Page 37 of The Summer We Kept Secrets (The Destin Diaries #4)

T his middle of the night rendezvous probably wasn’t the ideal moment to break her news—and Dad’s heart. But Meredith had no choice.

She finally had her father and brother as a captive and private audience. Moreover, their mood was clearly softened by the whisper they believed they heard from Mom.

And maybe her mother had reached down from heaven and guided Jonah to that scripture because the words encouraged Meredith in a way she’d never expected.

If Mom, then a newbie Christian who hadn’t even gone public with her faith, prayed for the seedling that Meredith carried in her belly, then it all felt… right.

She hoped.

It wasn’t going to feel right to Dad, not when he found out how this baby had happened.

“What is it, honey?” her father asked tenderly, adding that look of kindness that was so authentic, it often twisted Meredith’s heart. No one was as good as this man. And what Meredith had done—even without knowing Trevor’s situation—was so not good.

He’d take it personally, of course. He’d think he’d failed as a father, when she was the one who’d failed as a daughter.

Time ticked and the clock over the stove flipped to 4:00 A.M., and she knew she had to speak. She slid onto a barstool, vaguely aware that she laid her hand on the open Bible as if it might support her.

“You’re shaking,” Jonah said, his gaze following the gesture. He put his hand over hers and searched her face. “Meredith. What’s wrong?”

Across from them on the other side of the island, Eli rocked side to side with Atlas tucked into one arm, a bottle in the other.

“Nothing,” she lied, then gave a soft laugh. “Or everything. Depends on your perspective.”

Still regarding her closely, Dad’s finger absently stroked Atlas’s cheek, moving in a rhythm that matched the way the baby suckled. For a moment, she was mesmerized, staring at the simple gesture, feeling her heart ripped into a million pieces.

She watched his finger, the tiny movement demonstrating so much love, it squeezed the breath out of her lungs.

“You’re scaring me,” Dad said softly, the words pulling her gaze from his finger to his face. “Whatever it is, you can tell us.”

“Seriously,” Jonah added, looking hard at her, his own expression strangely at peace for the first time since she’d arrived. Maybe since Mom died. Goodness, what had just happened to him?

She looked from one to the other. Her father. Her brother. The two men who knew her best. Who loved her best.

And she hated what she was about to do to their image of her.

“I met someone.” Her voice cracked. “A guy.”

Jonah’s brows lifted. “That’s what this is about? A dude?”

Eli gave a soft, relieved laugh. “It was bound to happen, although I can’t imagine you left the office long enough to go on a date. Who is he?” He smiled, his sky-blue eyes glinting with hope she was about to destroy.

“Yeah, well, who he is isn’t important or the point of the story.”

Her words held enough weight and warning that Dad’s smile immediately disappeared.

“What is the point of the story?” he asked, the first tension evident in his voice.

Oh, no. This was going to hurt…everyone.

“The point of the story is…” She dropped her gaze to the Bible, staring at her mother’s writing, though it was too small and far away to read. “Grandchildren.”

No one spoke. In fact, no one breathed. The only sound was tiny Atlas smacking his lips around a baby bottle.

She finally looked up and right into her father’s already hurt eyes. “It appears there’s going to be another one.”

She heard Jonah whisper, “What?” but didn’t look away from Dad.

His face flashed a thousand different emotions in a nanosecond, but mostly shock. And disbelief. And, oh, yeah. Disappointment.

Then it was gone and he just stared, his jaw loose, his brows drawn in confusion.

“I’m pregnant,” she said softly. “And I’m very much alone in the situation.”

“What?” Jonah repeated his question, louder this time. “Who’s the father? Where is he? How can you be alone?”

She swallowed, waiting for Dad to say something, but he seemed frozen. His mouth almost moved, but nothing came out. Maybe he was praying. Maybe he was trying not to scream and wake the whole house. Maybe he was putting together the words to disown her.

“Meredith.” It was all he could manage, the color draining from his face as he processed this news.

She sighed. “The father’s name is Trevor Whitlock, and I think I mentioned him to you before you came down here with Aunt Vivien in March. But it’s over. I’m alone now.”

Her father took a deep breath, then lifted Atlas an inch higher. “Jonah, can you take him, please?”

“Of course.” He shot around the island to ease the baby out of Dad’s hands without waking him. Seconds ticked by even though they did the hand-off in record time. And with each passing heartbeat, Meredith watched her father’s face and tried to brace for the reaction.

His chest heaved with a battle for air. His eyes narrowed. His jaw locked.

Here it comes. The great big, “How could you?” or, “What were you thinking?” or, “You’ve ruined your life!”

