“Leave her alone,” Tara tells me. “Just give her a little space.”
“What is going on with her? I know it’s more than just your mother.”
“That’s for Vickie to tell you, not me.” She nudges her head toward Alan, and the two of them go upstairs after their sister.
FIFTY-THREE
She never comes back downstairs.Tara fixes her a tray and takes dinner to her, but I’m not allowed upstairs. I reluctantly leave after a few hours. After giving Evan a bath, I read him a book. He falls asleep halfway through the story, and I tiptoe out of his room. The apartment has never looked so empty. She’s so far away, but she belongs here with us. John’s words stay with me for the next few hours. If I was a drinker, I’d be imbibing right now.
I fall into a restless sleep, tossing and turning the entire night. It’s Saturday, and I’m grateful that Evan doesn’t have school today. There’s no way I can fake it and pretend to make polite conversation with the other parents. I roll to my side, too depressed to get out of bed, and hope Evan sleeps in. It’s raining, and there’s a text message canceling today’s soccer game.
My phone vibrates, but I ignore it. It becomes alive with messages. Hoping it’s Vickie trying to get in touch with me, I pick it up. There are several missed calls from my mother and Charlie but none from Victoria. Just as I’m about to toss my phone down, a Twitter alert about me comes through.
I almost don’t open it, but something tells me to. There are several pictures of Vickie and Tara. I know they’re from yesterday. I remember what Vickie was wearing. There’s a picture of them in a drugstore, but the next picture zooms in on something Vickie is holding. I almost drop the phone when I see a home pregnancy test. The next picture shows the two sisters walking into the bathroom inside the same drugstore. The next few shows them walking toward the door. Vickie is noticeably upset. I enlarge the picture and zoom in on her face. She’s crying. There are several pictures of them in the street showing Tara hugging a distraught Vickie.
I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid. Of course, that’s why she’s looked so haggard and worn. How could I not put it together before this? All the signs have been there all along. She’s clearly having a rough first trimester. It was the same way with Kelsey, but unlike Vickie, Kelsey couldn’t wait for me to know. In fact, she went to Mama first and the two of them told me together. It’s like she knew Mama had a hold over me and she would want us to be married. It didn’t hurt that Kelsey cried and said all she wanted was for us to be a family.
It worked for Kelsey. She got what she wanted, but Vickie is completely different. Vickie had to come into this relationship kicking and screaming, and she doesn’t need to trap a man with a baby. No, I bet she thinks she’s the one who is trapped now. Victoria Taylor believing she’s trapped will gnaw her own arm off to get free.
Maybe she was never going to tell me. Maybe she has no intentions of having my baby. That thought is like an icy hand around my heart. I don’t think. I jump out of the bed, and I track her phone to this building. She’s still upstairs.
I open Evan’s door, and he’s still in a deep sleep, and I realize I can’t leave him here by himself. My phone vibrates and it’s Mama. Another call comes in from Charlie, but I ignore them both. I know they’ve seen it.
As I think of a plan, my front door opens.
“Mr. Colt,” Myra says. “Did you get my texts? I left my wallet here yesterday. At least I hope I did,” she prattles. She limps into the kitchen, and I’ve never been so happy to see her. I approach her and kiss both her cheeks, surprising her. She giggles like a schoolgirl and waves me away.
“Myra, can you stay here until I get back in case Evan wakes up. I won’t be long.”
She nods absentmindedly as she looks around. She finds her wallet on the counter and waves it around before opening the pantry and wrapping her apron around herself. “Take your time. I’ll wait out the rain.” Relieved, I run back to my room and brush my teeth. I don’t bother changing out of the shorts and t-shirt I slept in.
Me: Can I come up?
Ethan texts back a few seconds later with a thumbs up. I’m in his penthouse less than five minutes later.
“Victoria!” I yell, walking past Ethan. “Victoria.” I take the stairs two at a time even though I have no idea where she is.
“Colt,” Ethan says from behind me. “I thought you were bringing Evan up for breakfast. Listen—”
“Victoria! Where are you?” I yell again. “How could you not tell me you’re pregnant with my baby? That’s my baby too, and if you think—”
I open the doors along the way, too frantic to think straight.
“Colt,” Ethan yells behind me. “I think you need to stop and—”
A door opens and John and Cheryl step out.
“What the hell did you just say, Colt?” John steps in front of me, preventing me from going any further. “Did you just announce that you got my daughter pregnant?” If I was thinking, I’d have kept my mouth shut. I never would have barged in here. I would have waited and found her at home. I would have hugged her and told her how happy I am, and how much I want us to be a family, but that Colt isn’t here.
This is a man who’s messed up the best thing that’s ever happened to him. This is a man who knows that baby inside of her was conceived in love, and given half the chance I will win her back. This is my chance.
I walk past John, almost knocking him over in the process. I open the door next door to his bedroom and almost collide with Vickie. She looks worse than she did yesterday. Her coloring is off and she’s holding the robe over her body as if to shield herself from me.
“What the hell is going on here?” She ties the sash around her. “Colt, not now, okay. Just don’t.” She turns her back on me, but I grasp her shoulders and spin her around.
“Get your hands off my sister.” Alan rushes in and pushes me away. I can easily grab him and force him out of the room, but even in my frantic state, I know putting my hands on Vickie’s twin would be a horrible mistake. I step back and hold both hands up.
“I have no problems with you, Alan, but this is between me and your sister. I only want to talk to Vickie.” I take a step around him and address the woman I love. “I know, Victoria.” Her mouth opens in surprise. She looks around like a trapped animal. Her father approaches us, crosses his arms, and waits.
