Page 194 of Accidental Theirs

“I'm keeping it.” I pull away again, lifting my shirt to show him my tummy. “I’m almost five months along.”

He blinks, surprised, and then slowly touches my stomach, tears in his eyes.

“My baby is pregnant.” His voice is hushed, almost awed. “I’m going to be a grandpa.”

“You are.” I try not to sob. “Are you disappointed in me, Daddy?”

He frowns. “How could you ever think that? I know you, Olivia. You have a good head on your shoulders. You always have. I’m not worried about you.”

“You’re not?”

“No. Other than the fact that you work too hard. You got that from me.” He kisses the top of my head.

“So, you’re not mad at me?”

He chuckles. “This isn’t the nineteenth century, kiddo. You’re not a fallen woman.”

“Sometimes it feels like it.”

“Come inside. We’ll talk over tea.”

Just like we used to.

When I was growing up and having trouble, my father would make me a pot of peppermint tea and let me stay home from school.

My heart swells with love for him as he leads me into the kitchen.

The kettle heats up, and we sit at the table.

“Now. Do I need to kill the father or is he sticking around?”

I bite my lip.

I’m not ready to tell him about Sebastian, but maybe I could tell him about the rest, so I do. “And now, I don’t know.”

My father barks out a surprised laugh.

I pout. “Don’t laugh at me.”

“I don’t mean to, kiddo. It’s just... I’m surprised. You’ve always been so responsible.”

“Yeah, well, I guess I got tired of being responsible.”

He hums. “That’s fair enough, baby. How are they taking it?”

“Pretty well, now, actually.” As I say it, I realize it’s the truth.

Even Dominic has been trying really hard.

“Good. Wouldn’t want to have to commit murder.”

You still might.

When he finds out Sebastian might be the father... Just thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach, and I have to run to throw up as my father pours the tea.

He rubs my back when I come back after brushing my teeth with the spare toothbrush.

“You okay?”