Chapter 15 Madelina
“I’m going to be a father.” Aston is quick to reveal over the phone.
I delicately slide my gold hooped earrings into place, a contented smile spreading across my face as I stare at myself in the mirror.
I spoke to Eva last night after she told Aston the news. She was relieved to have the burden of keeping a secret this big off her shoulders, and I, for one, am glad it is all out in the open.
Keeping secrets is not my best trait.
“I know, it’s pretty awesome,” I say with elation, “don’t you think?”
“Yes,” he replies, his tone laced with a touch of uncertainty. “I’m relieved Eva isn’t leaving me.”
“God, you’re so dramatic. As if Eva would ever break up with you,” I drag, picking up the eyeshadow brush from the dresser to apply some color to my eyelids. The palette’s nude shades match my vibe today—neutral yet elegant. “Anyway, how is Eva doing? I texted her last night, but no response.”
“She’s experiencing morning sickness,” he explains with a concerned voice. “I think she only told me because she was feeling so nauseous.”
“Eva told you because soon the bump was going to give it away,” I counter, blinking my eyes to get rid of excess dust floating on my lashes from the eyeshadow. “You can’t keep those darn things hidden, you know.”
“I wasn’t her first choice to tell. That was you,” Aston states.
With a heavy sigh, I gently place my brush down, giving myself a moment to organize my thoughts.
I’ve never been pregnant, nor even found myself with a pregnancy scare, but the idea of being in that circumstance would 100 percent freak me out.
It’s a baby, the size of a watermelon, shooting out of a vagina the size of a… Eeek! I don’t even know.
“Aston, she was scared. I would have felt the same. It’s her first—”
“Ours, you mean,” Aston interjects, his stubborn ass always needing to correct me.
“Yes, yes, you know what I mean,” I stammer, trying to remind myself what I was going to say.
“My point is… it’s completely natural to be terrified when having your first child.
But you two have each other, and that’s a blessing.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have such a supportive partner.
So what if she told me first? Are you really going to make a big deal about this? ”
Aston lapses into silence, leaving me to check my phone to see if the call is still connected. “Are you still there?”
“Yes,” he answers, barely above a whisper. “What if I turn out like your father?”
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, reminded once again how much our lives changed once we found out the truth.
Aston and I looked similar, but he had a particular look that was different from my father’s and mine.
Mom confided in me that Aston looks a lot like his biological father, and it was a reminder of what she left behind to give her children the life we supposedly deserved.
I still remember the conversation like it was yesterday…
“Your brother reminds me so much of Sawyer,” Mom says wistfully while we both sit at the edge of Aston’s boat, dangling our feet into the water.
I tilt my head. “Sawyer?”
“His biological father.”
“Oh…” I mouth, desperate to learn more. Mom isn’t exactly a woman who opens up easily. For my entire life, she shadowed my father as if she was his puppet in a play. “So, this Sawyer. Do you know where he is?”
The sounds of the water crashing against the boat mask her weighted sigh.
“I lost contact a long time ago. Your father made it clear I was to never see him again.”
“But you’re separated now,” I point out, battling my own turmoil over this situation. My father wasn’t a nice husband, but then again, an affair is an affair.
“Sweetheart, there were a lot of layers to this. I understand how much this has impacted our lives, but it’s also hard for me to unpack this all after years of being forced to bury it. What’s important is that Aston knows the truth. I love my son and only want him to be happy.”
To think that for all these years, for my whole entire life, all these secrets were kept and I had no idea the lies we were all living.
“Did you love him?” I blurt out.
Mom pauses, fixating on a flock of birds flying in the sky. “Yes, Madelina, I did. I also loved your father very much. You have no idea…”
Honestly, it was a clusterfuck of a situation.
It still feels raw, and to no one’s surprise, my father has swept it under the rug, disappearing off the face of this earth.
No calls.
No nothing.
As for my mother, with her secret out, the burden she carried for Aston’s entire life is finally lifted, so now she’s living her best life. Plus, she’s no longer with my controlling father.
“You’re going to love this baby so much, and you know why? Because you’re having a baby with the woman you love. And even though you don’t need an ego boost, you are and have always been a protective and loving older brother.”
A sharp knock on the door snaps me back to reality. I grab my phone and beaded clutch, hurrying to open the door, but careful not to trip over my dress.
