“You’re acting like I’m stupid.”
“I’m doing no such thing.”
“Four women were in this room,” James said. “There’s one positive pregnancy test. That means there are four options.”
“You’re very good at math.”
James ignored her. “You claim it’s not you.”
“It’s not me,” Mandy said. “I promise. I’m not lying.”
“And I’m grateful,” James said. “That leaves three options.”
Mandy sighed. “Fine, someone is pregnant.”
“Who?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Why?”
“Because I made a promise,” Mandy said.
James ran a hand through his hair, never moving his gaze from his wife’s conflicted eyes. “Okay.”
“You’re just going to let it go?”
“I am,” James said. “My wife isn’t pregnant. That’s where my interest ends.”
Mandy smiled. “Do you want to place you interests elsewhere?”
James smirked, rolling on top of her naked body. “What did you have in mind?”
“DON’T be sorry, Emma,” Finn said, brushing his lips against her forehead. “I’m just being … ridiculous.”
“You’re never ridiculous,” Emma said, rubbing the back of Finn’s head as it pressed against her shoulder. “You’re the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”
“You’re the sweetest woman I’ve ever met,” Finn countered, kissing Emma’s jaw. “God, I feel so stupid. I’ve been convincing myself for the past week that you were going to break up with me.”
Emma was flabbergasted. “Finn, I would never break up with you.”
“Then, what’s going on?” Finn asked.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You’re sad, sweetie,” Finn said. “I saw you crying when I came home the other day.”
Emma faltered. “When?”
“I don’t know,” Finn said, rubbing his chin. “I think it was Wednesday. I came home, and you’d been crying.”
“You saw that?” Emma was mortified.
“Yeah.”
“I’d been watching the Hallmark channel,” Emma admitted.
“So?”
“They run old episodes of Little House on the Prairie,” Emma said.
Finn was confused. “So? That’s the show with the family that lived on a farm, right?”
“The Ingalls,” Emma corrected. “They’re a beautiful family.”
“That show was on the air before you were born,” Finn pointed out.
“So?”
“So, it’s weird that it makes you cry.”
“It’s still beautifully done,” Emma said.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Finn said, straightening. “I’ve never seen it. What made you cry?”
“Laura thought her bad thoughts killed her brother,” Emma said, her breath hitching. “When the baby died, she ran away and tried to find God to switch herself for the baby.”
Finn was confused. “Okay.”
“God found her on the mountain,” Emma said. “He said his name was Jonathan. He kept her safe until her father could find her.”
Now Finn was flabbergasted. “He found her, right?”
“He did,” Emma said. “There would be no series without her, and that was the first season.”
“Well, I’m relieved.” Finn was lost in the conversation. “I still don’t understand why you were crying.”
“Because her father was looking for her,” Emma said. “She was going to run again. Her father found her, and she ran to him.”
Finn nodded.
“The music was very moving,” Emma said, brushing a tear from her eye. “Mr. Edwards was watching. It was very emotional.”
“Okay,” Finn said, conflicted. “So, you weren’t crying because of me?”
“Of course not,” Emma said. “I wanted Laura with her pa.”
“Her pa?”
“That’s what people called their fathers back in the old … west.”
“Ah,” Finn said. “She found her … pa … right?”
“She did.”
“Okay,” Finn said, rubbing the back of Emma’s head. “Everything turned out all right.”
“Well, her sister still went blind, and her husband was still paralyzed, and she lost a baby to crib death,” Emma interjected.
“This sounds like a horrible television show.”
“It has a happy ending,” Emma said. “Like everything should.”
“Everything?”
“Everything,” Emma confirmed, searching his face. “As a matter of fact … .”
“TELL me,” James prodded.
“I can’t.”
“You have to,” James argued. “I need to know.”
“Can’t you just make love to me and let it go?” Mandy prodded.
“I’m going to make love to you,” James said. “You’re going to tell me who is pregnant first. I can’t focus if you don’t.”
Mandy reached down and wrapped her hand around her husband’s uninterested length. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t do that,” James said, shifting his hips and moving so she couldn’t touch him. “I’m serious.”
“I’m serious, too,” Mandy said, reaching for him again.
James captured her hand. “No.”
Mandy furrowed her brow. “You don’t find me attractive?”
“Oh, I’m on to you, baby,” James said. “I always find you attractive. You’re trying to distract me now.”
“That’s a horrible thing to say about your wife,” Mandy protested.
“Only if it’s not true,” James said, grabbing Mandy’s hand and pressing it to his lips. “Who’s pregnant?”
“What makes you think anyone is pregnant? I think you’re imagining things.”
James made a face. “Okay, let’s think about this,” he said, grabbing Mandy’s other hand as it drifted to his waist. He flipped her over, pinning her hands to the mattress as he situated himself on top of her. An idea invaded his mind. “Did Jake knock up my sister?”
Mandy stiffened. “James!”
“Oh, I’m going to kill him,” James said, refusing to let Mandy up no matter how hard she thrashed beneath him. “He knocked up my sister.”
“He did not,” Mandy argued, biting her lip when she realized what she said.
