Page 31 of One Small Secret

Ben takes two steps toward my living room and then turns back around. He obviously wants to say something, but doesn’t. Is this about my Laos project? Could he be here to tell me they finally see its merits and they’re greenlighting it? After getting my job back, I’d finally got a few people to pay attention to it. Even though they acted as if they’d only vaguely heard of it before. It was nice to be back at corporate where I could look people in the eyes and tell them my ideas instead of trusting them to read my emails.

“Would you like something to eat?” I ask feebly.

Ben waves his hand to the side. “No, thank you. You know I see you as family, right?”

I nod. “I think of you the same way.”

His lips press together, but he doesn’t seem angry, just…disappointed? Maybe hurt, even. “Then why have you been keeping your baby a secret?”

“I haven’t been…” I stop, because I guess I have been keeping Axley a secret, but not on purpose. Ben’s eyes are focused like lasers on Axley, currently sitting on my hip. How did he even find out? “Ruben told you?”

“No,” Ben’s voice hardens. “Ruben did not tell me. I tried calling him this morning and he didn’t answer.”

Axley makes a small noise in his throat that can only be described as a gurgle. He must be getting hungry. I need to make him a bottle, but I can’t exactly turn away Ruben’s grandfather and the founder of Palmer Hotels one minute after he arrived. “Would you like to sit down? I need to make Axley breakfast.”

“Axley.” Ben sighs the name as if it were the most beautiful thing he’s ever heard.

The world shifts at his approval. Something must be very wrong.

I haven’t seen Ben since I arrived in Rosco, but Ruben would have told me if he was starting to have memory or comprehension problems. He's in his seventies, but he’s always been healthy, and in better shape than most men in their fifties.

I motion for Ben to sit on the sofa. Wrapping paper still litters the floor, and both my mug and Ruben’s are sitting on the coffee table. Maybe he'll think those were Axley’s and mine? Or that I’m a complete slob? As long as he doesn’t deduce that his grandson is sitting in my bedroom with only a hollow door between us, he can think what he wants.

Ben doesn’t seem to notice the state of my living room as he sits down, his eyes never leaving Axley. “Can I hold him for you while you make his breakfast? Please?”

My fingers itch to text Ruben and ask if Ben is okay. But sometime during the night, my phone died and…oh crap. Ruben’s phone is sitting on the coffee table. It’s slim and sleek with no case. Seriously, how rich do you have to be to have no case on your phone? Today I’m counting it as luck. An uncovered phone could belong to anyone.

I bring Axley over and set him beside Ben on the couch. The kitchen looks into the living room. With Ben sitting down, I’ll be able to see the two of them. Ben immediately lifts Axley from under his shoulders and stands him up on the cushion. “Let me get a look at you,” he says, and I take the opportunity to quickly slip Ruben’s phone behind my back and edge into the kitchen. “He doesn’t look much like you.”

“No,” I call over my shoulder, even though I’m a bit miffed at his comment. Sure, Axley and I share no DNA, but I think his ears look a bit like mine. “I think he takes after his father.”

Ben’s face splits into a large grin. “He does, doesn’t he?”

Seriously, what is wrong? If I could just sneak into my bedroom, I could ask Ruben, but I’m not quite ready to leave Ben alone with Axley without knowing his condition. Instead, I plug in my phone. Mom will know if Ben has gone downhill health wise in the last few years. I can text her.

I turn on the sink and wait for the water to get warm enough for me to mix Axley’s formula. Ben is making cooing sounds at Axley like he's a newborn. Axley is blinking up at Ben as if transfixed, and Ben’s eyes are shining, the smile on his face one of pure enjoyment.

Sheesh. Ruben should probably get to work making great-grandbabies. Ben looks like he's in heaven. I can’t remember the last time I've seen him so happy.

I’m filling the bottle when my phone comes to life. It immediately pings once. Then twice, and then several more times. How many people are wishing me a Merry Christmas?

I pick up my phone. The first text is from Emily. Man, I miss her. Why did she have to move?

You and Ruben??? What have you been up to while out of the country??? Text me. NOW.

What the heck? I click on the next message. This one is from an old high school friend who only had my number because I helped her plan our five-year class reunion.

Congratulations! I knew there was something between the two of you at the reunion. It was so obvious, the way Ruben kept looking at you.

The next one is from Rebecca and my heart sinks. Whatever has gotten into everyone is affecting my coworkers as well.

Congratulations! I didn’t even know you and Ruben were dating. And your baby is adorable! I hope the three of you have a very Merry Christmas!

Our baby? Like, Axley? My heart pounds as I scan message after message on my phone. I don’t bother opening any more until I see my mom’s message.

You’d better look at People’s website and then let me know what to tell everyone who keeps messaging me. Also, we need to get you some curtains.

I set Axley’s bottle on the counter and navigate to People. My phone flashes and I curse under my breath. I’m there. Not just me, but me and Ruben and Axley, asleep on the couch. My head is resting on Ruben’s chest like it knows what it's doing and Axley is snuggled up between us like he belongs there. Ruben’s right arm is draped over my bare shoulder and his left is encircling both me and Axley, keeping both of us from rolling off the couch.

---