Shattered Pieces

Ten

"I...we, you can't be here when he gets back." The words spill out of my mouth as a jumbled mess.

"She, Kennedy. No. Please no." My eyes stay locked on the toddler as my word vomit continues. Her deep brown eyes are a work of art. I've only ever found myself mesmerized by one other pair of eyes, and they look strikingly similar to hers. Grayson is my twin, everything about him except for his lips. He gets those from his daddy. This little girl's lips match Grayson's. The jet black curly hair sits in a half-up, half-down style, and I can't deny how precious the little girl is. That hair color definitely doesn't come from her mother.

This can't be my life. I refuse for this to be our life.

"We'll go," Kennedy responds matter of factly, reaching out for Naomi's hand and giving Aiden a pointed look.

"I... oh god, I have to be the one to tell him," I say to no one in particular.

That causes Kennedy to stop dead in her tracks, her head slowly turning back in my direction.

"You mean in all this time; you've never said anything to him?"

"I wasn't sure. I didn't know. That baby could've been anybodys. I asked you about a DNA test. How could you do this to him?"

With each second the panic sets in, more words spill out, yet my mouth somehow grows drier.

"And I asked if you were sure you wanted that? You never responded. That test would've only been for you and Spencer. Despite whatever awful things you guys may think of me, I was the faithful one in my relationship." She pauses, and pain flashes across her face for just a moment. "I wanted my relationship. Both of them." Her eyes fix on mine.

"So what is this? Some kind of punishment?" I whisper yell.

"I thought you told him. For months I waited for the other shoe to drop, and when it didn't, I figured you guys decided you didn't want anything to do with me or my baby."

"You know him, Kennedy. He has a bleeding heart. He would've never turned his back on her. Do you realize what you've done?"

"That's enough." Aiden steps protectively in front of her. "Don't you think you've caused her enough pain to last a lifetime? If Spencer would like to talk to her and will come correctly, we will be willing to talk. This conversation, however, is done."

I don't even have time to react as my heart rate picks up at his proximity. I always know when he's close. I usually love when he's near.

"If Spencer would like to talk to who? And I really hope, for your sake, that attitude I just heard in your voice wasn't directed at my wife."

"Baby, it's okay." I tug at his arm. "It was just a misunderstanding. Let's just leave."

Spencer doesn't budge. He's insanely protective like that, but right here, right now, isn't the time for this. We've already started to draw in a small crowd.

"Spencer, please. Let's just go home. People are watching. Think about your career." I plead with him, but he doesn't look like he's ready to back down and neither does Kennedy's guard dog.

"Come on, honey." Kennedy begins to speak, but she keeps her head down. "She's right. It was a misunderstanding. Let's leave."

Before this moment, I'm not sure Spencer even noticed anyone besides Aiden and me, but I just watched his body stiffen with each word Kennedy spoke. He's acutely aware now that we aren't alone and call me crazy, but I don't think we're leaving.

"Kennedy." He calls out to her. It isn't a question, he's sure.

A moment passes, then another one without a single sound exchanged between us. Finally, she raises her head.