Love in the Light (Hearts in Darkness, #2)(43)

“Are you going to tell him?” Collin asked. All three of her brothers wore the same look on their faces—part concerned, part angry, but trying to rein the latter in.

“Yeah,” she said. “I’m going to invite him to my next ultrasound, which isn’t for over a month.”

“So, you’re keeping it?” Ian asked. Only the gentleness of his tone kept her from flipping out on him.

“Of course, I’m keeping it. This is my baby, too.” The one bright spot of certainty in all of this was knowing without question or reservation that she wanted this baby. No matter what, he’d been conceived in love. And she already loved him. And if this was the only part of Caden she got to have, she was holding on tight with both hands. “So, that’s…that’s my news,” she managed.

“Aw, you’re going to be an amazing mother,” her dad said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “And we’ll be here for you every step of the way.”

The unconditional support beckoned the tears she’d been holding back. Finally sharing this news with her family took such a weight off her shoulders. “Thanks,” she whispered.

“And I’m sorry about Caden,” her dad said as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I know this isn’t easy.”

She gave a quick nod, sniffling. “I’m sorry, too.”

“Do you want me to talk to him?” Patrick asked, sitting forward next to her.

“About?” she asked, studying her brother’s face.

He braced his elbows on his knees. “Just feels like something doesn’t add up, Makenna. The guy I met on Thanksgiving was way into you. Then two weeks later, he’s just up and done?” Patrick shook his head. “Something doesn’t add up. And I’d kind of like to know what it is since Caden’s presumably going to be in your life whether you’re together or not.”

Makenna was torn, especially since his instincts were on the money. There was more to it. And it had to do with Caden’s history. In saying she deserved more than him, he’d all but laid that out. But his pain felt too private to share with them, even if it would help explain hers. “Let me think about it,” she said, scrubbing at her cheeks. “But I appreciate it.”

“Okay,” Patrick said, clearly unhappy not to get the go-ahead. “Just say the word.”

“Dad’s right,” Ian said. “You’re gonna be great, Makenna.”

“Yeah,” Collin said. “And we’re gonna be the most awesome uncles ever.”

That set off a round of jokes and plans for the baby that had Makenna crying again, this time with happy tears. “Thank you,” she said, her cheeks hurting from smiling. “Thank you for being here for me.”

“That’s what family’s for,” her dad said. “No matter what.”

“No matter what,” Patrick said, nodding.

“Absolutely,” Ian said.

“No matter what, Sis,” Collin said. “Except for changing poopy diapers. That’s all Patrick.”

Of course, her brothers couldn’t pass up a good opportunity to make jokes about poop, which had them all laughing again. The tension bled out of Makenna’s shoulders as she shook her head at them and laughed along. She was going to be okay, because she had these four amazing men standing at her side.

But who did Caden have?





CHAPTER NINETEEN



The new year hadn’t made Caden a new man, but at least he was eating more and showering regularly and basically f*cking functioning. Thanks to Joe. And twice-a-week sessions the past three weeks with Dr. Ward. And the wonders of modern pharmaceuticals.

Most of the time, it felt like he was making a slow climb up a steep mountain carry a big-ass rock on his back, but at least he was climbing. That was a victory in and of itself. And he was working on giving himself some credit. Baby steps, man, that’s what he was all about these days.

Sitting on the bed in Joe’s guest room, Caden dragged the cardboard box full of unopened mail in front of him. Joe had brought it over from Caden’s house after his shift the evening before. Now that Caden was rocking out all this basic functioning, it was time for him to try to take care of a few other key parts of his life. Like paying his mortgage. And keeping the damn electricity current so his place would have heat. Last thing he needed was to come home from this little sojourn at Chez Flaherty to find his pipes burst and his basement flooded.

He sorted through the box. Bill, bill, bill. Junk, junk, junk. Magazine, magazine. An invitation to the wedding of one of the guys at the station. More bills, some of them stamped Second Notice. Tons of f*cking junk. A Christmas card.

He did a double take at the return address.

A Christmas card from Makenna.

He stared at it for a long moment. He’d walked out on her…and she’d sent him a Christmas card?

His gut clenched. He flipped the envelope over. Stared at the sealed flap. And finally ripped through it.

The card actually made him smile—and he couldn’t remember when he’d last done that. It had a picture of a miserable blond-haired boy wearing a pink bunny costume and read, He looks like a deranged Easter bunny!

From The Christmas Story movie. A freaking classic.

Leave it to Makenna.

As fast as he’d managed that smile, it slid back off his face. They could’ve watched that together, sharing stupid humor movies like they always had. More than that, they could’ve celebrated Christmas together. Their first. If Caden hadn’t fallen the f*ck apart.