Page 56 of Halfway to Hell
“Mom.”
Kathryn saw the worry etched on her son’s face. She took a seat next to him, her gaze drifting toward the room across the hall. “If Sunday is pregnant, you can’t let what happened in the past cloud what’s happening right now.”
“I’m too old to be a dad.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, you’re thirty-five years old, Ange.”
“Mom, language.”
Ignoring her son’s comment, Kathryn patted his knee. “Before you freak out, let’s make sure she’s pregnant.” She looked at Texas and nodded.
When he stood and held out his hands to help her up, she waved them away.
“I can get up on my own. Now, go. And send Kennedy back here to sit with us.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Texas kissed her cheek before heading toward the living room. He’d make his dad and Cree take the ride with him. The last thing he needed was to be alone with his thoughts.
“Kennedy, Mom asked if you could come back there with her and Sunday.”
Kennedy looked at Texas, reading the strain on his face. “Sure, I can go hang out back there.”
Pierre caught sight of the ghost-white pallor on his son’s face and grew concerned. “Is everything okay with Sunday, son?”
Texas stared at his dad, unsure what to say. Then he snapped out of it. “You two are coming with me to buy a pregnancy test.”
Cree choked on his beer. “I’m not buying it. That’s like saying Kennedy’s next, and I’m not old enough to be a dad yet.”
“Asshole, you’re as old as me, and I’m too old to be a father this late in the game.”
Pierre laughed, standing up. “I’ll buy the damn thing. It’ll give the locals something to talk about.”
“I can’t wait until some of the local ladies come into the restaurant and start asking Kathryn how she’s feeling.” Barking out a bigger laugh, Pierre scooped up his keys from the coffee table.
“Let’s go, boys, I’ve got rumors to stir up.”
“Is he serious?” Cree asked, standing up.
“I’m afraid so,” Texas said, watching his dad almost skip out of the house. “If we’re not careful, he’ll be buying baby bottles, pickles, and ice cream.”
Cree scrunched up his face at the thought. “Do women really eat pickles and ice cream together?”
“They crave all sorts of stuff. Some of it’s just plain nasty.” Texas mimicked the disgusted look on Cree’s face.
“Get a move on, you two, I’ve got pickles and ice cream to buy!” Pierre shouted from the doorway.
“Told ya.” The upside was, Texas wouldn’t have to worry about his swirling thoughts with his dad causing a stir in town tonight.
Texas and Cree barely climbed into the truck before Pierre shifted into drive and pulled out of the driveway. The whole trip into town, the older man kept the jokes coming, making about four stops before they’d even gone a mile down the road.
For Texas, he’d rather the rumor mill swirl around his mom than him. Once people found out he was the one expecting a baby, the whispers would turn to his past. Small town life came with its fair share of trials.
Kathryn and Kennedy stepped back into the room to find Sunday wide-eyed, still clutching the trashcan.
“I am not pregnant,” she said firmly, addressing them both.
“It’s okay, dear. We’ll just wait for the boys to get back with the pregnancy test,” Kathryn said, settling onto the bed. She patted Sunday’s knee and gave her a reassuring smile. “But you’re pregnant. And if you’re not, I’ll shave my head.”
“You’d look good bald,” Sunday replied with a half-smile.