But he didn’t do any of that.

Instead, he turned away, lifting his arms slightly, palms up, eyes closed. “Thank you, Lord, for this incredible gift.” He mouthed the words, but she heard them. “Please help us as a family. Please give me your words. We need you.”

Wait. What ? What did he—did he just pray ?

Then he opened his eyes and looked right at Meredith, his arms still out as he rounded the island.

“One thing you are not, Meredith Lawson, is alone.”

She hesitated. “You aren’t mad?”

“Next-level furious,” he said gruffly. “Could definitely murder someone. But not you. You’re my daughter. Come here.”

She practically fell into his arms, but the hug felt…undeserved. She inched back, knowing there was even more bad news.

“Dad, it’s worse than you think. It was a brief and meaningless liaison.” She flinched as she said the word.

“I’m getting that impression,” he said, stroking her hair and bringing her back to hug. “And I’m trying to tell you that I’m not upset. Well, I am, but I’m also processing the fact that you’re having a baby. A baby!”

Not upset? He would be.

She swallowed and pushed back. “There’s more. I didn’t know this. He didn’t tell me, but he’s married, Dad.”

He winced and let out a grunt and a moan like the words punched him in the throat.

“I swear I didn’t know. I would never have?—”

Pain contorted his features as he grimaced and took the blow. “What a horrible man,” he murmured, barely audible over Jonah’s grumbling and name-calling.

“He doesn’t want anything to do with the baby,” she said.

“Of course not,” Jonah snapped. “Because he’s sub-human.”

“Jonah.” Dad held up a hand, quieting him and getting control. “Are you sure about all of this?”

He sounded like he wanted it to be a bad dream that he’d wake from. And, oh, how she longed for it to be just that.

“I’m positive,” she said. “I talked to him, and he freaked. That’s when he told me he was married, which I swear he never, ever mentioned or implied.”

Jonah swore under his breath again, holding Atlas tightly. He looked like he might really want to punch a wall.

“And he’s probably already gone from Atlanta, on to his next Beans & Buns franchise,” Meredith said.

Dad made a face. “The coffee guy from downstairs?”

She nodded. “I mean, I could find him if I wanted to, but to be honest? I don’t ever want to see him again. If I…” She took a shuddering breath. “I’m going to do this alone.”

“Meredith.” Dad breathed her name, the three syllables laden with pity and fury and love.

It was the love that nearly broke her. “Dad, I’m sorry. It was a huge mistake. I don’t know what I was doing. I just…I didn’t care because I was lonely and dumb and wrapped up in work and I know that’s not an excuse, but I?—”

He put his hand on her lips, quieting her verbal spew, then drying her tears with the same fingers that just stroked baby Atlas. Only now they were trembling. The rest of him, however, was solid as a rock.

“It’s okay,” he said in that tender, deep voice. “It’s fine. You made a bad decision and?—”

“I ruined my life! It was so, so stupid! I don’t know how I got pregnant?—”

“Oh, I do,” Jonah chimed in, smirking.

“I’m sure you’re thrilled,” she shot back.

“Not to be the family screwup for a change?” His brows rose.

“I don’t hate it, but I also don’t hate you , little sister.

I’m here for you. Whatever you need.” He leaned in, confidently holding his baby.

“I mean that, Meredith. I will do everything from teach you how to change diapers to get the guy unalived , as they say?—”

“Stop.” Dad held up a hand. “I mean it. Stop saying things like that. Of course you’ll support her. We all will. Meredith, I am here for you. We all are. You do whatever you need to do, just give me a healthy grandchild.” He glanced toward the Bible. “I believe your mother is insisting on a girl.”

“Oh, Dad.” She nearly buckled. “I know you’re disappointed. I know you are.”

He looked like he wanted to disagree, but Eli Lawson didn’t lie. He was disappointed, but love always won with him. He merely nodded, then shook his head, then hugged her again.

“I’m just…blown away.”

“I know and I’m sorry.”

He gathered himself again and narrowed his eyes. “Are you one hundred percent certain this man—this Trevor—doesn’t want anything to do with the baby? That he couldn’t show up and try to take it?”

“Geez, it’s a veritable epidemic around here,” Jonah muttered.

“He couldn’t have been clearer. The, uh, relationship ended after a few dates. I didn’t…” She shook her head. “Anyway, when I told him, he basically said, ‘Go away, it’s not my problem.’ I don’t want money, Dad. Or anything. I can do this myself.”

“You can with family,” her father said. “And in this case, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to get something in writing so he can’t come back to haunt you.”

“Yeah, we’re not hosting the scumbag for a family weekend,” Jonah said.