James narrowed his eyes. “He didn’t?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“It’s not Ally,” James mused. “That leaves Sophie and Emma.”
“James,” Mandy said. “I didn’t say it wasn’t Ally.”
“You did so,” James argued. “That’s exactly what you said.” He wracked his brain. “Okay, so Sophie was outside of the bathroom with you. Emma was inside. Ally came back and said she had something. I’m guessing that was the pregnancy test. That means it’s either Sophie or Emma.”
“I never said that,” Mandy screeched, trying to buck James off of her.
James settled himself, holding his wife down without effort. “Emma was in the bathroom,” he said. “You said Emma was sick.” Realization dawned. “It’s Emma. She’s pregnant.”
Mandy exhaled, sighing heavily. “You can’t tell Finn.”
James fixed his gaze on his wife. “Emma is pregnant, isn’t she?”
Mandy bit her bottom lip. “No.”
“Mandy,” James warned.
“She is,” Mandy admitted. “You can’t tell Finn, though. We promised.”
“Isn’t Emma going to tell him?” Now James was worried for an entirely different reason.
“She’s scared,” Mandy admitted.
James let go of Mandy’s arms, leaning back and pulling her to a sitting position so he could look her in the eyes without effort. “Why is she scared?”
“They haven’t even said ‘I love you’ yet,” Mandy offered.
James considered the statement. “Maybe Finn will say it if she tell
s him.”
“If he says it after he finds out she’s pregnant, it won’t be real.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s like she forced the emotion out of him,” Mandy said. “Emma is worried about trapping him.”
James knit his eyebrows together. “But he does love her.”
“Of course he does,” Mandy said. “He’s loved her since the beginning.”
“So, why doesn’t it count if he tells her now?” James asked. “I’m deferring to you, because you speak girl.”
Mandy made a face. “If he tells her after he finds out she’s pregnant, it will always be tainted for Emma. She’s always going to think he only said it because of the baby.”
James was conflicted. “But he loves her.”
“I know that, and you know that,” Mandy said, leaning forward so she could kiss her husband. “Emma will never feel that.”
“This is something only girls understand, isn’t it?” James asked.
“Yes.”
“If you had turned up pregnant before I told you, would it have tainted what we have?”
“Tainted is the wrong word,” Mandy said. “Love is a funny thing. Sometimes … even now … I have to convince myself that you love me.”
James’ heart twisted. “Why?”
“Because it seems impossible to me that I could be your happily ever after,” Mandy replied.
“But you are,” James said. “You’re my everything.”
“You’re still the boy I wanted more than anything when I was in middle school,” Mandy pointed out.
“So?”
“That boy had another girlfriend and joined the Marines,” Mandy said.
“So?”
Mandy sighed, shifting her gaze. “You’re still the man who slept with me and then ran.”
James forced Mandy’s face to the side, leveling his gaze on hers. “I thought … I thought we were beyond this.”
“We are,” Mandy said. “I still … I’m still insecure sometimes. I can’t help it. I’m sorry.”
“You’re my whole world, baby,” James said. “I’m so sorry for that. I don’t want anything but you.” James felt helpless.
“I know,” Mandy said. “I do. I know. Still, when I’m all emotional and … confused … I can’t help myself. You told me you loved me right away. That helped things. Finn has never said the words.”
“So, Emma won’t believe in happily ever after until Finn says the words,” James filled in. “And they have to be said before she’ll tell him she’s pregnant?”
“Essentially, yes.”
James leaned down, brushing Mandy’s hair away from her face. “I love you.”
“I know.”
“I really love you,” James said, kissing his wife for emphasis.
“I know,” Mandy said. “Most of the time.”
James scowled.
“Hormones are a bitch,” Mandy added.
“So, I’m not allowed to tell anyone?”
“No.”
“I need sex,” James said. “Now I’m sad.”
Mandy bit her bottom lip. “Well, I am naked.”
“I can’t promise never to tell him,” James warned. “I can promise … three days.”
“Three?”
“Three,” James confirmed.
“I love you,” Mandy said.
“I love you more than anything in this world,” James replied.
“Well, then show me and shut up.”
James smiled. “I’m going to show you until you can’t walk anymore.”
“ANYTHING you want to tell me, I can hear it,” Finn said, rubbing his thumb over Emma’s strong jaw. “Just tell me.”
Emma swallowed hard. Now was the time. Good or bad, Finn had to know the truth. “Well, I do have something to tell you.”
Finn caressed Emma’s face, refusing to pull away. “Tell me.”
The ringing of the apartment door jolted both of them.
“Are you expecting someone?” Finn asked, confusion washing over him.
Emma shook her head.
Finn reluctantly moved away. “Don’t lose that thought,” he admonished. “It’s probably someone selling cookies or something.”
“Probably,” Emma agreed.
When Finn opened the door, the middle-aged woman facing him took him by surprise. Her eyes were familiar. Her hair was familiar. He frame was – unfortunately – familiar. He didn’t get a chance to put a name to the familiarity until Emma filled the space behind him.
