Page 36

Hayden is Langston’s son. I knew it the minute those dimples showed up on that kid’s face. He looksexactlylike Langston. Same hair, same eyes, same smile, dimples and all. I’d still want a paternity test if I were Langston just to cover my bases, but the truth is right in front of our faces.
Does Hayden know? And is that what Amanda is telling him in there, that she’s been hiding this kid from Langston foreightyears?
If it were my child, I’d be livid.
I’m already furious for him. How could she have done this to him? Not only did she abandon him right after they got married, but then she realized she was pregnant and didn’t bother to call? Or did she already know she was pregnant and then decided to leave?
“I’m hungry,” Hayden says. “Do you guys have any snacks around here, Grandma?”
Laurie and I freeze and stare at each other. A huge smile spreads across her face, and I get the impression she really likes being called Grandma by this kid. Does he just assume we both know the truth?
Laurie recovers quicker than I do, acting as though it’s nothing out of the ordinary for him to call her that. “Well, of course we do. We’re about to have dinner, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to sneak in a little cookie before we eat. Let’s go see what Lidia can get for you.”
“Who is Lidia?” Hayden stands.
“She’s our cook.”
Hayden’s eyes get big. “You have your own cook?”
“Yes, and she’s the nicest lady you’ll ever meet,” I say, getting up with them, and we head down the hall toward the kitchen. My heart is pounding. Langston is a dad… How weird is that? It’s a lot to take in all at once. And it’s not even my kid.
That has to be what Amanda is telling him in there. She’s got him cornered with the kid right in front of him, so he can’t turn the child away. How messed up is it that she would do that? What if Langston was a jerk and made a scene? How damaging could that be to Hayden?
Mittens, one of the family cats, trots behind us as we pass the dining room on our way to the kitchen. She purrs and rubs up against Hayden like he’s one of us.
“Do you like animals, Hayden?” I ask.
“I love them,” he says. “I want to be a vet when I grow up.”
“Well, there are plenty of animals around here,” Laurie says, her face brightening. “This little one is named Mittens.”
Hayden smiles. “I like that name.”
“We also have Zeb, short for Zebra. He’s her brother,” Laurie tells him.
Hayden scratches behind Mittens’ ears, and she rubs her head into his hand, requesting more.
“And… Langston has a dog at his house too. A very fat one,” I say. I almost said “your dad” but then I figured I’d be assuming too much.
“Hey, no body shaming. We wouldn’t want Sausage getting self-esteem issues,” Laurie says.
I laugh. “He’s at Langston’s house. It’s not like he can hear us.”
“It’s the principle of the thing.” Laurie crosses his arms.
“I like dogs too,” Hayden says.
“Then you’ll have to come over and meet him. He’s a very friendly dog,” I say.
Hayden smiles, but not big enough for his dimples to show. I can’t help but wonder if he’s nervous about going to his dad’s house.
We head into the kitchen where Lidia is standing at the stove cooking ground beef.
“Would it be possible to get a cookie for this kiddo?” Laurie asks.
Lidia turns to look at him. “Who do we have here?”
“I’m Hayden.”