“I understand, Morgan,” she began, ignoring my request. “Drew flew here when they picked up your car to bring it to you. I know everything, Morgan. I know how you spent your first six years. I know that you ran from him and acquired a new identity. I know that he took you from the hospital with the same intentions as the day he picked you up when you were eighteen.”
I was speechless. Drew told her everything. I couldn’t believe it. Why would he do that?
“I know that he hit you and God knows what else happened. I know what his assistant did to you, and I know it was all for money. He was angry that he had worked so hard on making sure that he was on that will, and you just happen to pop up out of the blue as the only living heir.
But, you know what else, Morgan?”
I still couldn’t speak. I shook my head, like she could see.
“I know that man loves you more than his own life.
I have never seen a grown man cry as much as he did when he confessed all of his sins to me. I can’t even judge him for putting a dollar before the happiness of another human being. I did the same thing. Maybe with different intentions, but none the less, I did the same thing.”
Drew cried? Drew didn’t cry. Drew wasn’t capable of crying.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He made me promise not to. He said that he was going to step aside and let you decide on your own.”
I snickered. “He never stepped aside. The longest he ever made it was almost three weeks. He couldn’t stand not emailing or calling or even a text.”
“That’s because he loves you, baby.”
“What if our past always haunts us?”
“Are you afraid of him?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Then don’t let the past haunt you. Leave it in the past and move forward.”
“If this baby turns out to be Dawson’s it will undoubtedly complicate things.”
“I don’t think so. We talked about that too. He actually told me that he was glad that Dawson was there for you and that if it is his baby, he couldn’t have handpicked a better father figure.”
I couldn’t believe that it was almost midnight.
“I will let you go, mom. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was this late.”
“I’ve got all night, sweetie.”
“Thanks for listening, Mom.”
“You’re welcome, honey. I am always here for you, and I am so glad that you are back in my life, even if you are making me a grandma,” she teased. “I love you, Morgan.”
“I love you too.” I hadn’t said that to my mother in years. It felt good, and it felt good to talk to her. I was so thankful that she was there.
“Can I tell Caroline that you will be here tomorrow?”
I smiled. “Yes. I can’t wait to see her.”
“Goodnight, Morgan.”
“Goodnight, Mom.”
I lay awake for hours, thinking about my life. I was leaving Misty Bay. I couldn’t stay there. It would be too awkward, and not fair to Dawson and Lauren. Wow.
Dawson and Lauren. I still couldn’t believe it. I had to talk to Lauren. I had to let her know that I wasn’t mad. I was happy that Dawson would have her, and I hoped that they lived happily ever after. I needed to get a hold of a realtor.
No. I should wait. If this was Dawson’s son, I would want to be close by when he was visiting there. I might need to keep my house.
I’m not sure what time the exhaustion finally took over, and I slept, but I didn’t wake until almost nine. I got up and started packing right away. I had wanted to be on the road by seven. I was brushing my teeth when I heard my cellphone and ran to the kitchen to grab it.
“Shit!” I yelled when my pinky toe came in full contact with the wooden barstool leg.
“Hello,” I danced around answering Drew’s call.
“What’s wrong? Are you in labor?”
“No, you moron. I stubbed my toe trying to get to the phone, but it feels like labor.”
“I’m afraid you’re in for a rude awakening my love.”
I chuckled and sat on the stool, massaging my aching toe. “Are you home?”
“Not yet, getting ready to fly out. What are you doing? How’s my boy?”
“Your boy is fine, and I am packing to go to my mom’s.”
That was the first time that I ever said your boy. I had always rotated it back to my son and not either one of the two possible dads.
“I thought we were waiting a couple of weeks.
You can’t have the plane until tomorrow.”
“I don’t want the plane. I have a very expensive BMW, sitting in my driveway.”
“Oh no, Morgan. Don’t you even think about it.
You are not driving all the way to your mothers in your condition.”
“Drew, I’m pregnant, not crippled.”
“You’re not driving, Morgan.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I mean it damnit. Listen to me for once in your life.”
I had to bite my tongue on that one.
“Did you call me to tell me what I can and can’t do?”
“Yes. Now listen to me, would you?”
“Yes.” I replied. I would just wait until we were off the phone and leave.
“I don’t think your sheriff is as smart as you think he is. I can’t believe he is going to let you get in your car and drive to North Carolina.”
“Dawson doesn’t tell me what to do. Only you do that.”
“If you take off in that car, I am going to beat your pregnant ass, and that’s a promise.”
“Hmm, I’m positively doing it now,” I teased.