How could he, when she was so confused herself?
“Mr. Ward…Richard. Perhaps I can call you tomorrow?”
He gave a clipped nod. “Trevor’s free to go?”
“Yes.” She looked at the boy. “Trev, it would have been better if you’d walked away, but I understand why you felt you had to defend Cait.” She hesitated. “I even appreciate that.”
He gave her a lopsided grin that must have hurt, because he winced. “But you’ll deny it if anyone asks?”
Despite the now ever-present ache, Molly laughed. “Something like that.”
The bemused lines on Richard’s face were still there, but now his eyes were warm. He nodded. “Molly.” And steered his son out.
She sank back into the chair with a groan. Dear God, now what?
CHAPTER SEVEN
WHAT NOW? THE ANSWER wasn’t really that tough. Take action, of course, which they should have done long since. It was nearly the middle of November, for Pete’s sake. To make the right decision, they needed information. Molly would make sure they got it.
The next evening she spoke to Richard on the phone. “We saw our family doctor today. He gave Cait something that should help reduce the nausea. I wish she’d told me sooner.”
“Why didn’t she?”
“She didn’t realize anything could be done, and she was sure nobody had noticed.”
He grunted in a male commentary that said it all. Of course someone had noticed. Several someones. And they’d told someone else, who’d told someone.... It was likely that the entire school was now talking about why Caitlyn Callahan was having to excuse herself from class to hang over the toilet several times a day.
“You were never that naive?” Molly said defensively.
“Nope.” Then, as if curious, he asked, “Were you?”
Her irritation subsided. “No. But I didn’t grow up…”
“Protected.”
She had to clear her throat. That gentle voice he sometimes used had an unsettling effect on her. Colton, Cait’s father, had been demanding, exciting, charismatic, but never tender.
Which should have been her first clue, she thought wryly.
“Yes,” she admitted. Forge on. Don’t let him know he got to you. “I made appointments for us to visit a couple of adoption agencies tomorrow,” she said briskly. “I’ve let Cait drift, which wasn’t smart. She needs a clear picture of all her options.”
“Are you always smart?” he asked mildly.
“Doesn’t everyone try to be?”
“I don’t know. I doubt most people think it through like that. What’s the smart thing to do? What’s the dumb thing? Which am I going to do?”
She chuckled at that. Hard not to.
But he went on. “Kidding aside, most of us react, don’t you think? Emotions get in the way of clear thinking. Sometimes that’s even good.”
“Is it?” Had any decision she’d ever made for emotional reasons turned out to be right?
Refusing to consider terminating her pregnancy. That was right. And an irony, since Colt was the one who’d wanted her to abort pregnancy and inconvenient problem all in one go, while barely three years later he was pushing her to get pregnant again. Having to get married while he was still a student didn’t suit him. The minute he was finished with law school and ensconced in the family firm, having a son and heir had become all-important. He’d wanted a Colton the Fourth—and seriously talked about naming his son that, despite his jokes when she first met him about how ludicrous it was for his parents to have made him the Third. She’d tried to imagine a family barbecue if someone called out, “Colton!” and four generations of men and boys came running.
Water under the bridge.
“How can Cait’s decision not be made with emotions?” Richard asked simply.
“Because that doesn’t help. There’ll be grief no matter what she decides. Abortion or adoption, one kind of grief. If she were to keep the baby and raise it, she’d be giving up everything a teenage girl and young woman expects. Still loss.”
“I do see that,” he said after a pause.
“Does Trevor?”
“He’s already grieving in his own way, you know. He’s discovered he isn’t who he thought he was.”
“Invincible?”
“That, of course. He also knows he wronged Cait in several ways. That’s damaged his sense of self. The responsibility you’ve talked about…it’s pretty damn scary for a kid his age.”
Unsaid was how well Richard knew what his son was feeling. “What about you? Did you and—Alexa?—is that her name? Did you discuss abortion?” Molly asked.