Chapter 44

MAGGIE

Logan seems shocked by what I’ve just told him. I guess he didn’t expect me to get pregnant so soon, but it was inevitable with the way we’ve been going at each other these past few months.

He seems speechless as I stare at him. “Are you not happy?”

“Happy is not the word I’d use for what I’m feeling right now, Maggie.” His hand squeezes my waist. “It’s beyond description.”

He caresses my stomach with his hand. “When did you find out?”

“This morning.” I circle my arms around his neck and pull him toward me for a kiss.

He kisses me back with the same passion. His tongue moves deliciously in my mouth, and when he pulls away, I instantly feel the loss.

“Did you tell Chase?”

“Not yet. Thought I’ll tell you first, but I’m sure he’s going to be excited about getting a sibling. He’s always wanted one, and I had no means to give him what he wanted.”

“Well, now you do,” he places feather-light kisses all over my neck and my jaw. “In fact, he can have more than one sibling if he wants.”

I give him a mischievous smile. “I’ll be more than happy to give you more children, Mr. Malory.”

Logan laughs. “You make me sound like a caveman.”

“I’m so excited. If I’m having a boy again, then he’s going to look like a miniature version of you.”

“Or how about a little princess that looks like you? I would love that. Boys are troublemakers. I want a girl, Maggie.”

“Hmmm, you’re right. Don’t think I have a lot of energy for another boy running around the house plotting disasters.”

He pats my head. “I can’t wait to tell Dad about it. He’ll be more excited than the two of us put together.”

I giggle as I imagine the senior Malory’s reaction to the news. “Let’s tell him together.”

When John learns of the news, he’s over the moon. He acts as if Logan and I have invented a device that could prove that the ships disappearing into the Bermuda Triangle are in fact sailing into another dimension.

We let the old man celebrate in his own way. He’s so excited that he declares all the staff are going to get a bonus this month, which cheers them up, and the maids look at me like I’m a god-sent miracle.

When I tell Chase the news, he’s ecstatic. He wants to go shopping for new toys for his brother.

“She could be a sister too, Chase. Think about it,” Logan tells him.

“Sisters are cool, but I want a brother,” he says and then looks at me, “Please, Mommy, please…”

“Sweetie, I really can’t answer that for you. It’s going to be a surprise.”

“Like a birthday surprise?” he asks innocently.

I give him a nod.

In the days that follow, Logan gets into a routine of making me lazier than I already am. He doesn’t want me to lift a finger and, to be honest, he’s being a little exasperating.

I’m not even allowed to climb the stairs or tie my shoelaces. I’m being showered with so much love, I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.

And then it’s time for me to face the inevitable, which is to meet Carter.

***

I need Logan for moral support, but I’m afraid it’s going to get awkward with Carter, since Chase is here with me.

I won’t know how to handle it if Logan gets pissed off by something that Carter says so I convince Logan to let me meet Carter alone with Chase.

“Are you sure, Maggie?” he asks me as I’m about to exit the car. “Can you really do this alone?”

“I’m sure.” I give him a small smile. “Don’t worry about me.”

He pushes the loose hair away from my face.

“No matter what he tells you…” There’s genuine fear in his gaze. “Just know I love you more than anything in this world. And I don’t feel this way just because you’re carrying my child.”

My heart warms with his words. I turn my face and kiss his palm. “I know, Logan. I love you more.”

“I love you morest, Mommy,” Chase says from the backseat.

“~Morest~ is not a word, sweetie.” I have to laugh because he looks so serious.

Logan squeezes my hand. “Just call me if you need me.”

“Of course.”

“I’m meeting Paris and some clients, so I won’t be far.”

Even though I told Logan that I would drive, he insisted on driving me himself.

As I enter the fast-food joint, the scent of grease enters my nostrils. I’m not very sensitive to scents, which is a good thing.

I would have preferred meeting somewhere else, but Carter had asked Chase where he wanted to meet, so this was his idea.

Carter is on his feet when he sees me. Chase squeezes my hand as we walk to his table.

Chase acted completely differently when he thought Carter was just a friend, and as soon as he found out that he was his biological father, things changed.

“Hey buddy, what’s up?” Carter asked Chase as we took our seats.

Chase stares at Carter for a long time before answering. “I’m…I’m fine.”

Carter offers a gift bag to Chase. “This is for you.”

Usually, Chase would have snatched it out of Carter’s hands, but this time he stares at me hesitantly.

I smile at him. “Say thank you.”

“Thank you,” Chase says.

I can see from Carter’s expression that this is not the reunion that he expected.

When we get our food, it’s like the silence prolongs at our table. This is worse than I imagined. I imagine what my reaction would be like if Logan wasn’t in my life, if I hadn’t married him.

Would I allow Carter back into my life? I wasn’t so sure, but maybe I would have done it as a favor for Chase.

“So…Chase, did your mommy tell you about me?”

Chase nods his head. “She told me you’re my real daddy.”

Carter gives him a smile. “That’s right.”

“Why didn’t you visit us before?” Chase asks him outright.

Carter is speechless. Of course, he doesn’t have an answer. How could you meet a son you didn’t know existed until a few weeks ago?

“I…I…well—

I must admit, it’s fun to watch him squirm.

“I was overseas, and I couldn’t travel due to my work.”

What a lousy excuse.

“But I’m here now…” He gives him the charming smile again. “Do you want to come live with me on the weekends?”

“Carter…you haven’t discussed with me yet,” I interject.

Carter’s smile doesn’t slip as he addresses Chase. “Buddy, can you give me a moment with your mom?”

Chase steals one nugget and runs off toward the kids’ play area. As soon as Chase is gone, Carter’s demeanor changes.

“What?” he asks. “I can’t even invite my son over to stay with me now?”

“~My~ son,” I correct him. “And if you really want to take him over the weekend, you need my permission.”

He sighs. “I have apologized to you a thousand times. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, Maggie. Please believe me.”

Carter sounds truly sorry for everything that he’s done, but he needs to know there’s no going back. He can’t have me back in his life.

“I believe you, Carter, but there’s nothing I can do.”

“I still love you,” he confesses.

“You’re a manipulative liar, you always have been, and you’re saying all this now because you can’t control me anymore.”

He stares straight at me, and there was a time in my life when I swooned over his good looks. Now, I can’t stand to look at him.

“Baby, listen…”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Mags, look at me.” His voice cracks, he sounds frustrated. I’ve never heard him so out of control. “I would do anything to have you and Chase back in my life. Just fucking anything. Let me fix this.”

“How are you going to fix anything?”

He looks unhinged now, and he’s hellbent on whatever he’s planning. “Logan will find another wife. He doesn’t need you. I…I need you.”

“I can’t believe you just said that.”

And then when I think he can’t do anything worse, he feels around in his pocket for something and shows it to me.

It’s a diamond ring, and I know what’s about to follow. I’m about to open my mouth, when I see Logan walking into the restaurant.

Things are going to get so messy.