Page 76 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

“I have a lot to do. I thought I’d take Pax to preschool.”

“Oh... well... okay. I was thinking I’d go see my sister when I dropped him off.”

“Absolutely, Marie. Take the whole day off. You deserve it.”

I finished getting myself ready, and when Pax returned, he sported a grin and a happy attitude, telling me Henry had responded to his picture in the positive. Of course he would. Deep down, Henry was a good man.

It occurred to me that Pax would likely tell his friends or teachers about Henry being his father. I knew the news would be out eventually, but I had a feeling Henry would want to control the narrative.

“Pax, honey, eat your cereal. I’ll be right back.” I got him situated at the little window table in my room.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to talk to Henry for a minute.” I made my way down a flight of stairs to check Henry’s room.

I knocked on his door and opened it when he called out. I entered but stayed near the door. The room was how I’d remembered it from five years ago. I’d been an idiot back then to dream of being with him in this room as his wife. I’d been an idiot to entertain it now.

“Is something wrong?” Henry’s voice was cool, distant.

“Pax is likely to tell people about your being his father.”

Henry’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have a problem with that? You don’t want people knowing the truth about how you cruelly kept him from me?”

I understood his rage, but my own anger bloomed as well. “You were the one who didn’t want anyone to know about me, your dirty little secret,” I spat. “You were so ashamed of me that you sent me away. ‘We can’t ever see each other again.’ That’s what you told me, Henry. You’re the one so worried about his precious reputation.” The pain seared into my chest. “I’d been a fool to fall in love with you back then, a bigger fool to do it now.”

I turned to leave his room.

“Samantha.” His tone wasn’t as harsh, but I was done. Done loving a man who put everyone and everything first except me. I continued back upstairs, finished getting Pax ready, and then I left the house, taking him to preschool.

The restof the morning passed in a blur. I was going through the motions but didn’t feel present in my life. My mind was preoccupied with rehashing my poor decisions, wishing Henry would understand and forgive me and then chastising myself for needing Henry’s love.

I stared at my computer screen, unable to focus on the reports I was supposed to be reviewing. My phone rang, startling me. Checking the caller ID, I saw it was Alex. Did he know? Had Henry spoken to him and Victoria? Was he calling to fire me as a client for betraying his friend and wife?

“Hello?”

“Hey, Samantha. I have some news. Can you meet me for coffee again?” He didn’t sound upset at me.

“Ah... yeah.” I wasn’t getting anything done, anyway.

“Same place as before? Thirty minutes?”

“I’ll be there.”

Thirty minutes later, I walked into the restaurant I’d met Alex in a week before.

His head cocked to the side as he saw me. “Are you okay?”

Clearly, he didn’t know anything yet. Should I tell him? No. I decided it was Henry’s place to tell him.

“Just a busy day. What’s up?”

He smiled. “You’ll be glad to hear that we found the paralegal.”

“Oh?” That did cheer me up, although with my luck, she wouldn’t be any help. “Did she shed any light on my case?”

“Boy, did she ever.” Alex slid a piece of paper over to me. “This is a copy of her statement and affidavit.”

I started to read as a server showed up and took our coffee orders.

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