32. The Kid
32 THE KID
Daphne
My phone rang. I couldn’t ignore its vibration and light in the dark room at Cal’s family home. Annoyed and assuming it was my mother, I reached for it. My chest and back suffered stabbing pain. I panicked when reading who rang.
“Meredith?” I asked, confused. “What do you need?”
My attorney calling from London at what was already late evening there—on a Saturday—had me confused.
She got into it immediately. “I have bad news and want to say it before it leaks. Although, given Chandler’s ability to self-preserve, who knows?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Chandler has impregnated the intern.”
“What? How? There’s no way. His sperm were?—”
“Somehow, he’s managed it, Daphne. This comes from his attorney. He’s pressuring us to accept these bad terms to spare you quickly.”
It hit like a brick wall. He got her pregnant—something he never could with me. Why did she get this and not me? She was a child in comparison. She was the other woman. I realized now I hated myself for that impulse, though. This wasn’t her fault. She was a pawn in his manipulative game of world dominance just as I had.
“Spare me?” I asked. “Spare him . We’re coming up on an election. He doesn’t want it getting out. As I see it, we have a move to play—the one to win.”
“Explain.”
“Meredith, he’s the man who cheated with an intern and impregnated her. Now, he’s dragging his ex-wife through the mud. He wants to marry her and end this quickly. If so, we have him over a barrel.”
“Daphne, your goal was to minimize press attention?—”
“Sure. But I want freedom more. I can go underground for a month or so.”
“It could backfire?—”
“It could, but what more can I do? Either way, when the news comes out, it will be a scandal for the press to salivate over. That’s a given. Let’s let them know before he can organize a way to attack me. I refuse to give him anything more than I’ve offered. I don’t care how he feels about it.”
“Take a deep breath and think about it.”
I couldn’t breathe deeply. The bruised ribs complicated that.
“Ring me tomorrow. On Sunday, we can do whatever you like, but I strongly caution you that this could backfire.”
I was resolute. I wanted to do this. Rage won out. As Cal’s face appeared at the doorway—so full of worry—I wanted it even more. I needed to give us a chance. No matter how challenging this was, I longed to try with Cal. He signaled a future I never thought I’d get. And with him, things looked hopeful . If I wanted to rid myself of Chandler, I must play dirty. If I wanted more with Cal, I’d have to shoot my shot—even if it backfired.
“You’re up,” Cal said.
“I am,” I said. “Cal, there is… I need to talk to you.”
“I’m sorry. I feel so bad. Chloe does, too.”
Cal sat on the bed.
“No. It’s not about this, but… something has happened with my ex, and… it’s messy.”
“You can tell me anything, Daphne,” Cal said.
I smiled, knowing it was true.
I squeezed his hand, affirming, “That’s why I trust you with this.”
But before I could share, Elise appeared.
“We will soon have dinner. Will Miss Delphine join us?”
The way she said it made it clear she wasn’t happy about that prospect.
Cal turned, reading my mind. “I think I’ll take her home and put her to bed instead, but thanks, Mom.”
Relief rushed over me. The last thing I needed right now was Elise intervening. I didn’t need her thirty-year feud with my mother to bubble over while I was broken and battered in more ways than one. I needed to feel safe and that would never happen at a table with a woman who had a personal vendetta against my family.
“Suit yourself, then.” Elise left.
Cal whispered, “I will explain it later.”
“You don’t need to say anything. I am grateful you’re taking care of me. That’s all.”
I kissed him, though it hurt. His lips pressed to mine reminded me I needed to choose me—to choose happiness—and ignore those who’d rain on my redemption arc. I refused to apologize for feeling joy.
“I’m assuming she knows?” I asked.
He brushed my face. “Unfortunately.”
“And she’s not happy?”
“Also, unfortunately not.”
“We’re grown-ups, Cal. I don’t care. I need to tell Mum, though. Before she finds out from yours.”
“I doubt she would ever admit I was schtupping David Delphine’s daughter. It would suggest an alliance.”
I chuckled. “Well, we shouldn’t put it like that I suppose.”
“No, we would have to be honest—to tell everyone that Cal Markham fell for Daphne Delphine a million years ago and that he loves her.”
The words took me by surprise, but felt so right. I shouldn’t love this man. I shouldn’t feel so strong. Until now, I hadn’t thought I could even name the feeling. Now, as he cupped my face, his eyes so kind and sweet, I’d never deny my feelings.
“And I’d have to admit that—despite my better judgement—I love Cal Markham.”
