Loving Her (Mitchell Family #9)(26)

“When you got pregnant, did you want to live with daddy?”

I didn’t know what to do. I was panicking. My daughter was asking questions that I didn’t want to answer. “Yes, sort of. He got hurt before he knew about you. When he found out, all he wanted to do was be with us. That’s why we moved in with him and why we got married. I’ll never forget his face on the day you were born. You’ve seen the pictures. He was so scared, having to deliver you in the car. I could see how much he loved you in that moment. Then he held my hand the whole way to the hospital and he kept me from being scared. Aunt Van was there, too. It was her car you were born in.” I patted her on the butt. “All done, kiddo.”

“Mom, one last question.” Most of what I’d just told her was the truth, so anything she had to ask about that day would have been the truth. Ty delivered Bella and nothing could ever take that away from him.

I sighed and turned around to face her. “What is it, sweetie?”

“Never mind. It’s not important.” She climbed in the shower and I almost ran out of the bathroom to avoid any more of her questions. As much as it was killing me, I couldn’t imagine how much worse it was going to get.”

I found Ty outside, full of sweat and completely preoccupied. He saw me and stopped what he was doing. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t want you to freak out, but in case Bella asks, we were together when I was pregnant. I told her you went into the coma and that’s why we stayed in Kentucky until you got better, and we moved in with you and got married. I’m sorry, I panicked.”

“She really asked that? I can’t believe this shit is happening.”

“She didn’t act mad, Ty. She was more curious.”

He didn’t seem to get my reassuring comment. “Jesus Christ, the lies are just piling up.”

“Please calm down. We don’t know if this will amount to anything. Don’t jump to conclusions, babe.” I shouldn’t have even told him, but knew I’d feel guilty if I hadn’t.

“Miranda, this is ridiculous. How much more proof do you need? She’s basically spelling it out for us. She knows we’re lying and it’s only a matter of time before she figures it out, or we get our stories messed up. Stop trying to make it seem like this ain’t a big f*cking deal, when you know it is.”

I had to walk away. First, because I didn’t want to get into an argument with him when the family was around. Second, because arguing with him wasn’t going to solve anything. I had to stay on his side, whether I felt he was being irrational or not.

“Miranda, don’t walk away from me.”

I turned around and shook my head at him. “Ty, we’ll talk about it later. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

Van’s dad was already lighting the fire and the kids were looking around for sticks to roast marshmallows. Van was leaning on the picnic table watching them. “What was that about?”

I leaned on the table next to her. “Bella asked me if Ty and I were together when I got pregnant.”

“Wow. What did you tell her?”

“I said we were and then he got into his accident. I know he was with you then, but they don’t need to know that. Besides, I don’t think Colt wants anyone to know he swept in and stole you away while your boyfriend was in the hospital.”

We both laughed.

“You make it sound so scandalous.”

I nudged her. “You were a bad girl. I heard all about that hot sex in Ty’s dad’s truck. Apparently, you two couldn’t keep your hands off one another.”

Van looked over at her husband, who was hard at work. “I wouldn’t change a thing if I could go back in time. Would you?”

I watched Ty and thought about my life before we were together. “If I hadn’t been runnin’ from Tucker, I’d never would have been with Ty. Sure, we probably would have hooked up at some point, but our life is what it is because of all of our trials and tribulations. So no. I wouldn’t trade it. Ty’s a wonderful father and he keeps me on my toes. Besides, you and I both know that behind the comedian, is the most loving man I’ve ever known.”

“True, but I wouldn’t share that secret with anyone else. He likes people thinking he’s a douche. I don’t understand it, but it’s the truth. There’s been so many times where I wanted to strangle him but, at the end of the day, if I need a shoulder he’s always there.”

There was a time when I would have been jealous of their relationship. No woman wants their husbands ex to be one of his best friends, but Van was our family. Her bond with Ty was nothing romantic. Her cancer scare had proven that to everyone, especially Colt, who had to apologize several times for assuming they were involved.

When we heard the screen door slamming shut, we both turned to see Bella and Noah walking outside. They walked up to the guys and looked at the playhouse. Ty grabbed Bella and kissed her on the side of the head. When she didn’t run away, Van and I looked at each other. “That’s a good sign, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I think it is.”

“Kids are curious by nature, Miranda. I know you’re both worried and maybe you have good reason, but Bella is a good girl. She’ll probably drop this whole thing as soon as you go home. Think about it. She’s finally heading back to school with all of her friends. Once that happens, she’ll be too busy to worry about some stranger that died a long time ago.”