Page 96 of Denim & Diamonds

“Of course. I figured you’d say that. I already made you an appointment at a lab in Grovetown. It’s tomorrow morning at nine. The office is about a half-hour drive, but I know Meadowbrook is a small town, and I thought you might not want to go to the lab here for privacy reasons. The test is just a simple mouth swab for you. I went in earlier today and had my blood drawn so they can run the test once they have your sample. Pregnant women have free-floating fetal DNA in their plasma, so they build a profile for the baby and compare it to the father’s DNA. The woman said you can request rush results and get them back as fast as twenty-four hours.” Nina leaned forward and again offered the envelope in her hand. “I’m really sorry to do this to you, Brock. It’s just not what I want, and I couldn’t bring myself to terminate the pregnancy.”

I had no idea what the fuck to say, so I said nothing. Eventually, she set the envelope on the table and quietly walked to the door. “If you could let me know what you decide as soon as you can, I’d appreciate it. We don’t have long to go.”

“How long?”

“I’m due in less than a month.”

She took a step out of my apartment and stopped. “Oh and Brock? The baby…it’s a boy.”

CHAPTER 22

February

I watched as Nina walked to her car, got in, and drove away. When the taillights were no longer visible at the end of the block, my attention turned back to the second-floor door of Brock’s apartment, waiting for him to come out. Every second that ticked by made my heart thump louder. Because if he needed a moment, that had to mean…

Thump.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

I shook my head.

Maybe he just has to pee.

Maybe he’s dealing with Oak.

Maybe… Maybe he realized we forgot to turn off the coffee pot this morning and now he’s busy scraping some burned gunk from the carafe.

I kept staring at the door, hanging on to shreds of hope, but with every moment that passed, it grew harder and harder to breathe. After a full ten minutes, there still wasn’t any sign of Brock, and I felt like I’dused up all the oxygen in the cab of the truck. So I took one last gulp and opened the door. By the time I got to the top of the stairs, I was huffing and puffing like I’d climbed a mountain.

I found Brock in the kitchen, holding on to the back of a kitchen chair, looking down. His head lifted when he saw me at the door, and I didn’t even have to ask what had happened. The answer was written all over his heartbroken face.

“It’s yours, isn’t it?” I whispered.

Brock nodded. His voice wasn’t much louder than mine. “That’s what she said.”

“Do you believe her? Could she be lying to get you to pay child support? Is she financially secure? Maybe she just wants money from you?”

Brock locked onto my gaze. “She doesn’t want any money. She doesn’t even want the baby.”

My eyes bulged. “What do you mean, she doesn’t want the baby?”

He gestured to an envelope on the table. “She brought two sets of legal documents—one signs full custody over to me, and the others are adoption papers, in case I don’t want the baby either.”

Oh God. I slapped a hand over my mouth, feeling like I might throw up. I could hang on to hope when it might’ve been a ploy to get money. But this—her not wantinganythingfrom Brock—what reason would she have to lie?

“Maybe she’s wrong? She couldthinkit’s yours, but maybe there was someone else? Maybe she justwantsit to be you.”

Brock looked away. “I’m going to get tested in the morning. She already went to the lab and gave a blood sample. But I don’t think she’s lying.”

“No!No, Brock! Shehas to belying!” I yelled. “Maybe she had an affair with some deadbeat or drug addict, and she wants the baby to have a good father. Anyone who meets you knows you’ll always do the right thing. You’d be agreatdad.” Tears flooded my eyes. “She’s lying! She has to be lying!”

Brock rushed over and wrapped me in his arms. “I’m sorry. I’mso, sosorry, Red.”

I swallowed a giant lump in my throat. “What are you going to do if she’s telling the truth?”

He shook his head. “I have no damn idea.”

***