When Sky Breaks: Burn & Break Duet Book 2

40. Sky

“Dad, I’m back.”

“In here,” he calls from the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” I set my purse down in the foyer and carry myself to where Foster’s hunched over a pile of papers at the dining room table.

“Oh, just looking over some insurance stuff. I can’t seem to find what I need, though.”

He slowly begins to rise, but I stop him with a hand to his shoulder. “You sit. I’ll get it for you. Is it in the file cabinet?”

“Yes. It should be in the yellow file. Labeled Ameritus Insurance. But first, sit with me a minute. How you feeling? Haven’t seen much of you in a week.”

He pats my face, and I smile. Perhaps a tad too wide.

“Good, good.”

“You sure? Your cheeks are still flushed.”

Oh. Well. Let’s see. My ex, now not my ex anymore, gave me a killer orgasm in a freaking haunted house, and I found out he’s been doing all kinds of really important things in my name. I feel like I could skip all throughout the town square singing any musical song as loudly as I possibly can.

“I’m good, I promise. August took care of me.”

Dad smirks and I widen my eyes, hiding my burning face behind my hands.

“No need to be shy here. I figured he’d make sure you were okay and work things out between you two.”

We more than worked it out, and Foster reading my face like a teleprompter makes it burn even more.

“What else has kept you from home except for the obvious, being sick and the haunted house?”

My face flushes for the millionth time, and I really wish I could get a handle on that.

Might as well dive into what August’s been up to over the last few years. “Did you know he’s been donating money to The Magnolia Place in my name?”

Foster raises a brow. “That I didn’t know. That’s, well, that’s a big deal, sweetie.”

My heart swells as I recall that conversation. I omit the haunted house scene because you just don’t tell your father a man fingered you in public. And that you liked it a little too much.

“So, we’re good. Really good, Dad.”

My smile makes him smile. It’s good to see him upbeat while battling this terrible disease. I wish he’d start dating again after he’s better. A man like him deserves to find love. But with the way he’ll talk about Gwen and the love that pours out of him when he speaks of their tender moments, I get it.

No one else makes me feel the way August does. Wholly loved and safe.

“I’ll be back with your file. Once you’re done, I expect you to go rest.” I point a finger and swirl it at his tired face.

He rolls his blue eyes. “I promise.”

Rising from the kitchen chair, I jet from the room and bump into Trek on the way to Foster’s office. His typically relaxed face is tight with worry.

I frown. “Hey, are you okay?”

He scratches the back of his neck but can’t hide his pinched eyebrows. “Yeah. I will be. Can we, uh, talk for a minute?”

Anxiety coats my stomach. “Yeah, let me grab a file for Dad real quick, then I’ll meet you in your room.”

He nods and trudges away, making my heart squeeze with worry. It doesn’t matter anymore about our past. He’s my brother, and he needs me.

Once I’m in the office, I squat down in front of the filing cabinet. I comb through the files. There’s one for everything. Doctor visits, all the household bills, life insurance, one for Trek and I, then two that give me pause. An uneasiness grips my throat. One is labeled Dannie Winters, and another that sours my stomach.

I grab both and the yellow file, nerves battling with my conscience. It’s probably nothing I don’t already know.

Short of breath, I open my door and place the folders on my desk quickly, as if they’ve burned me. I can’t read them now, not with Trek wanting to talk and Foster waiting.

Maybe just a peek? No. A peek will ultimately lead to a deep dive down a rabbit hole I’m not sure I’m ready to explore.

Forming a fake but convincing smile, I bounce back into the kitchen and plop the yellow file in front of Foster. “Here you go.”

“Thank you. I promise I won’t work too hard on this, but I can’t sit in bed all day long. It kills my back, and I get annoyed.”

I rub his shoulder and give him a peck on his bald head. We helped him shave it before the clumps came out. We may have cried and mourned his thick locks falling to the bathroom floor, but hair is nothing compared to his life.

“Just know I’m here to help if you need it, and Trek too. Take breaks. Please?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He salutes me with a grin, and I give him one back before escaping down the hall.

Out of sight, I drop my shoulders. I really want to read those files.

But Trek first. He’s been off the last couple of weeks and it appears he’s ready to spill whatever’s eating at him. I’m glad we’re at this point in our relationship—being able to talk to each other. It’s nice having my brother back.

I knock before pushing open his door. Trek’s curled over his desk, his head in his hands.

“Hey,” I say softly and sit down on the edge of his bed.

