Now, I finally have my chance.
Even though the room is empty, I find myself tiptoeing across the carpet. I’ve never been in Gavin’s room before and I can’t help but look around.
It’s larger than my bedroom, maybe twice the size. And more… masculine. Navy blue sheets cover the king-sized bed. Gray curtains are poised over the windows. The lamps all have black shades. The chairs are draped in black leather. The TV, also larger, sits atop a long shelf made of wood and metal. There’s nothing in it, though, but an empty jar and an old magazine.
In fact, there’s nothing in this room that provides a clue about its occupant. Smart, maybe, but also sad.
I proceed to Gavin’s closet and am not surprised to find it more spacious as well. It’s mostly filled with suits- black, dark blue and in varying hues of gray- as well as shirts and shoes- brown and black loafers- to go with them. Finally, here we find out a little bit about the master of the house.
I’m not here to check out Gavin’s wardrobe, though, or smell his shirts or run my fingers across his coats. I’m here to find some handkerchiefs.
I kneel on the floor and grip the handles of the topmost drawer. I draw a deep breath.
Moment of truth…
“What are you doing?”
I jump at the voice that shatters the silence, which causes me to fall on my legs. Looking up, I see Giselle standing in front of me. I place a hand over my rapidly beating heart and let out a breath of relief.
“You startled me.”
“Sorry.” Giselle kneels in front of me. “I was looking all over for you.”
And I should have known she would be, except my mind isn’t functioning properly this morning.
I give her a sheepish grin. “Well, you’ve found me.”
Giselle stands up and looks around. “What are you doing in Mr. Scotsfeld’s closet?”
I shrug. “Looking for something?”
Which is the truth.
“Okay.” Giselle seems to believe me. “What? Do you think something of yours ended up here by mistake?”
I get back on my knees and make a motion of shaking dust from my hands. “Something like that.”
I place my hands back on the drawer handles.
“Um, I think that’s an underwear drawer,” Giselle says. “I’m pretty sure your stuff won’t be there. Besides, I checked your- ”
“Fine,” I tell her. “I’m snooping around.”
I don’t even know why I tried to hide it from her. She’s my friend. I trust her.
Giselle’s eyes grow wide. “You’re…?”
I hold a finger to my lips. She glances around and places a hand on my arm.
“Won’t you get in trouble?”
“Not if I’m not caught,” I answer. “So go and keep an eye out for me.”
I see a glimmer of fear in her eyes, but she goes. I let out a breath. I’m lucky I have such a good friend.
Now that she’s gone, I can focus on my search. I open the first drawer. Just as Giselle said, it’s full of underwear. Boxers. Black and white. I close it and open the one below it. Shirts. I go to the next. More shirts.
I move to the second column. The first drawer has neckties. The second has socks. The third has more shirts.
Really?
I scurry over to the topmost drawer of the third set. This is the last column and I don’t know anyone who keeps handkerchiefs in a bottom drawer, so this has to be the one.
I grip the handles and stare at the drawer.
Weird. I’ve been waiting for this moment, but now that it’s here, I seem to be hesitating.
Should I really do this? Do I really have to know? What if Gavin isn’t the father of my child? What if he is?
“Oh, to hell with it.”
I pull the drawer open. It’s full of handkerchiefs. They’re arranged in a way that I can only see their edges, though. I have to pull one out if I want to find out if it has a monogram or not.
I draw a deep breath. This is it. This is the moment of truth.
I pull one out from the middle. My eyes grow wide.
It has a monogram on the corner- a T.
Exactly like the one on the handkerchief I have.
And it’s not the only one. As I pull out some more, I realize they all have the same monogram. There’s even one handkerchief that looks exactly like the one I have.
My hand goes over my mouth as I sink into the carpet.
“Shit.”
~
“You’re saying Mr. Scotsfeld is the father of your baby?” Giselle asks me with wide eyes.
“Shh.” I hold a finger to my lips.
I was hesitant to tell her, but she looked really worried about me, especially when I came out of Gavin’s room looking like a zombie. Besides, I felt like I needed to tell at least one person or I’d explode.
“Promise you won’t tell anyone,” I urge her.