Page 31 of Harry

“No.” Michael had remained standing. “I know it’s not my place to come here and say anything and you told her that you needed time. But by God man! She is pregnant with twins.

Your babies and Janelle is not doing too hot. I was there with her tonight, and she was sick, vomiting and just doing poorly overall. And here you are, behaving as if everything is quite normal. And your mother didn’t even know….”

“Wait!” Harry held up a hand. “You told my mother?”

Michael wanted to back away in fear at the foreboding look on the man’s face, but he stood his ground. He had come on a mission and if it meant he was going to be pommeled to death or have some of his bones broken, then so be it. He was going to finish what he started.

“I did!” He lifted his chin. “The poor woman was completely distraught and agreed to give me a few minutes to tell you exactly what I think of you. You’re a coward and certainly do not deserve a wonderful woman like Janelle.

She keeps making excuses for you regarding your crappy childhood, but I still think you are a goddamned coward and …,” he took several steps back when Harry started moving towards him. “I care about her!” He cried.

“And cannot bear to see her suffering so much. How can you say you love her and allow her to be by herself at a time like this?”

The question stopped him, and Harry felt the rage draining out of him.

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweats, he turned and walked to the window.

“I would like you to leave,” he said quietly.

“With pleasure. She doesn’t know I am here by the way. She said she was giving you time and that is what she’s determined to do.” Michael paused, staring at the rigid profile of the man standing by the window.

“Do yourself and her a favor and go to her. She was grateful for my company, but the only person she needs is you. And FYI – there is a man who is extremely interested in her and does not mind that she is carrying your babies. You need to think on that.”

Harry did not turn around, not even when he heard the man leaving the room. He stood there watching as he picked his way along the cobbled drive and turned off onto the direction of the manor. He stood there, even when he had disappeared from sight.

He had asked her for time and told her not to call him. And she hadn’t. Not even when she was going through it. His hands clenched into fists, his expression bleak. The words the prissy little fairy said to him were reverberating inside his head.

The man was right. He might be an annoying twit, but he was right. He was a coward and did not deserve her. He had known that all along.

And should have used that to stay the hell away from her.

His shoulders tensed as a movement behind the rosebush caught his eyes. He was surprised she had not come over before, but decided she had waited until Davenport had said his piece and left.

He was going to have to deal with his mother first, before anything else.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to face her as she walked into the room.

“Mother.”

“How could you?” She asked him quietly.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” He moved towards the liquor cabinet.

“No.”

“I hope you don’t mind.” He took up the bottle of scotch and poured a generous amount into the squat glass. “I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”

“She is pregnant, and you never said a word.” The accusation made him wince slightly.

“In my defense, she was late in telling me too. I only heard a few weeks ago.” He turned and walked over to sit on the arm of the sofa. “I told her I needed time.”

Madelyn stared at her son in shock. “Time to do what exactly?”

“To review my options. To decide whether or not I would make a good father and we both know the answer to that.” He took a sip of his drink, eyeing her over the glass. “I think you should sit. You look like you need to.”

Groping for the rocker near the fireplace, Madelyn sat, her expression sober.

Chapter 8

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