Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Henry
I’d texted Addison asking her to come over because I needed to talk to her. I was home about a half hour when I heard the ding of the elevator, and she stepped into the foyer.
“What is so urgent?” she asked as she walked into the living room and set her purse down.
“You need to sit down.”
“Okay. You’re freaking me out,” she said as she took a seat on the couch.
“Kirsten is pregnant,” I blurted out.
“WHAT?!” She instantly stood up.
“I’m fucked, Addison. Totally fucked.”
“No. No way. You can’t trust her, Henry. Are you positive that kid is yours?”
“As far as I know. She never would have cheated on me.”
Addison placed her hand on her forehead and sat back down.
“Why the hell weren’t you using protection?” she asked.
“It was one night—the night of her parent’s anniversary party. I’d drank too much because I didn’t even want to go. When we got back to my place, I reached into my nightstand for the condoms, and they weren’t there, which I thought was weird because I’d just bought a new box. She said it didn’t matter and it was safe. I was drunk and tired, so I didn’t even give it a second thought. I am so fucking stupid.”
“Have you told Ellie?”
“No. Ellie knows nothing about Kirsten, period.”
“Oh my God. You never told her? Henry.”
“Don’t, Addison. I already got the third degree from Ben and Frankie. This ruins everything—my relationship with Ellie, my life. I don’t know what to do,” I said as I sat down next to her and placed my face in my hands.
She reached over and hooked her arm around me.
“You may think this ruins everything, but you can’t look at it like that because it doesn’t have to. Ellie is an amazing person, and she’ll understand. Just because Kirsten is pregnant doesn’t mean shit. It only means you’re going to be a father. It’s not like you’re getting back together with her because of this. Right, Henry?”
“God, no. Absolutely not.” I turned my head and looked at her.
“Okay then. You’ll still have a relationship with Ellie and be a part-time father. Millions of guys do it. She'll forgive you once you sit Ellie down and explain everything, including the idiotic reason why you never told her about Kirsten in the first place.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. She loves you, and you made a mistake. We’re all human, big brother. We all make mistakes.”
The next morning, as I was sitting at my desk, my phone rang, and my father was calling.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Hello, son. I need you to do me a favor and bring over the Hudson files this afternoon. I want to take a closer look at them.”
“Why?” I asked in confusion, for that deal was already in progress.
“Because it’s my company, and I want to look at the damn files. Be here around one o’clock.”
“Okay. I’ll bring them.”
Sighing, I threw my phone down on my desk. I couldn’t concentrate on anything because my mind was nothing but a clusterfuck. It felt like my life had exploded, and I had no idea how to put it back together. I needed to try and clear my head, so I went to the one place that always seemed to help.
I stood in front of the large headstone and stared at it.
A Beautiful Angel
Abigail Marie Walker
February 10, 1982 - May 2, 1991
Beloved Daughter and Sister
Forever Loved and Missed
After setting the flowers on her grave, I stood there with my hands tucked tightly in my pants pockets and spoke to her.
“I’ve gotten myself into a real mess, sis, and I don’t know what to do. I found someone who has changed my life, and I’m afraid I’m going to lose her because of something I kept from her. I can only pray she forgives me when I tell her.”
Suddenly, and out of nowhere, a butterfly landed on her headstone. I stared at its vibrant blue color with black markings and knew Abigail was with me.
Butterflies were always her favorite. Her face would light up like a kid at Christmas every time we visited the butterfly house at the zoo. The memory of the week before she passed flooded my mind. She was in the hospital, and she begged me to take her outside. My parents left me with her while they went to have a meeting with the doctor. She’d been cooped up in that hospital bed for a week, so I got a wheelchair, helped her out of bed, and wheeled her out to the courtyard that was filled with trees and beautiful flowers. It was a warm sunny day, and as we sat there, a butterfly landed on her arm. She’d told me that butterflies were angels with wings and that the butterfly on her arm was watching over her. A tear fell down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away.
Walking up to the door of my parents’ house, I opened it and stepped inside. I could hear talking, and when I went up to the living area, I saw Kirsten sitting there with my parents.
“Henry.” My mother smiled as she stood up and gave me a hug. “We’re so excited for the good news.”
“What is she doing here?” I asked as I set down the file on the table.
“Son, have a seat,” my father spoke.
“No. I brought your files, and now I’m leaving,” I scowled. “Just because Kirsten is pregnant, it doesn’t change anything.”
I walked out of the house, and Kirsten came running after me.
“Henry, wait. Please.”
Against my better judgment, I stopped but refused to turn and look at her. She walked over and stood in front of me.
“I know this wasn’t planned, but it did happen. You’re going to be a father, and we need to work through it. This baby changes everything for us.” She placed her hand on her belly. “Our child is going to need both of us to raise him or her. We’re going to be a family.”
I shook my head at her, climbed into the limo, and instructed Christian to take me to the office.