Chapter 41

MAGGIE

I don’t know how to talk to Chase about this. I’ve never discussed his real father in detail, and now that Carter wants to meet him, I know this is inevitable. Logan assures me he’s going to be here for me if I need his help.

Chase has just returned from school, and he’s busy with his coloring books. It’s a relief that while most kids like to play on their gadgets, my son chooses to do traditional art with crayons and paper.

He looks up when he sees me enter the room.

“Hey sweetie, what are you drawing?”

He shows me a big blob of purple on paper. “It’s a purple monster.”

And then he sees the plate I’m holding. “Is that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”

“Yup, it is.”

“Yay!”

Okay, I’m the worst mother. I’m going to bribe him with what he loves the most. He has a huge megawatt smile on his face, and I’m not sure how he’s going to take this news. It makes me feel guilty.

Worst-case scenario, he prefers Carter over me and says he wants to move in with him.

“Baby, can we talk?”

He takes a big bite of the sandwich, smearing all the jam on his cheeks. “You’re already talking.”

“Do you remember when we discussed your dad?”

His brow furrows. “Logan?”

“No…I mean, your real father.”

“You said he lives so far that he has to spend a year traveling and that’s why he can’t be with us.”

“Yeah, well, he’s here now.”

His face lights up. “Really? Where is he?”

“He wants to meet you, baby.”

“I want to meet him too.”

“You already met him.”

He becomes serious all of a sudden. “I did?”

“You met Carter at the party. He’s your father.”

His eyes go wide in surprise. “No way.”

LOGAN

It’s strange that Maggie is still asleep when she’s usually up by seven to accompany me for breakfast. I realize she must need a break from waking up early, so I let her sleep in today.

When I’m at work, I constantly check my phone to see if she’s sent me any texts, but there aren’t any.

I usually get texts from her with pictures of cooking or nothing in particular, and it’s refreshing to get these messages from her when I’m in the middle of doing some stressful work.

But today I have no texts from her, which is strange.

It try to recall if I said something to her last night that might have offended her, but Maggie’s not like that at all.

If she doesn’t like what I’ve said, she’s vocal about her thoughts. She doesn’t play games and that’s what I love about her.

I want to give her space, so I decide not to text her.

I stare at my phone like an idiot until Paris peels me away from it. I’m going to be busy for the next few hours, a distraction I need from obsessively thinking about my wife.

Did she perhaps change her mind about not going back to Carter?

I’m really dumb for having these thoughts when she clearly hates his guts.

I’m in the middle of a conference meeting when Paris cuts in and tells me there’s an important phone call.

“Paris, how many times have I told you that no matter who’s calling, tell them to wait.”

Paris clears his throat. “Sir, it’s about your wife.”

When those words leave his mouth, there are alarm bells ringing in my ears. “My wife? What do you mean? Is she okay?”

She shakes his head. “It’s your father on the call. He says your wife is sick.”

I look at the other people in the room. If I could finish this meeting, I would have a huge investment for our company, but there is a 99% chance I’ll screw this up because I’ll clearly be distracted by Maggie.

“Paris, take care of this. I’m going home.”

I can already see Paris shrinking under the weight of this responsibility I’m putting on him.

During the twenty years that I’ve been here, I’ve never left work in the middle of the day.

When I get home, Dad is beside himself with worry. He’s pacing the hallway, deep in thought.

“I suggested we take her to the hospital, but she refuses,” he says.

I sigh. “She’s very stubborn. I’ll see what I can do.”

“You’re not a doctor, son.”

“But I’m still her husband. Do you think I can’t do anything for her?”

“I don’t know, Logan. Can you?”

This man keeps pushing my buttons. I’m not in the mood to argue with my old man. “Dad, can you give us some space?”

“What did you say to her?” He glares at me.

Great. So, Maggie’s fever is my fault too? “I didn’t say anything.”

“She’s been stressed all day. Maybe you’re the reason her fever’s gotten worse.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. Now, may I leave, sir, so that I can tend to my sick wife?”

Dad huffs, mutters something under his breath, and leaves the hallway. I skip two steps at a time as I go upstairs.

Nicole, one of the housekeeping staff, is sitting near the bed, reading a book as Maggie sleeps.

“What’s going on?” I ask her.

“I’m trying my best to bring down the fever, sir. The doctor just visited.”

