Page 105 of The Chemistry of Us

I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts. I wiped the tears from my face and went to grab a water from the fridge when someone knocked on the door. Frowning, I shut the fridge and walked over to open it.

All the air left my lungs. “Clara?”

It was Vaughan's mom. She was in a white pantsuit and carrying a large gift bag in her right hand. “Hi.” She swallowed. “Is Vaughan back from class yet?”

I shook my head. “No, he should be back soon, though. His class ended a half hour ago.” Which also reminded me I needed not to look like I’d just had a sob fest in the kitchen.

“You can come inside and wait if you want?”

“Oh.” She smiled. “Sure, that would be nice.”

Why did I suddenly feel like I needed to offer her tea or biscuits or something? I wasn’t a host, just her son's girlfriend. She’d always been really kind to me, though. Also, I wasn’t in the right headspace to make any sort of small talk. I moved over to the couch and sat down while she took the leather chair and awkwardly set down the gift bag.

She obviously brought him a gift for making it onto one of the national football teams. He was already sent a practice schedule and a shit ton of daily workouts he needed to complete. His agent stopped by once, and I immediately felt like I needed to give him a firm handshake and ask him not to kill me. He looked lethal, but then again, I was sure that was what you wanted in an agent—someone willing to go to bat for you.

I exhaled. “So it’s exciting, right?” I sounded half dead.

Clara looked over at me. It wasn’t just eye contact. It was like she saw through me, and I didn’t have the energy to shield myself. I had nothing. So I could only stare back and beg her not to ask me if I was okay.

Because no, I wasn’t okay.

“Tru.” She got up and moved to the couch and sat down on it. “You’ve been crying.”

I opened my mouth to say allergies, but what came out instead was a choked sob as I completely broke down.

She quickly wrapped an arm around me and held me while my body shook. “Shhh, it’s okay. It’s going to be okay whatever it is. I promise.”

I pulled back and sniffled. “But what if it isn’t? I don’t even know how to tell him! It’s not like this is planned and…” Her eyes narrowed. "I’m pregnant. I found out a week ago, and I’m freaking out, and every time I think to tell him, I feel like I’m drowning. He’s so happy, he’s worked so hard, and this wasn’t part of the plan. I can’t even think about how this will affecthis future or mine. We’re so young, and we just finally got back together, and I just?—“

“Deep breaths.” Clara smiled softly. “Do you want to be a mom?”

More hot tears streamed down my cheeks. “I never thought I did.”

“Until now,” she whispered, covering my hand with hers.

I nodded. “Until Vaughan. Only with Vaughan would I ever even—dream.” I choked out the word. “That I could be a mom—the one I didn’t have.”

“Oh, honey.” She squeezed my hand. “You would be a wonderful mom.”

“You’re supposed to be mean. Offer me hush money to stay away from your son or something equally as evil,” I joked.

She cracked a smile. “Yes, well, now that I’m divorcing Vaughan's dad, I’m feeling pretty good.”

“Divorcing?”

She shrugged. “It’s been a long time coming. We haven’t been together in a very long time as you know. On top of that, it was me that brought money into the marriage. I waited until a few of his companies started to suffer—we have an ironclad prenup—and wouldn’t you know, he couldn’t sign those divorce papers fast enough once I offered to bail two of them out of the red.”

I laughed. “Diabolical.”

“I’m a woman, and I let that man steal my power for way too long, too afraid about the image we had procured. You know? I saw my son's face at our last dinner and realized it was time to cut him loose too. Let him live his life the way he deserves and allow myself the grace to live mine.”

I grabbed both of her hands. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m probably going to throw a divorce party.”

“I’m probably going to ask to be invited.”

“There will be cake.” She winked just as the sound of a bag dropping on the ground had us both staring at the front door.

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