“So I… I miscarried?” Savannah asks blankly.
If she was anyone else, I might believe that she’s in shock. I might believe thatshebelieved she was pregnant all along. But I don’t miss the flash of rage in her eyes, nor the desperate fear making her lip tremble that has nothing to do with the loss of a pregnancy. No, she looks like she did in high school when someone else wore the same outfit as her. She looks mad, but not heartbroken. Scared, but not sickened by the news.
The urge to hit her rises again.
At her side, Andrea’s eyes fill with tears, a broken sob tearing from her lips. I guess dear old Mom really wasn’t in on the lie.
“There’s no evidence of a miscarriage,” the doctor says carefully, keeping his tone soft and level. “My best guess is that your pregnancy test was a false positive. I’m very sorry, Ms. Ward.”
“But the first ultrasound showed…”
Andrea trails off, stricken with grief. My heart twinges in sympathy for her, but it evaporates when I see the rage building on Savannah’s face. She looks like a cornered animal trying to figure out the best way out.
“I’m not sure where you went for your first ultrasound, Ms. Ward, but I assure you, there’s no sign of pregnancy, past or present.” The doctor speaks gently, but there’s no trace of uncertainty in his voice. “I’m going to give you the room to process. Please take as long as you need.”
He leaves with a quiet click of the door, and the four of us are left with nothing but an oppressive feeling of dread.
I wish I could feel victorious, but I just feel kind of sick. It’s all a bit anticlimactic, even though this is the most important part of this whole mess. I just… I want it to be over.
Andrea is crying softly, tears slipping down her slim cheeks, but Savannah just looks shell shocked. Her face is pinched into a frown, bright blue eyes narrowed as she glares at the tile floor. Hailey told me in the text she sent while we were still in the cafe that she planned to just make a quiet exit after the ultrasound. It doesn’t seem like she’s keen on rubbing this in anyone’s face either, but Savannah’s head snaps up as soon as we head toward the door.
“You set this up,” she hisses accusingly. “You and your useless fucking son and perfect littleKenzie.”
Hailey looks at her, honest sympathy in her eyes along with a bright flare of protectiveness.
“Yes,” she says simply. “Oakley and Kenzie saw you drinking and riding the mechanical bull at the rodeo, and Bo can’t remember spending the night with you at all. It was enough to raise some suspicion. I don’t think we can be blamed for wanting proof, especially with how things turned out.”
She doesn’t let her voice turn bitter or accusatory, but Savannah springs up from the bed like she’s been scalded.
“I miscarried because Bo wouldn’t step up!” she screeches. “He’s been ditching me at every turn and I’ve been under so much emotional strain that I lost my baby!”
She doesn’t place a hand over her stomach as she says it, and there’s nothing but fury on her face. I don’t think she even realizes that she’s just proving us right all over again. This isn’t the picture of a grieving mother-to-be. This is a stubborn, spoiled girl who didn’t get what she wanted and is lashing out.
“The doctor said you were never pregnant,” Hailey says sharply. “You can’t tell us where you got your first ultrasound because you neverdid. You’ve been lying and faking this whole time, and it’s over. You lost.”
Andrea’s head whips up, anger painted clearly on her face, and she stands with her hands balled into fists at her sides.
“How dare you call my daughter a liar?” she bites out. “This is the most painful moment of her life, and you?—”
“Sheisa liar,” Hailey says sharply. “She’s a liar, and a cheat, and a spoiled little bitch. If I ever see you or any of your family near any of us again, the first thing I’ll be doing is filing a restraining order. Stay away from my son, Savannah.Andmy daughters.”
She wraps a lean arm around my shoulder and holds her chin high as Savannah and Andrea stare at her in a mix of shock and anger.
And then we just leave. We walk out of the room and through the lobby and out onto the sidewalk. The air is chilly and a little damp, but it feels so crisp and clean in my lungs. I feel good.
For the first time in months, I feelokay.
Hailey wraps her arms around me in a thrilled hug, an overwhelmed laugh falling from her lips. I squeeze her tight against me, pouring every ounce of emotion into the embrace. I can feel it all echoed right back at me, the relief, the anger, the half-hearted sorrow for Savannah, even after everything she put us through.
“Thank you,” I whisper into her hair. “I was so scared Bo would just go through with it. I couldn’t have done this without you and Oakley. Just… thank you.”
The familiar scent of her shampoo is soothing, as is the golden light that filters through the blond strands as we curl into each other’s arms on the sidewalk. I pull back, happy tears clinging to my lashes, and laugh again when she cups my face in her hands adoringly.
“Don’t be silly,” she says, but her eyes are shining with tears, too. “Like I’d accept anyone but you as my daughter in law. The only wedding I’ll be planning for Bo is with you.”
Chapter Twenty Three
BO
