Page 103 of Roots of the Wicked

“I’m going to be a father! Jax is pregnant!” His body bounced in giddy satisfaction, unable to contain his excitement.

James’s mouth dropped open, before a slow smile lingered in his eyes, getting used to the idea of a grandchild, I supposed.

Tonya made her way around the table. She stood above me and Chase, and embraced us over our shoulders, before she placed unexpected kisses on each of our cheeks. Her gesture pulled at my heartstrings, reminding that she couldn’t have children.

“Congratulations, guys. I’m happy for you. I’m excited to become an aunt.” I believed her sincerity.

“Congratulations!” James stated. “I was hoping I’d get the chance one day to hear the shrieking cries of a baby again. Little feet scampering over the floors. Tiny hands pulling and breaking expensive pieces. Vomit and drool drenched shirts. I missed most of it with my sons, but I don’t intend to miss it with my grandson,” he voiced, surprising me and Chase, who sat frozen in his seat.

My eyebrows lifted. They were taking the news well, so well in fact, I was holding out for the other shoe to drop.

“Congrats.”

The word didn’t surprise me; it was whose mouth the word had come from. Blake had labeled me a gold digger, and had blatantly suggested I was nothing but trash, and a low budget tech support clerk. He suspected I had planned my pregnancy and wedding to Chase from the start. I expected more of a fight from him, but he remained at peace, and I was grateful he had.

Chase and I thanked everyone, between conversations about baby names. We shared our decision to claim the baby as a boy, although we had no idea of the sex. Blake didn’t participate in much of the conversation. He put on a decent performance, but he didn’t like it one bit I was stealing the spotlight. Occasionally, I would catch his pinched eyebrows and irritated gaze aimed at me.

By the time we had dessert, the little lemon in my belly had a college fund, life insurance, a top of the line medical care plan, a nanny until he was eighteen, stock in Swift Capital, and a house that hadn’t been built yet.

Tonya appeared happy about becoming an aunt, and likely took the opportunity as her chance to experience a touch of motherhood. Chase couldn’t stop his infectious grin, and Grandpa James hadn’t stopped going on and on since Chase broke the news.

Blake was the evil lurking entity at the jovial event. He’d never relaxed his face or unclenched his jaw. The more I was in his presence, the more I was becoming convinced he had somehow pulled off the drone scandal and sent me Chase’s recorded conversation.

By the time we left his family mansion I was sure of one thing. I wasn’t returning to my own apartment anytime soon, and my unborn child was ten times richer than I had ever been. At the notion that his family had accepted the baby, Chase’s grip on me and his son had tightened, and the gleam in his eyes shined brighter. I welcomed his happiness because it reflected my own.

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