He looks up, his eyes wide with worry. Standing, he shuts the door before sitting next to me. “How much do you know about babies?”

I twist on the bed and stare at him. “What? Babies? A lot, considering I work with them.”

“Right. Um, well, it takes nine months for a woman to have one, typically, right?”

What the actual hell?

“Yes,” I drawl out. It was more of a question than a statement.

He fidgets with his fingers.

“Trek, what’s going on?” What he’s about to tell me blooms in my mind, but I need to hear it from him.

“Hazy—Hazel is pregnant.” He blows out a huge breath and laces his hands on the top of his head before dropping them to his lap.

“What?” I screech and slap my hands over my mouth before I alert Foster that something is wrong.

“Shhh. Damnit, I don’t want Dad to know until I figure out what’s going on myself.”

“You got your—our—former teacher pregnant?”

“If you mean did I stick my co?—”

Murderous intent in my eyes, I silence his words with a slice across my neck. “I don’t need those kinds of details. How far along is she?”

He shrugs, looking rather helpless. “She goes to the doctor next week. She thinks maybe eight weeks. We’ve been seeing each other for about three months, so it checks out.”

“You’re going to her appointment, aren’t you?”

“She isn’t sure she wants me there.” He slouches and digs his palms into his eyes.

“What? Why not? You guys made this happen together. You should be there.”

“Her sister is—she’s not very nice and isn’t taking this well and basically barged in on the whole thing.”

I grab his arm as he drops them from his face. “Trek. No. You’re the dad. You need to be there for Hazel. She’s probably just as nervous as you.”

“Oh, I know she is. This wasn’t what we planned. It was just supposed to be this fun, casual thing.”

I know firsthand how casual is sometimes not what you think it is.

“You’re going to be a dad,” I breathe out, hardly believing it myself.

He winces but nods. “I don’t think I’m ready. I’m so not good at babies and pregnancy, and fuck, I don’t know the first thing about being a dad.”

“You have a great example sitting in the kitchen.”

He hangs his head and rolls it onto my shoulder. “I know. I don’t know how to tell him he’s going to be a grandpa.”

I pat the side of his face and lean my head on his. “Easy. Just blurt it out like you do everything else. He can handle it.”

Trek is quiet for a few, his head still on my shoulder. “I wish my mom was here. She was always easy to talk to about the hard stuff.”

A seed of jealousy roots in my stomach before I cut it away. This isn’t about my abandonment issues. This is about Trek and his new journey into fatherhood. We’re young, but he’ll be okay. He’s been a good brother to me despite our past and I have no doubts he’ll step it up for his child.

“She’s still here and listening. I promise. But don’t keep this from Dad too long. We’ve got enough secrets between us.”

“I don’t want to stress him out with the cancer and all that.”

“I think it would help him. Give him more motivation than just us to get through this. He’ll be the best grandpa.”

I can feel Trek’s smile on my shoulder. “He’ll spoil him or her.”

“What’s better than that? Now. Listen. If you need any advice, it’s this. Be there for everything. Anything Hazel needs, you get or do for her. But most importantly.” I force him to sit up and meet my eyes. “Be there for her. Motherhood can be an overwhelming and lonely experience. Don’t let her doubt your involvement in every step. She’ll need you. And so will the baby.”

Trek cracks a tiny smile. “I will. I promise. I won’t let her down. Thanks, sis. I’m glad I could talk to you about it. I just didn’t want to bring up memories of losing your brother or anything like that.”

I shake my head. “I’ll always miss Chase, but his death doesn’t punch me in the gut like it used to. The grief is there, probably just like how it is with your mom. But somehow, the edges aren’t as jagged anymore. I have you and Foster and even August to thank for that.”

“I still need to talk to him.” He exhales heavily.

I bump his shoulder. “He deserves to know that despite what happened, he’s still a good person.”

“Damn you for being so…wise.”

I laugh. “Remember that when your baby is older and needs advice from their Auntie Sky. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks again.”

We hug and I leave Trek to himself.

Wow. I can’t believe he’s going to be a dad. I know the road will be a long one for him considering Hazel is like ten years older than him and in the public eye at the school as a teacher. But I think they’ll navigate it all right.

I sit down on my bed, still absorbing this fact, when my eyes land on the files atop my desk. Worry scrapes at my insides. What if I don’t like what I see in them? Is it better not knowing anything at all?

Avoidance has always been my crutch. The pain of knowing things I can’t process is more reason not to look at them right now.

This might be the one thing I’m just not ready for.