Page 58 of Secret Baby for the Triplets

My stare fixes on the words in front of me.

Cheese

Eggs

Milk

Bread

The even, feminine scrawl triggers something in the back of my mind, and a cold sweat prickles at the base of my neck. At first, I shrug it off, but the longer I stare at the handwriting, the harder it is to ignore.

“I don’t know what to say,” Emerson mumbles as I look up.

She locks eyes with mine, and I choke, her emerald stare suddenly striking me physically as I look back down at the shopping list.

“Why don’t you start by telling us what you’re planning on doing with our toothbrushes?” Owen offers, his tone stoic, and non-judgmental, but I’m having a really hard time keeping up with the conversation now.

The memory floods me as Emerson talks. “I was trying to find a way to tell you, but the longer I was here, the harder it became…”

In my mind’s eye, I see the note on my bedside in Vegas, the very same handwriting, the distinctive, loopy vowels. The water and bottle of aspirin sit there through my hangover haze…

Hope you’re feeling better. Thanks for a fun night.

D.

“Diana!” I gasp, jumping to my feet and pointing accusingly at the redhead. But she wasn’t a redhead then, nor did she have those glasses. “You’re Diana!”

My brothers gawk at me as Emerson’s complexion drains of all color.

Brock was right; she had come to deceive us, dressing differently and dying her hair, disguising herself to hide her real identity.

“E-Emerson,” she sputters. “I’m Emerson.”

“Diana?” Brock mutters, his eyes widening as he and Owen clue in. “Oh shit.”

“You’ve been lying to us!” I hiss, advancing on her.

Owen jumps up from the futon to put himself between us.

Emerson hangs her head. “I wanted to tell you.”

Bullshit!” I roar. “If you wanted to tell us, you would have told us, not come here in disguise!”

She shakes her head quickly. “This isn’t a disguise! Vegas was a disguise! This is who I am.”

“Oh stop!” I scoff, spinning away. I can’t even look at her. “So what? You came here when you found out we had money? You’re looking for someone to take care of your baby now?”

Shock and shame overtake Emerson’s face, followed by anger. “One of you is the father,” she spits. “That’s why I was collecting the DNA.”

“And we’re supposed to take your word on that?” I snort, folding my arms over my chest. “Why would we when you’ve lied about everything since the day we met you?”

“Toby…” Brock growls.

Owen holds up a hand. “Okay, let’s all take a breath here.”

I laugh mirthlessly, falling back onto the chair to glower at her. Emerson avoids my eyes, but I read the sadness radiating from her face as she looks helplessly at my brothers.

“This wasn’t how I wanted you to find out,” she tells us.

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