Elliot stands in the doorway, a picture of casual elegance in tan pants, a crisp white dress shirt, and brown leather shoes.
His sleeves are lightly rolled up, exposing his muscled forearms, and, true to his signature style, his ash-blond, tousled curls fall just above his eyes.
I suck in a breath, caught up in how sexy he looks wearing such a simple outfit.
“Uh, Aston, I need to go,” I say into my phone, my thoughts unsteady.
“Are you coming into the city next week? Eva mentioned something about setting you up on a blind date with someone.”
I cast a glance at Elliot, only to be met with a sudden change in expression.
“No blind dates,” I tell Aston firmly. “Look, I really have to go. Bye!”
I hang up, releasing the breath I’d been holding in and turning my attention back to Elliot.
“Wow, you look…” My words tumble out, but I pause momentarily so I won’t sound like a stalker. “You look handsome.”
“I suppose a thank you is in order.” Elliot grins. “You look…”
“Don’t say handsome,” I chuckle, snatching my keys from the nightstand.
“Beautiful,” Elliot murmurs, his gaze holding mine. I’m unable to turn away, caught in the spell of his deep stare as butterflies fill my stomach. “You ready?”
I nod. “Let’s do this.”
Elliot insists on driving my car, which suits me fine since the thought of being on the back of his bike wearing a dress is mortifying.
I settle into the passenger seat, a whirlwind of anxious nerves swirling in my stomach as I brace for the day ahead. Stella mentioned the wedding is small and intimate, but that only means that Myles will be in my face more than I’d like.
“So, Eva is setting you up on a blind date?” Elliot probes.
Is that a flicker of jealousy lurking in his tone?
“Hell no. Just because she’s pregnant doesn’t mean she can meddle in my life like that,” I complain. “A blind date sounds like the absolute worst way to spend my time.”
“I heard the news from my lovely sister who decided to call me, only to put me on speaker while she puked into the toilet bowl,” he informs me while scrunching his nose. “Ditch the blind date, they never end well.”
I glance at him, amusement sparkling in my eyes. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. The groom came down with chickenpox last week. He’s no longer contagious, but the poor guy is covered in spots.”
Elliot erupts in laughter. “That will certainly put a damper on the honeymoon.”
“Hmm, are you wondering what I’m wondering?”
In the driver’s seat, Elliot grins, a raised eyebrow teasing me. “If you’re asking whether I’ve had chickenpox, the answer is no. So I can’t weigh in on your burning question.”
“Let me Google it,” I suggest playfully.
I quickly type into the search engine, Can you get chicken pox on your genitals? The results flash across the screen, including some rather disturbing images.
“Oh, gross. Why did I go there?” I groan, scrunching my face in disgust. “Yes, you can, and it can blister and—”
“For the love of God, please change the topic,” Elliot interrupts.
I reach over to change the song, willing the music to bleach my brain of anything chickenpox-related.
“All of Me” by John Legend plays through the speakers, the melody a nice distraction as we drive out of town.
The lyrics to this song always leave me breathless, as does John Legend’s smooth voice.
It’s the tale of an epic love story, and a true reflection of someone who found more.
The towering mountains in the distance fade away, with only the open road greeting us. Bluebell Ranch comes into view as the mountains give way to meadows and a large lake, which we pass as we head toward our destination.
The town is known for its expansive flatlands and sprawling ranch estates. The properties are a mix of old and new, each built with a unique design that stands out against the sparse backdrop.
Elliot takes a sharp left onto an isolated road, and as the dust clears from the short journey, the tall rustic barn appears before us. The beautifully restored structure is mainly used for weddings because of the picturesque meadow beside it, which makes for the perfect ceremonial spot.
It was only a few days ago Stella called me and we talked for over an hour about the wedding, and it looks exactly the way she described it would be.
Elliot steers the car into the parking lot, the engine purring softly to silence. He runs his fingers through his hair, then turns to face me, observing me closely and making me self-conscious. “Are you nervous?”
I shake my head, my gaze fixated on the barn in front of us. “No, are you?”
“Why would I be nervous?” he replies with a smug expression.
“Because it’s our first official date.”
“Fake date,” Elliot reminds me.
“Yes, whatever,” I mumble, then let out a sigh. “You know what I mean.”
We both get out of the car and head to the grassy area. I fix the skirt of my dress, cautious not to trip over and make a fool of myself.