I remove my jacket and start rolling my sleeves up. “I’ll take it from here, Nicole. Thank you.”

Nicole exits the bedroom, leaving me alone with Maggie. I touch her forehead, and I’m shocked to feel how much she’s burning up. I spend the next hour putting a damp cloth on her forehead.

She was fine last night, so how had she gotten such a high fever?

It’s way past my dinnertime and I haven’t eaten yet. In fact, I haven’t moved from my spot. I call the kitchen staff to ask them to make some soup.

I wake up Maggie when the maid brings the soup upstairs.

“Logan…what…are you doing here?”

“You have a high fever, baby. Do you think you can go to the hospital?”

“No…not the hospital, Logan,” she insists, her fingers gripping my shirt. Her entire body feels like a damn furnace. Her face has lost all color, and she looks really tired. “I’m scared of hospitals.”

I know the reason Maggie hates hospitals so much. It’s because of her mother. When Maggie was a kid, her mother got sick and was taken to the hospital. She never returned.

“What time is it? Chase won’t sleep until you put him to bed.” She gets out of bed, wobbly on her feet. “I have to—”

I block her way, “Stay in bed. You can’t risk making him sick, too.”

“Right.” She’s close to tears now. “Guess he’s going to have to be a big boy, huh?”

“I’ll put him to bed.”

“You don’t have to trouble yourself, Logan. I know you’re busy with work,” she coughs. “Just give me some meds and I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about Chase.”

“What are you talking about? I’m his dad. I can do the job, too.”

She nods, but she’s still crying. “Loagie, if I somehow die because of this fever, just take care of my son for me, okay? And if you bring another wife, I’ll most likely end up haunting her, just so we’re clear.”

I tap her head. “You’re really fucking stupid for thinking you’re going to die because of a fever.”

She blows her nose into a tissue. “It felt cool to say it.”

I tip her head to look at me. “You’re wrong if you think you’re going to get rid of me that easily.” I kiss her forehead. “I promised forever, remember?”

“Stop hugging me!” She punches my chest. “I’m nasty.”

“You still look cute to me.”

I force her into an armchair and feed her the soup. Thankfully, she doesn’t make any fuss. I wipe the sweat off her forehead as she eats.

“Thank you,” she says. Her nose is completely red.

“You’re welcome.”

I pushed her hair away from her face. “Are you stressed about meeting Carter next week? Is that why you have a fever?”

“I don’t know, Logan. I just…I couldn’t stop thinking about how he’s back to ruin everything. Chase seemed excited to see Carter, and it made me feel worse.”

“Chase is going to stay with us, baby. I can assure you that.”

***

Chase is in his room playing with his Legos. Nicole is with him, and she’s trying to put him to bed, but he’s being difficult, which is not a surprise.

I can see that Nicole has had enough. I’m going to make sure the poor lady gets a raise just for putting up with Chase.

When I enter his bedroom, he stops throwing a tantrum.

“Hey buddy, let’s get you in the bath first.”

His face is all red, and he’s got snot dripping from his nose. “Okay.”

He’s silent for someone who likes to talk a lot, which is strange.

After he’s done with the bath, he wears his favorite PJs and climbs into bed. He gives me a hopeful look as he holds a book in his hand. “Can you read this book to me, daddy?”

“Sure, son.”

I feel comfortable, relaxed even. I guess I could get used to being a father. If I’d known what it was like, I wouldn’t have been so opposed to settling down.

I open the book and start reading to him. He listens intently, but he’s got an arm firmly gripping my waist as if he fears that I’m going to leave as soon as he falls asleep.

It’s like I can feel there’s something wrong. “What’s wrong, Chase?”

He looks up at me with those big brown eyes. “Is mommy going to divorce you and marry Carter?”

“Who told you that?”

His eyes fill with unshed tears until he breaks into a sob, and starts talking gibberish.

“Slow down. I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

He looks like a miniature boy version of Maggie when I look closely. “I heard Nicole talk to Grandpa…she said…Mommy might go to him. I don’t want to leave. I don’t want Carter for daddy.”

“Well, Nicole heard wrong, buddy. Your mom’s not separating from me, and you’re not leaving, either.”

He stops crying, “You promise?” He shows me his pinky finger.

I hook my finger with his, smiling. “I promise.”

He sleeps soundly after a while, and I’m ready to leave, but my arm’s in his death grip so I stay a little longer.

The next day, Carter shows up in my office.