22. Ford
CHAPTER 22
ford
I cranked the engine and peeled out of Braxton’s driveway, driving like wildfire was nipping at my heels. My knees wouldn’t stop bouncing, and every car that got in my way got a loud honk. Tears filled my eyes and I blinked them back. How could Peyton keep this from me? Peyton, who I loved more than anyone on this planet?
When I pulled up to my house, I didn’t bother parking in the garage. I left my Jeep in the circular drive and bolted for the front door.
“Peyton!” I shouted as I came into the house. No answer. “Peyton!” I yelled when I jogged into the kitchen and she was in the same spot, AirPods in her ears, stirring the pot. But now the table was set with my nice dinnerware and flickering candles left over from the wedding. It was infuriating. How could she act like tonight was a date with this lie between us?
Her head snapped around and she popped the AirPods out. “Ford, what’s wrong?”
My entire body was shaking, trying to hold in the hurt. “Is it true? Is Cash my son? Is that what you were going to tell me tonight?”
The blood slowly drained from her face, but the confession was there in her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered.
I sucked in a ragged breath. “You lied to my face and told me he was Braxton’s!”
“I know,” she mumbled.
“I would’ve married you. I wanted to marry you! I wouldn’t have cheated on you like he did! How could you keep that from me?” I shouted. “No, why? Why would you keep that from me?”
“Because…” Her head hung in defeat. “You were an addict.”
My hands tugged at my hair and I forced myself to breathe slower. “So you punished me because I was struggling?”
“I panicked. I had no way of knowing you’d get clean. All I could think about was the baby inside of me and how I would do anything to protect him.”
“I haven’t been an addict for over five years!” My fist slammed against the counter and she jumped. “And I just found out from your ex-husband, who’s a despicable human, that you thought he was a preferable father to me!” My voice was an octave above normal. “I missed my kid’s birth. His first word, his first steps. Preschool!” I threw my hands out. “Kindergarten. Elementary school. All of it.”
“I know. I know,” she cried and stepped toward me. “Ford, I’m so sorry.”
I stumbled back like her touch was poisonous. “When were you going to tell me? If I hadn’t needled and begged you in Hawaii, when? When he graduated? On his wedding day?”
Silent tears streamed down her face. “Four years ago. Six months ago. Three weeks from now. There’s no good time to tell someone something like that.”
“When did it happen?” I demanded.
“When did what happen?”
“When…” I swallowed. “Did you decide not to tell me I was going to be a father?”
She leaned against the counter, looking wobbly. “The night you won the show. When I left the restaurant crying, Lemon sat outside with me and I told her and?—”
“Lemon knows?” It felt like I’d been struck by lightning.
Peyton’s eyes widened and she realized her mistake.
“My sister-in-law has known this entire time?” I yelled, feeling like my ribs had been cracked open and someone was trying to pry my heart out with a rusty spoon. “Does the rest of my family know?”
She shook her head. “Just Lemon. Nobody else.”
“She’s lied to Silas all this time?”
Her eyes turned down even more.
I whirled on my heel and jogged out of the kitchen
“Come back!” She ran after me. “Let’s talk about it! I’ll tell you anything you want to know, please! I’m so sorry,” she howled, on the verge of hysterical. “I love you, Ford! I thought it was the right thing to do. Please, don’t go!”