* * *
Cal
I tucked Daphne into a comfy nest on the couch. After we devoured dinner from a local pizza place, she wound down. I couldn’t have been happier with my choice to bring her back to mine. She was safe. I stood up for this woman—who I loved. I got brave by saying I loved her. I told her the thing I held in for weeks. She loved me back—so purely.
“Are you comfortable enough? I can get you another pillow or?—”
“I’m fine, Cal,” she laughed. “You’re so worried. It’s sweet, but I’m not made of glass.”
I bent to kiss her forehead. “I just want to take care of you, baby.”
“I know,” I said.
“You don’t,” I shook my head. “You need someone to take care of you. I want to show up. I need you to know you can always call, Daphne.”
She looked down, unable to accept this declaration head-on. She’d believe I loved her. She’d believe I wanted her. However, she struggled to trust me. All I could do was keep showing up and proving my genuine need to protect her. That is what Daphne deserved and never got.
“I love you,” she turned to me. “I appreciate that you care so much, but I swear I’ll mend.”
“Well, I’m going to load the dishwasher. Shout if you need something.”
I bussed and cleaned our plates, happy with the evening’s domestic simplicity. It was nice to have her around. I worried about suggesting she leave some things here, fearing she’d run. Truthfully, I wanted her here all the damn time. This place felt lonely and cold without her—always so sad and off. I never felt more at home than with Daphne on my couch, tucked in with a movi e .
And, just as I thought about that, interlopers entered as they always did. The front desk buzzed.
“Sir, Kristy is here with her child. She is wondering if you would accept a visitor?”
“Right now?” I grimaced.
He handed the phone over. “Cal, I’m sort of in the middle of a disaster. My sister is back in the hospital. My mom can pick up Laurie in a bit, but she’s driving in and I don’t have anyone to call. The babysitter is in Cancun.”
I wanted to say no but doing so felt unkind.
“I have a guest, Kristy.”
“Oh… okay. Well?—”
She didn’t want to hear that. “Oh, shit, sorry, I?—”
“No, no,” I said. “Let me ask if it’s okay.”
I raced to the living room.
“So, complication and I’m sorry. Kristy’s sister has a medical emergency and she has no one to watch the kid. Do you mind if the baby joins us for a bit? I feel awful, but you don’t need to say?—”
“Sure. If you have it handled, I cannot lift a baby right now.”
“Thank you,” I kissed her head. “You’re so sweet, Daphne.”
“No, you are. This is above and beyond what I’d do for an ex.”
I shrugged. “She’s a friend, Daph.”
I raced back, “It’s fine. Come on up.”
Kristy appeared on my floor a few minutes later, baby on hip and diaper bag over her shoulder.
“Hi. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what to do,” Kristy looked shaken.
I reached for the baby, but Kristy stampeded into the living room and deposited the baby on the floor before I could stop her or explain what was happening.
“She just got sick and called me from the ambulance. I have no idea how long she’ll be at Northwestern or?—”
Kristy’s eyes fell to Daphne who already cooed at the baby from the couch.
“You’re even cuter than last time,” Daphne said.
I waited for an implosion—my past and present colliding.
“Daphne,” Kristy said. “When Cal said you had a guest, I didn’t realize?—”
“Sorry. I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Chloe’s horse booted her. She has bruised ribs and… I’m?—”
“Playing nursemaid, I guess,” Daphne said. “To more than one person now. Thankfully, this one is much sweeter.”
Kristy laughed nervously. “Sorry. I thought when you said you had company, you were on a date or something. I didn’t realize you were taking care of the wounded.”
Daphne didn’t protest or point out it was more. It felt like she avoided it out of worry, shooting me a look to stay calm.
“I mean, if she weren’t injured, we would have,” I said. “Damn horses.”
Daphne’s face flashed surprised. Had she expected me to deny it?
“Then I apologize for the cockblock,” Kristy joked, sounding hurt. “I will text you when Mom says she made it in.”
“They’ll call up. I’ll have them let her in to get the kid,” I said. “Don’t worry. I remember all the instructions from last time. She’ll be fine.”
“Thanks a million—” Kristy moved to kiss me out of instinct, then stopped herself, shaking her head. “Sorry. Thanks.”
She darted out as the baby rolled to face me. I lifted her and sat on the edge of the sofa.
“You’re stuck with us for a little bit, Laurie.”
“I’m sorry if I made that awkward,” Daphne said. “You could have denied it. She seemed shaken up?—”
“I didn’t want to,” I said. “I didn’t want to deny your place here and act like it was nothing.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you, Daphne,” I sighed. “So very much. I don’t want people to assume I don’t, okay? That’s cruel.”
