You took off after Kevin’s funeral and only returned now.”

I nodded, hanging my head. “I was gone, but hell. A text. A call. An email.”

“Tell me this.” She got stern. “If she told you, would you have come home?”

“Yes!” This was my son she was talking about.

“And you wouldn’t have resented Blake—or George—for being the reason you left the military? As in the one career you always wanted. The one ‘purpose’ you claimed to have in life just because Dad expected it of you? The one thing you made your life mission in order to follow in Dad’s footsteps?”

I let my shoulders sag with a sigh.

“I don’t blame her. Zach, you enlisted and came home for Kevin’s funeral. That’s it. Younevergave anyone a clue that you could want a life here or in one place.”

“I… I know.”

“Tell me this,” she said again. “If you hadn’t been discharged and basically forced out of the military, would you have willingly wanted to come home?”

I shook my head.

“Then it’s no wonder she assumed you wouldn’t welcome the news of a son back home. It’s not a mystery at all. She likely assumed that you would begrudge anything that pulled you out of what you always wanted to do.”

Would I?The answer was clear. “No.” I let out a deep breath, knowing in my heart that wouldn’t be true. “I get it. I understand why she would’ve been hesitant to tell me. I hadn’t made it a secret that I wanted to retire from a long career in the service. If I knew George was here, though, I would’ve stepped up. He’s my son.”

Damn, what a rush it was to say that out loud. To own it. To acknowledge who I was now.A father.

She nodded, smiling. “That’s what I sort of figured too. But Blake never knew. No one could.”

“Okay, but then why wouldn’t she tell me now? Why hide it when being in the army is no longer tying me down?”

“Because you said you’d leave after the holidays.”

I groaned, recalling how quiet Blake was when I said that. “Fuck.”

She raised her brows. “Are you?” she asked in a quiet voice.

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