A Daddy for Jacoby(71)
Justin nodded. “Sure, or maybe we could ask your doctor if he knows anyone who might help you feel better.”
“Okay, but I don’t want to live with Grandpa Richard and Grandma Liz. Their house is cool, but please don’t make me leave,” Jacoby pleaded. “I mean, I like ’em, but I love my school. I’ll do better, I swear. And I love my baseball team. I even caught a fly ball for the first time this week and I love my room now. It’s not scary at all. And Daddy, I love you. Most of all.”
His dad scrubbed a hand across his mouth, then spread his arms wide. “Come here, son.”
Jacoby launched himself at his father. His dad squeezed him tight and it felt good. Felt safe. Like nothing and no one would ever hurt him again.
He always thought crying was for sissies, but his dad had said it was okay to cry if he wanted to. He’d thought he’d used all his tears when he learned about his mom, but he couldn’t stop his eyes from getting wet.
He buried his face in his father’s shirt. “I know my mom didn’t want me and then I thought you didn’t want me anymore either. Please say I can stay. I’ll be good, I promise. I think Gina is super and I’ll even play nice with the new baby.”
Justin stilled.
His unhinged panic at finding Jacoby safe had abated, but with one single word the emotion was back, pounding at his temple as he tried to absorb what Jacoby said.
Baby? Did he hear correctly? Had Jacoby said Gina was pregnant?
He leaned back to look at his son. “A baby?”
Jacoby nodded. “And I don’t care if it’s a baby brother or sister. I’ll share all my toys. Except Clem.” He hugged his bear tight. “He’s mine.”
Justin still couldn’t wrap his mind around the idea.
Gina pregnant? It was impossible.
Okay, it wasn’t impossible. It’d only been a little over two weeks since their night together. Justin’s mind flew back to the first time they’d made love and twice more when they’d reached for each other during the night. He was sure he’d take the time—each time—to protect them both.
Pregnant?
“You still want me, don’tcha, Dad?”
The uncertainty in his son’s voice pulled Justin from the memory. “Of course I want you. I love you, Jacoby.” He hugged him close, rubbing his back until the boy relaxed against him. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you with me.”
Whatever it takes.
Justin realized he needed a lot of help, most of it legal. He had no idea what it took to maintain physical custody of his son, but he was going to find out first thing in the morning.
But right now, he had to talk to Gina. Had to find out why she didn’t tell him—
He placed one finger beneath Jacoby’s chin and gently pressed so the boy would look at him. “Hey, how did you find out the bab—about Gina?”
Justin’s eyes had adjusted to the dark so it was easy to read the guilty expression on the boy’s face.
“I heard her tell Aunt Racy today. They were talking in Gina’s bedroom.”
“Maybe they were just talking about babies in general.”
Jacoby shook his head and crawled off Justin’s lap. He rooted around inside his pillowcase for a moment. Then he pulled something out.
Justin took the item from Jacoby’s outstretched hand, turning the plastic piece over in his hands. “What’s this?”
Jacoby grabbed the flashlight. Before he could shine it on the object, an outside light, probably from the back deck, lit the inside of the tree house, allowing Justin to see what he was holding.
A home pregnancy test. With a positive result.
Talk about a kick to the gut. Why hadn’t Gina said anything to him about the possibility they might’ve created a baby together? She must’ve suspected something, otherwise she wouldn’t have bought the test.
“Where did you get this?”
“From Gina’s bathroom. After she told Aunt Racy about the baby. I found it on the floor, behind the garbage can.”
She’d thrown it away? Why would she do that? Wait—
“How do you know what this is?” Justin waved the test stick in the air.
“My mom used to take them all the time.”
“Why did you keep it instead of throwing it away?”
“My mom said it was proof that she was telling the truth.” Jacoby shrugged. “Not that Gina lies.”