Rosewood Lane (Cedar Cove #2)(93)

He strode into the hallway. “You said there weren’t any consequences from our night together.”

“I lied.” Her honesty seemed to unnerve him further.

“Why?”

“Because it was obvious that you were worried I might be pregnant. You wanted an easy out and I gave it to you, so you have no reason to be angry now.”

“Like hell!” he shouted.

“Please.” She gestured for him to sit down. “Yelling isn’t going to help. I’m sorry this came as such a shock, I really am, but there’s no need to be upset.”

He ignored her suggestion to take a seat. “No need to be upset?” he bellowed. “The hell there isn’t. You’re pregnant—I’m going to be a father.” His scowl challenged her to deny it.

“Yes, but…” Her voice trailed off. She had no intention of pretending he wasn’t the father of her child.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” He started to pace.

“Would you kindly stand still?” Even if he wasn’t going to sit down, she had a sudden need to do so. Sinking onto the sofa, she placed her hands over her stomach. “Please…”

“Please what? Please leave?”

“No…It’s probably best that you know the truth.”

“Probably?” The word exploded out of his mouth.

Maryellen held up her hand. “Listen—you’re upset and—”

“Upset?” he repeated. “That doesn’t even begin to cover what I’m feeling. You don’t have a clue about me.”

“A clue…?” She shook her head. “Don’t bother. It doesn’t really matter.”

“What matters is my baby,” Jon insisted.

“Would you stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy.”

“That’s too bad, because if I stop I might do something I regret.”

“Is that a threat, Jon?” She hadn’t thought of him as violent, but she’d never seen him this out of control.

“A threat?” He stared at her as though he’d taken as many shocks from her as he could stand. “No, Maryellen, that isn’t a threat.” Then, as if he’d exhausted every ounce of energy he possessed, he collapsed into a chair.

“I apologize for this. I guess you have a right to know.”

“Damn straight I do.”

She was prepared to deal with his anger. It was what she’d expected and frankly what she deserved. If he’d give her a moment, she’d reassure him, tell him she didn’t need his support, and then they could both continue with their lives.

“I don’t want you to worry about anything,” Maryellen told him. “This is my baby.”

He frowned. “Your baby? Yeah—and mine.”

“Jon, I don’t require a thing from you. As far as I’m concerned, you’re not part of this child’s life. I intend to raise the baby on my own.”

“Oh, no, you don’t!”

“Now what?” she cried. She thought this was what he’d come to hear. She was relieving him of all obligations.

“I want to be part of my child’s life.”

“That’s impossible!”

“The hell it is.” He was back on his feet, fists clenched.

Maryellen got to her feet, too. “I think you should go.”

“We’ll see about that,” he said and stormed out the door, leaving Maryellen shaken and unsure.

Why, oh, why did everything have to be so complicated? It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. Yes, learning about the pregnancy must have been distressing to Jon, but once he knew, she assumed he’d feel grateful to be released from any responsibility.

Instead he was making demands—demands she wasn’t prepared to consider.

This had to be one of the proudest moments of Jack Griffin’s life. He stood with his son and Shelly at ColchesterPark, which overlooked Puget Sound. The panoramic view of the Seattle skyline was breathing. The promise of summer was in the air; tulips lined the flowerbeds and fifty-foot-tall fir trees stood like sentries, keeping watch over all who entered the park.

Standing close to the water with her back to Puget Sound, Olivia faced the young couple, while Jack held Tedd and Todd in his arms, as proud as any grandfather had a right to be. Fortunately, the babies were fast asleep. At three months, they’d both filled out nicely and although they were identical, Jack could detect differences between them. Tedd was more active than his brother and always fell asleep last. Todd seemed content with his thumb, while Tedd preferred his pacifier. Both boys strongly reminded him of Eric as an infant, and Jack saw his son over and over again in his two grandchildren.

Jack’s ex-wife hadn’t been able to make the wedding. He assumed Vicki had stayed away to avoid seeing him. Bob Beldon, his AA sponsor, suggested Jack held too high an opinion of his importance to Vicki, but Jack was fairly confident he’d read his ex correctly. They hadn’t parted on the best of terms, and what little relationship they’d had at the time of the divorce quickly disintegrated when he continued drinking. Alcohol had consumed his life for the next several years.

Closing his eyes, he forced himself to concentrate on the marriage vows as Eric repeated them. Love and honor. Jack’s heart swelled with love for his son, his grandsons, his daughter-in-law—and for Judge Olivia Lockhart. Getting to know her, spending time with her, had changed his life and all for the better.