I put my hands on my hips. “You’re right. Beau himself told me about these crazy fucking Trials the night we were together.”
“Language,” she snapped.
I rolled my eyes. “So I did my research. I found out where this place was.” She didn’t need to know it was from a former belle. “I staked you out and followed the limo when it went out. And I met up with a girl right after she got the invitation. Abilene. Then I offered to change places with her.”
“You’re a snake in the grass,” Mrs. H said, looking furious.
I just shook my head at her. “I don’t know why I even bothered trying to explain it to you. You’ve obviously never been in a tough position before if you can’t understand I needed a way in. A way to find out if this man could ever be the kind of father I wanted for my child. A way to demand he offer the support due his own flesh and blood.” I threw my hands up in the air, feeling stupid for even continuing to argue my case but doing it anyway because maybe it just felt good to say it out loud to someone, even this hard-ass lady.
“Do you think I don’t know DNA tests won’t be demanded? Of course I do. And it’ll prove this kid is Beau’s.” I touched my stomach and swallowed hard. Dear God, it still freaked me out and also amazed me, realizing that there was this tiny little being growing inside me.
Two months in, they were the size of a grape. I’d read that on some stupid pregnancy website and could never forget it. Why did they always give you baby sizes in fruits, I didn’t know. But I couldn’t forget it. Little tiny grape baby.
I looked at her. “I don’t know anything about being a mom. I’m terrified. But I’m going to do it. And I’m going to be damn good at it. But I need protection. I want my child to have a father, but I don’t want anyone to take my kid away from me, either. And, yes, I want the support I’m due. You think I’d have any rights in a court of law compared to the wealth and power of these people?”
I gestured around us at the opulence of the huge mansion we stood in. “You think they wouldn’t crush me if they could? I’ve been around the system. I know how it works. I needed to snatch what power I could in this situation. I come from nothing.” I clutched my stomach tighter, my conviction growing the more I talked. God, I couldn’t believe I’d lost focus for even a moment, no matter how much sex with Beau had confused things. “But ‘nothing’ is not where my kid is gonna live. They’re gonna have a good life. A fucking bright life.”
And with that, I shoved another cracker in my mouth, because I was nauseated as hell. Mornings were terrible. Even mornings that were just still late in the night. Or mid-day. Or any time really because whoever had named it morning sickness was a fucking liar.
But, yes, mornings were the worst. It was why I spent several hours in the bathroom after I woke up. I usually puked my guts out for at least an hour, then I lay on the cold tile for another hour, then I tried to clean up and make myself presentable the last half hour before trying to choke something down at breakfast.
Mrs. H just stared at me with pursed lips for several long, silent moments. She uncrossed her arms. Then crossed them again.
Her jaw tensed. She opened her mouth… And then closed it again.
Finally, she shook her head and pointed a finger right in my face. “You have until tomorrow night’s Trial to tell Beau everything you just told me. Because if you don’t, then I will.”
Then she grabbed a white box off the kitchen counter from where it was sitting, pristinely, to the left of the oven.
She shoved the box at me. I took it from her, stumbling a little at the unexpected movement. “Until tomorrow night.”
Now that her hand was free of the box it was pointing in my face again. “And swear to God, lass, if you’re lying, the wrath of God be upon you. Tomorrow night. Or else.” She glowered at me with her last warning.
I held the box to my chest and nodded, more than a little bit scared by this formidable chick. “Got it.”
“Now shoo. Get your arse upstairs before anyone else sees you!”
You better bet I moved my arse.
10
Beau
Abilene had been acting odd all day. Her green eyes seemed to dart around the room, averting any connection with mine. It almost appeared as if she felt guilty for some unknown reason, or like she wanted to tell me something. Her hands fidgeted, she paced like a caged lioness, and she remained quiet all day.