Chapter 39

MAGGIE

I stare at him, baffled by what he’s just said. “You came here looking for me?” I ask. “Why?”

“I missed you, and I regret ever leaving you the way I did. I tried to get in touch with you, but you changed your number and moved out of your old house.

“When I contacted Amelia and Dawson, they didn’t know where you were.”

“That’s because I didn’t stay in touch with them. I realized I deserved better people in my life, like the ones who actually supported me and didn’t hightail it when I really needed them.”

He notices that it’s a direct jab at him. “When I looked for you, I didn’t know you were married, and then I met you at the party and sort of decided that it is what it is.

“I’m a loser. I lost the girl who I cared about the most and spent the rest of my years just…regretting my decision.”

“Well, it’s too late for that. I don’t want to meet you again, Carter.” I slide out of the booth. “Regardless of everything, I still wish you the best.”

“Maggie…”

I stop short and turn to look at him, which is a mistake. I should have fucked off from there when I had the chance.

“I didn’t come here just to tell you this.”

“Then what’s this about?”

“How old is Chase?” he asks me point-blank, gauging my reaction.

This was about Chase all along.

“That’s none of your business.”

“He’s turning five soon, isn’t he?” He cuts me off, his voice taking a desperate tone.

“What does that have to do with anything?” I’m shaking internally. I don’t want him to find out that Chase is his son!

“Please tell me the truth. I know he is my son.”

“He’s not yours!” I grit my teeth.

“He doesn’t look like Logan,” he argues, “And he’s got my eyes. I’m not stupid, Maggie. I remember the year he was conceived. If my baby had been born, he would be as old as Chase, which leads me to believe that he’s my son.”

He pulls out his phone hastily and scrolls through his photos with shaky hands, as if I’m a prosecutor who needs more proof of what he’s saying.

“If you look at my baby pictures, you’ll see the similarity between us. That’s how I’m sure about it.”

I stare at him silently. I can’t deny the truth because it’s as clear as day. “What do you want, Carter?”

“I want to meet my son.”

I’m boiling with rage. “I’m sorry, but why? You left me when I needed you the most.

“You wanted me to get an abortion, and now that you find out that I gave birth to the child, you suddenly think you have any right to act like his father?”

His jaw hardens, and I know he’s finding it hard to control his temper. In a low, icy voice, he says, “Firstly, you fuckin’ lied to me, Maggie. Let’s not forget about that.

“Agreed that I told you I didn’t want the baby at the time, but you were okay with the decision. At least that’s what you pretended. You never told me you planned on keeping the baby.”

“Because you were an asshole, and I was done with you!”

“I was a freakin’ kid! A kid who had dreams of playing football and not getting married and settling down, which is what you expected from me at eighteen.”

“You wanted out of the responsibility, and so I gave you that freedom. What I did after that is none of your business.”

“I’m making it my business now because Chase is my son.”

“Fuck off, Carter!”

We don’t notice as the café manager stands close to us, looking uncomfortable. “Sir, ma’am, is there a problem?”

I give him a forced smile. “We’re fine.”

The manager leaves reluctantly.

Carter turns to look at me again. “I want to meet Chase.”

I’m highly immature. I always have been, so I pick up the untouched drink from my table and splash it all over Carter’s shirt. “Oops. I’m so sorry.”

He deserved it for everything that he put me through. He should be thankful I didn’t throw it over his pretty face.

Carter glares at me, but doesn’t say a word, and now I’ve successfully given people at the café something to talk about. They are probably going to have a field day with this.

I grab my bag and start walking out of there when I come to an abrupt halt because Logan stands in front of me.

I’m going to cry, but I hold my tears in. He glances behind me at Carter, and as usual, I can’t tell if Logan is mad or disappointed.

I’d planned to tell him I was meeting Carter after I’d gotten home, but I didn’t want him to find out this way, like I’m sneaking around behind his back and meeting my ex, or worse, that we’re reconciling.

“Logan…I—”

“I’ll see you at home, Maggie.” Without a backward glance, he walks away from me toward the parking lot.

***

I get home soon after that and when I try to find Logan, the housekeeper tells me he didn’t come home, so I send him a quick text.

Maggie

I have something to tell you. Please come home soon.

He doesn’t respond, so I’m left to do some waiting in my bedroom, but he doesn’t show until dinnertime.

There’s a suffocating silence at the dinner table. I can’t shake this bad feeling I have about Carter, and I can’t seem to find my appetite.

I’m pushing the food back and forth on my plate, and I know Logan notices it, but he doesn’t say a word. It’s even more awkward since John has his meal in his bedroom.

Chase can’t stop talking about something that happened in school, and Logan listens to him attentively and even asks him some questions, but I can’t concentrate on anything they’re talking about.

“You’ll come to the show, Logan, won’t you?” he asks him innocently. “Everyone’s dad is going to be there. Last year I didn’t have one, but this year I do, so you have to come.”

Logan smiles. “Of course, I’ll be there.”

Chase talks about a new friend he’s made, but I can’t concentrate on a single word.

“Maggie…”

“Um, I’m sorry. Did you say something?”

“I asked why you’re not eating your dinner. Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just not hungry.”

When Chase goes to sleep, I finally have some alone time with Logan. He’s silently waiting in the bedroom when I enter.

I shouldn’t feel guilty, considering that I wasn’t doing anything wrong, and yet, it’s like I’m hiding something big.

I have time to notice that he’s got a new haircut, and now he resembles Tommy Shelby, and I like it.

He’s also wearing a new T-shirt that stretches around his broad chest and shoulders. He looks so gorgeous. No wonder I find it hard to keep my hands to myself every night.

Am I normal to have such a huge obsession over my husband?

“I love your new hairstyle.”

He shrugs. “I’m glad you noticed.”

“Logan, about what you saw this afternoon—”

He raises his hand to stop me. “You don’t have to explain anything to me, Maggie.”

“No, I have to. I was going to tell you everything as soon as I got home.”

He nods. “Okay, I’ll listen.”

I climb onto the bed and slide into his lap, wrapping my arms around him. I think he’s taken aback by my sudden advance, but he relaxes quickly and hugs me back.

His hands find themselves in my hair, and he slowly massages my scalp. It’s soothing, and I love it. I bury my face in his chest, and I know he’s going to be here for me no matter what happens.

When I pull away, he has a sad expression on his face, but I don’t understand why he looks so crestfallen. His blue eyes look stormy, almost haunted.

“If it’s so difficult for you to say it, you don’t need to.”

I run my fingers through his hair. “What are you saying?”

His voice wavers when he says, “You want to go back to Carter, but you’re finding it hard to tell me about it.”

I’m going to call him an idiot outright, but then I see something that I have never seen before and I’m speechless for a moment.

Logan’s eyes turn red-rimmed, and there are fresh tears in them.