Page 92 of Private Exhibit
“Hey,” the fiancé barked, “don't talk to her that way!”
Andy started to take a swing at the guy, but a security guard arrived at that moment and caught his arm. “Fuck!” Andy pulled himself free and stepped back, then jabbed a finger at Crawford. “Terminate the pregnancy,” he demanded, then turned and stormed out of the room.
The security guard followed after him, watching until Andy was on the elevator and the doors slid shut between them.
“Fuck!” Andy yelled again. He punched at the wall, then cursed once more and shook out his hand.
Andy shifted his weight from foot to foot until the car stopped and the doors opened again.
He found himself staring at the doorway into the morgue.
Shit. Andy jumped back and jabbed at the button for the third floor. He couldn't be down in the morgue right now. Not when any number of ghosts might show up, looking to hang out and chat.
Andy gasped.Junior!He stepped right up to the doors, tapping impatiently on the smooth, cold metal until the car stopped. The doors opened, and Andy rushed to his office, throwing open the door and looking around.
He found Junior huddled in the corner, hugging his knees to his chest.
Andy winced.Junior?
The boy glanced up at him, then hung his head.
Hey, kid, Andy said, softening his inner voice, forcing down the rage for his son's sake.Mom's gonna be fine. Crawford may be an ass, but he is an excellent surgeon, he admitted.I'm sure everything's gonna be–
She knew?Junior whispered, cutting him off.
Oh fuck. Andy froze where he stood, then slowly made his way across the room. He swallowed hard as he lowered himself to the floor, watching his son the whole time.Kid–
She always knew?Junior demanded.
Andy sighed.She did.He shook his head.I'm so sorry, kiddo. I never wanted you to find that out. I shouldn't have lost my shit like that–
No, you should have told me, Junior insisted, looking up at him with eyes that seemed almost wet with tears.Why would you keep something like that from me?
Because she's your mother, Andy replied.And you've always struggled so much with losing contact with her. I didn't ever want you to feel betrayed by her as well.
Junior hugged his knees tighter.
I'm so sorry, kid, Andy repeated.And I'm so sorry about what I said the last time we talked.
Junior looked up.What?
Andy shifted closer to him.You didn't rob me of my life. You hear me? Youaremy life. You're my son, and I love you more than anything in the whole world.
Anything?
Andy opened his mouth to respond, then hesitated. Because he loved Devon, too. It was completely different, but the truth was that he loved Devon just as much as he loved Junior.
What?Junior asked, warily studying his face.
Andy turned and slumped against the wall beside him, running his hands through his hair. He took a deep breath, squeezed his eyes shut, and told Junior,He has it.
Who has what?
Devon, Andy said.The boy I've been seeing.
He–
Andy braced himself, waiting for another angry outburst.