“Mom?” Emma asked, gasping for breath. “Is that really you?”
With those words, Finn’s life tilted.
Four
Finn didn’t know what to say. He was rooted to his spot, the nervous woman standing in the doorway looking him up and down with unreadable eyes, and his tongue had suddenly ceased working.
“Mom?” Emma seemed just as flummoxed as he felt.
“Emma.” The woman took a wary step into the room, opening her arms so her daughter could step between them. Before Emma got a chance, Finn’s arm shot out to stay her.
“What are you doing here?” Finn asked.
The woman raised an eyebrow. “I’m here to see my daughter.”
“Finn?” Emma’s face was a mask, concern and self-doubt warring for supremacy.
Finn forced himself to relax and dropped his arm. This was Emma’s mother. If Emma wanted to see her, who was he to stand in their way? He was the man who was going to have to pick up the pieces if this woman shattered her daughter again, that’s who. What were the odds this woman was here to make amends for all of the heartbreak she’d caused Emma in the past?
Emma gave her mother a quick hug. The gesture was neither warm nor hostile. It appeared that Emma was just as confused as Finn. “What are you doing here, Mom?” Emma asked.
“Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?”
Emma looked unsure.
“Come in,” Finn said, gripping Emma’s arm and pulling her close to his side in a protective manner. He shut apartment door behind the woman. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Who are you?” The woman asked.
“Oh, my manners,” Emma said, clapping her hands over her mouth. “Mom, this is Finn Hardy. He’s my boyfriend. Finn, this is my mother, Sheila Pritchard.”
“Mrs. Pritchard,” Finn said, nodding stiffly.
“I don’t go by the name Pritchard anymore,” Sheila said. “I go by my maiden name, Archibald.”
“You do?” Emma furrowed her brow.
“I … I had to distance myself from that name,” Sheila said. “You must understand that.”
“Actually, Emma chose to keep her name,” Finn said. “She opted to be strong. She didn’t run away.” Finn’s words were pointed, and they weren’t lost on Sheila.
“I understand you must have certain … feelings … where I’m concerned,” Sheila said.
“No, Mom, it’s fine,” Emma said, pointing to the couch. “Why don’t you have a seat?”
“I do have certain feelings,” Finn said. “I feel that anyone who abandons their children doesn’t deserve a second chance.”
“How about some tea, Mom? Finn, why don’t you help me make some tea?” Emma was desperate to keep this situation from getting out of hand.
“I didn’t abandon my children,” Sheila said.
“Really? What would you call it?” Finn challenged. “Emma said that you just disappeared one day. She came home from school, and you were just gone. Isn’t that abandoning your children?”
“You can’t possibly understand,” Sheila said.
“Finn, please,” Emma’s fingers dug into his arm. “Help me make some tea. Please?”
One look into the frightened depths of Emma’s brown eyes had Finn taking a step back. “Why don’t you get comfortable, Ms. Archibald,” Finn said. “Emma and I are going to make some tea.”
“Are you sure?” Sheila asked.
“We’re sure,” Finn said.
“It will just take us a moment.”
Emma led Finn around the corner and into the kitchen. Finn knew what she was going to say before she even opened her mouth. “I’m begging you, Finn, please don’t scare her away.”
Finn sighed, rubbing the back of his neck to ward off his frustration. “Sweetie, I’m not trying to scare her away,” Finn said. “I’m trying to … protect you.”
“She never hurt me,” Emma said.
Finn wasn’t sure of that. He had trouble believing that a man could be raping both of his children in the same small house on a daily basis without his wife knowing. That seemed laughable – and suspicious – in Finn’s book. Still, Emma asked very little of him. She had no family left. Her father was in prison for life. Her brother was serving a sentence for armed robbery. Before the Hardys had come along, Emma had been alone – and sad. Finn wouldn’t let her return to that world. Finn softened his tone. “I’m not trying to scare her away,” he said. “I just don’t want her to disappoint you.”
“Why do you think she will?” Emma asked.
“I don’t know that she will,” Finn cautioned. “I just know that I’m worried about you getting your hopes up for some big, happy family reunion. What if she leaves again?”
Emma worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “You’re right.”
Finn felt a crack in the protective case around his heart. “Sweetheart, I know you want your mom,” he said. “Everyone does. I’m not asking you not to trust her. I’m not asking you not to spend time with her. I’m just asking you to … be careful.”
Emma’s brown eyes widened, unshed tears causing them to shine under the harsh kitchen lighting. “I should just make her leave, shouldn’t I?”
Finn pulled Emma to him, brushing a quick kiss against her forehead as he gave her a reassuring hug. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You don’t?”
“No,” Finn said. “You have some questions you need answered. That’s the only person who can give you the answers you need. I’m just asking you to be careful.”
Emma nodded.
Finn tipped her chin up. “I’ll be here every step of the way,” he said. “I’ll be with you.”
“Do you promise?”
Finn’s heart rolled. “I promise,” he said, giving her a sweet kiss. “You just try getting rid of me.”
Emma squared her shoulders. “This is going to be fine,” she said.
Deadly Addition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 9) Page 3