Page 118 of The Only Heart that Matters
Chapter Forty-Three
Mia
After we left the bar last night, Angus followed me to pick Sawyer up from the sitter and then all the way home. He walked us to the front door, sweetly kissed Sawyer on the head, and not quite as sweetly placed a kiss on my lips.
It wasn’t long. It wasn’t heated. It was perfect.
Did I ask him if he wanted to come inside? Of course I did. Unfortunately, he declined my offer. He’ll be staying at the loft until we talk to Knox. But we both decided we would brave Sunday dinner. It’s an excuse to see each other and to gauge how Daisy is taking our news. If she isn’t over the two of us being together, she won’t be ready to hear about Knox.
Baby steps.
She’s been quiet all night, not sharing our secret with the rest of the family. But Daisy, being Daisy, doesn't hesitate to let her feelings be known. She may be quiet, but she’s certainly not avoiding us. Her stare downs are unrelenting. When she isn't focused on me, she directs her attention toward her brother.
My best friend says what she thinks. She doesn’t hold back. Not knowing what’s going on in that head of hers is frightening.
Quietly, I wrap my sweater around me and, sneak outside to find the boys. Angus and Sawyer put on their coats and disappeared after sharing a piece of apple pie. I wander off the deck and head toward the pasture. Before long, I spot them in the distance hanging out with Bernadette.
Taking my time, I watch the two of them together. Sawyer is in Angus’s arms as they pet the cow's head and carry on what appears to be a riveting conversation. When I’m about ten feet away, Sawyer spots me.
“Mama, look. Bernie.”
“I see her, buddy.” I walk to the opposite side of the beloved cow and smile at them over her wide body. “You two having fun over here?”
“Moooooo!” Sawyer replies. Angus and I both laugh.
A horse whinnies from the barn and Bernadette’s tail swooshes as we sit in this moment. Angus is beaming at me. After everything we’ve shared, this new smile he shows only to me is new and beautiful, and it makes my cheeks heat.
He is beautiful.
“I love you so fucking much,” he mouths. Then quietly adds, “I can’t wait until this is over and we can end all the charades.”
Angus continuing to so freely share his feelings for me is still new and sends me spinning with giddy, schoolgirl glee. If only there weren’t so many other emotions attached to his declarations.
“Me too, but I’d be lying if I said I’m not scared.”
“What worries you the most?”
“I can take whatever your brother, our families, the people in town dish out, but I will not accept any crap directed at my little boy. And what if Knox tries to take him or asks for split custodyat some point? I don’t know what I’d do if either of those things happened.”
“Shit, I didn't even think of that.”
“It’s all I think about. That and what if the world finds out? What if he wants to make it legal and there is a public document out there? Sawyer didn’t ask to be in the public eye, to have to deal with paparazzi. I don't want him bogged down with all the b.s. that comes with being Knox McKinnon’s son.”
He rests his head against Sawyers and takes his little hand in his. “Didn’t think of that either.”
“These thoughts have plagued me since the day I found out I was pregnant.”
“Goof, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. He has the right to know. It was wrong of me not to tell him before.”
“You were protecting yourself and your son. I get it.”
“The whole town is going to know,” I sigh on a heavy breath.
“So?”
“Well, let’s see, I’ll be the slut,” I mouth the last word so Sawyer doesn’t pick up on it, “who got knocked up by one McKinnon brother and then fell in love with another.”