Daphne smiled. “And that is why I am telling Mum when I get home. But, Cal, it might be difficult to love me after I tell you what I meant to tell you at your mom’s.”
“Okay? Tell me.”
Laurie fussed. I put her on the floor, trying to give Daphne attention while ensuring the baby didn’t do anything dangerous. I didn’t know how parents always did this or how children survived infancy. They were so tricky.
“Chandler got the intern pregnant,” Daphne said.
“What!?” I settled on Daphne’s face. “Are you okay?”
“No.” Daphne wiped tears. “It’s a slap in the face.”
“If the baby is?—”
“No. In a way, it’s fine. A balm. And… I cannot just wallow in self-pity right now. Chandler made a severe miscalculation by threatening me to settle faster over this. He thinks if this goes public it puts me in a bind?—”
“But it makes him look bad? How has he managed to cover it up?”
“The election is coming,” Daphne said. “The Tories protect themselves the same as anywhere. Party leadership trades favors and stories to cover it up with the press. Regardless, I’m not a Tory and I don’t give a fuck about their stupid election. If he won’t settle, it’s mine to run with. This is my best attempt at blackmail. If he settles, I won’t leak it. If he lets the cat out of the bag, he could lose it all. I intend to play this game.”
I grinned. “Now, that is the Daphne Delphine I know. You should. I’m sorry, Daphne. I know how hard that news is to take.”
“I… I don’t want to focus on it. And it’s not like I can do anything to remedy it.”
It hurt watching her twist in pain—like I watched Kristy tormented by the choice years earlier.
“I know you don’t want kids,” Daphne said. “So, I don’t want to get too mushy and freak you out. I’m not looking to force you into anything.”
“That’s not true, Daph,” I protested.
“What isn’t?”
“I never said I didn’t want kids.”
Daphne glanced at Laurie as she held a cord.
“Shit!” I hopped up to secure my laptop charger. “I didn’t say I was ready for parenting. Clearly!”
“No one is when they become parents,” Daphne giggled.
“But you desperately want kids, don’t you?” I asked. “I can tell. Kristy wanted this baby so much?—”
“And you didn’t. That’s my point.”
“No, that wasn’t it.” I lifted the baby, handing her a book to flip through.
“She’s just going to tear the pages out,” Daphne warned.
“God, what can I hand her?”
“Does the diaper bag have a teether?” Daphne asked. “A toy?”
I sorted through it to pull out a little lamb. As I handed it to the baby, she grabbed it and put it immediately in her mouth.
“See, you’re good at this—even on narcotics,” I joked.
“I love kids, but so do you, Cal.”
“I do. And that’s why I wouldn’t rule it out—although, at my age, what is the point?”
“Dad was older than you when Dora was born,” Daphne said. “Stranger things have happened. And Chandler magically got his girlfriend pregnant, so… who knows? Maybe it’s just my luck?”
I took a beat, unsure what to say or how to articulate my feelings.
“Daph, it wasn’t babies. It wasn’t that I didn’t want kids. It was timing—going into the biggest race of my life—and Kristy not wanting to get married. I cannot just pop babies out and not be married—even now. People wouldn’t take kindly to it, Daphne.”
“So, wait? Your main issue was getting married—not babies?”
“Don’t judge. I also think Kristy never could have stood to have me—and only me. She’s free. We’d tried a little bit of nonmonogamy, but once I set my eyes on running, that had to end. Even just that change bothered her. She’s in an open relationship with that artist of hers. And I don’t know… I won’t judge because I love her—as a friend—but it would never work for me. Having a child and still seeing multiple people? No.”
“I couldn’t do it, either, even if that’s what Chandler wanted. He never wanted to fuck me. I wasn’t good enough. I was a cold fish he had to service.”
I furrowed my brow. “You? Nah. Never. He didn’t try, Daph. He never deserved you. You are too good for him, baby.”
She smiled. “I wish I believed you—but knowing he knocked her up hurts so much. I hope this is acting out of strategy and not blind rage.”
“That’s fair. As a political animal, I would do the same thing. If I were you, I’d want freedom. If you want my selfish opinion as the man who loves you and would like to love you openly, I want this wrapped up so I can finally shout it from the rooftops.”
“Cal, we still have to worry about my board prospects, the shake-up, the coup?—”
“If we can finalize this much, Daphne, we’re one step closer to me being able to let out the truth and love you in daylight. I want that. I selfishly want that above all else,” I said.
She brushed my face. “I want to love you in daylight, too, Cal Markham.”