Page 95 of Her Ex's Father
Her lips twitch. “I don’t feel huge and gross anymore.”
“Good,” I say, opening the car door for her. “Because you never were.”
And as she slides in beside me, I swear to myself I’ll prove it every day from now until forever.
Chapter 35
Maddie
Six months.
The calendar says it’s been half a year, but my body doesn’t need a reminder. The baby makes her presence known every time I shift too quickly, every time I try to bend, every time I wake in the middle of the night to the fluttering kicks that make my ribs ache and my heart swell.
Back in Colorado, the air feels sharper somehow, clearer than the humid city air of Philadelphia. When we step off the plane into the shadow of the mountains, I inhale deeply, and it feels like my lungs are drinking clean water.Home.
The lodge waits for us like a sentinel against the forest. Hugh meets us in the grand entryway, phone in hand, brow furrowed as usual.
“Welcome back,” he says, eyes warm when they meet mine.
“You told him about the pickle juice,” I accuse, but hug the man anyway. He pats my back with his free hand, probably unsure how to handle his boss’ wife showing affection.
“I did. Sorry. But it was necessary—I’ve missed you as much as he did.” The confession makes my throat go thick with emotion, and I laugh when I pull away, eyes already watery.
“Damn hormones.”
Hugh grins, then clears his throat, hesitating. His eyes flick to Ben.
“What is it?” Ben asks, voice calm, deep.
“Derrick left,” Hugh admits. “He packed his things the morning you went to Philadelphia. Took the Range Rover and some cash. I’ve tried reaching him—he isn’t answering.”
I stiffen. Guilt pricks at my chest even though I know I shouldn’t feel it. This was inevitable.
But Ben just exhales, steady and unshaken. “Then let him go.”
The words land like a stone dropped into still water. Hugh blinks. I blink.
Ben shrugs off his coat, unbothered. “He’ll do what he wants, as he always has. He’s an adult. If he needs me, he’ll know where to find me.”
Hugh hesitates, then nods.
I study Ben’s profile as he moves toward the stairs, calm and unhurried, and something inside me loosens. I was braced for a storm, for rage or grief, but he doesn’t break. He’s chosen us, and he’s not looking back.
Still, I know what it’s like to be on Derrick’s side of things, though we’ve had vastly different experiences. I take my time getting upstairs and find Ben glancing over some paperwork left on his desk.
“Hey.” Leaning in the doorway, I drink him in—heart thudding with love and sadness all at once. “Can we talk? About Derrick?”
Benedict straightens and comes to me, putting his own back to the door frame so we’re facing one another, knees bumping.
“I’m not going after him, Maddie.”
“I’m not asking for that Ben… but just… think about things, please. I know you want to do what’s right for me and the baby, to set us up for a safe life, but I can’t imagine… I can’t imaginehow hard it’s been for you and Derrick. He’s still your son. And the way you cut him out of your will…”
Ben sighs, arms crossed. “He’s made it very clear, Maddie, that he wants nothing to do with the family business. Why should he profit from it?”
I shrug. “Because you want him safe as much as you want me safe. As much as you wanthersafe.” I take his hand and press it to my belly. “Like I said, I can’t imagine what you two have been through. But Derrick was just… reacting. And he has nothing, now. Nothing to bargain with. He’s probably scared Ben and feels abandoned. Just think about it?”
His beautiful eyes are distant, staring at nothing over my shoulder. He nods, but doesn’t speak, his fingers still grazing my belly.
