Page 59 of One Small Secret

Moira’s jumpy energy has vanished. She stands with Axley in her arms. Axley grabs both her cheeks and looks at me like he’s found one of his lost toy trucks. “Mama!” he says again, proudly.

Moira gives Axley a distracted kiss. “What are people guessing? What does the internet say? Usually someone has some idea about a big twist like this.”

I hear Ruben tapping on his phone behind me, and after a moment he clears his throat. “The majority think you're the one lying.”

Moira curses.

I glance down at Axley pointedly. Has she forgotten a child is in the room? “Why does it matter?” I ask, my voice still hard.

“If he isn’t a billionaire, how could I leave him?”

“What do you mean?” Mom asks.

“I just thought . . . well, he's Andre. He has the world at his fingertips. If I leave him, he’ll be fine. But if he doesn’t...”

“But what about Axley?” I feel like a broken record, saying a thought I’ve been thinking on repeat since I woke up this morning.

“I’m taking Axley, no matter what. But maybe Andre won’t care as much if he’s also been lying this whole time.”

“So you're saying you hope he isn’t a billionaire? I thought that was the whole reason for going on the show—to set you up for life.”

“I didn’t think I would have to win to do that. If nothing else, it could give me some exposure, and I could hopefully start working more regularly or sell stuff on social media. We’ve heard the show has been performing well, and I’m one of the last two women. I think my plan could have worked either way. Except for Axley.”

“Cadence and Ruth need him now too, Moira.” Ruben says. “They can’t be mother and grandmother to someone for three months and then just have that ripped away.” His voice goes soft. “You can’t ask me and my family to do that either.”

“We’ll find ways to meet,” Moira says. “I’ll keep in touch. I promise.”

A large shadow fills the entrance to my doorway. Moira had left the door open, and someone followed her in. The second he steps into the room, we all recognize his shoulder-length dark blond hair, the slight bump at the bridge of his nose, and his thick forearms.

“Andre?” Moira is the first to speak. Axley is wiggling like he’s ready to be put down, but Moira clutches him closer to her chest. “What are you doing here? You’re in breach of contract.”

“Forget the contract, Moira. What are you doing here? Why did you run away?”

Moira ignores his question. “How did you find me?”

“I didn’t. The production company did.” Andre's slight French accent is just as fascinating in real life as it is on the show. “They have a contact with the media outlet that printed the picture of Ruben Palmer and your sister. They gave me this address.”

I shake my head. I’m not going to be distracted by an accent. “That has to be illegal. Are they handing out my address to just anyone?”

Andre crosses both of his massive forearms across his chest. “I’m not just anyone.” He says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, and suddenly I’m pretty sure Jessica is the penniless one. “And Moira, you are the one in breach of contract.”

“I’m not coming back, Andre.”

“I don’t care if you do. I can go on television live and tell everyone I choose you whether you’re there or not. What I do care about is you leaving and not telling me where you went.”

Moira’s chin quivers. “I couldn’t.”

“Why?” The word leaves his mouth like a bark.

Moira swallows and then raises her chin. “I’ve been lying, Andre. To you, to the company, to everyone.” Moira tucks Axleys’ head into the crook of her neck. “Axley isn’t Ruben and Cadence’s baby, he’s mine. And I thought maybe I could give him up, and just be happy with you for the rest of my life, but I can’t. I would never be happy without him.”

Andre’s eyes fall to Axley. He steps forward. “And you didn’t trust me enough to tell me any of this?”

Moira’s eyes fill with tears.

I take a deep breath and stand next to Moira. “It isn’t easy, you know. Raising a child on your own. There are so many emotions tied up into it. So many fears and uncertainties of knowing that one life depends solely on you. I got a small taste of that, but nothing like what Moira’s gone through. If you love her at all, you need to let her make her own decisions.” I put my hand on Moira’s shoulder and the tears already formed in her eyes spill over.

Andre takes a step closer, he glances at me, but then his eyes rest on Moira. All of his hardness is gone. “All I’m asking is that you give us a chance. Don’t run away. I’m not going to pretend this isn’t a huge omission on your part. But it isn’t like I’ve told the whole world all about myself either. We’ve been on camera for almost all of our relationship, for heaven’s sake.”

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