Megan had a déjà vu when Peter stormed out of the house. He had done that once before. She read his text, but chose not to respond. It surprised her he didn't correct the whore about the baby, although she hadn't either.
In fact, she noticed that much of the high school staff assumed the same thing. Little comments added up, so she pulled her friend, Karen, into her room during lunch. "Is it my imagination people think my ex is the father of this baby?"
"I would say it's the consensus."
Karen was a divorced English teacher. Her ex-husband was verbally abusive and her divorce was nasty. She had two older children. Her daughter would be at the high school the following year. In the summer, she brought her kids over for the beach. She and Megan had become close over the years and had supported each other during their divorces.
"Should I set them straight?"
"I wouldn't. Being unwed and pregnant with a fling is harder to accept morally than if it's with the father of your other children."
Megan thought about it and wondered if she was crazy to let people think this way. It was easier and Peter was telling her he didn't dispute it either.
She and Peter hadn't argued in years. She'd been angry with him a few times, but he'd rarely argue back. He really hadn't argued this time. He was mad, because of the slut not her. She agreed with him, because he made a huge mistake when he was seventeen.
At the bus stop, the next morning Kristi asked if she was alright.
"I feel fine. Why?" Megan sensed she was up to something.
"I was outside when Peter left last night."
"Oh that. We were both frustrated over an old problem that won't go away. We weren't angry with each other."
"You are the strangest divorce couple I've ever met."
"You're probably right." Megan wondered what Kristi would think if she knew they were letting people think the baby was Peter's.
When he called that night she answered.
"Listen, Meg I'm sorry."
She sucked in her breath when he called her Meg. She wanted to say, don't call me that, but she just didn't have the energy to fight him.
"What about the party?" She ignored his apology.
He asked her, cake or cupcake? Color scheme? Flavor? And more. She gave her opinion, and their conversation was very civilized. They could get along.
When they settled things for the party, he said, "Your father's recruited me for Saturday afternoon."
"I heard. Thanks."
"Do you want to come pick things out?"
"I can't go over there. You know she wouldn't approve. Just get newborn things. You know a bassinet and swing and things like that."
On Saturday, Peter brought the twins back to stay with her while he dug around in the attic. If Nick and Sophie saw where the baby things came from, they may say something to Nanny.
When Ed and Peter arrived with the items, Peter said, "Anything you don't want we can bring back."
Megan looked at everything. It was what she needed to get started. She would need to buy a new car seat because it wasn't safe to use an old one and a new single stroller. Her father pressed some bills in her hand.
"For anything else you might need, princess."
Sophie said, "I'm your princess."
Ed said, "Yes, but your mother is too."
"Sophie, you're my special princess." Peter effortlessly scooped her into his arms.
It reminded Megan that her children had a whole life without her. She hardly saw them with their Daddy and never with their grandparents. Watching Peter dote on Sophie reminded her of the way her dad treated her when she was young.
"I'll set out and walk home. If she comes home early, I was on a walk," her father said.
"We should go soon too," Peter said, but Nick and Sophie were busy looking at the baby items. Megan hated to see them leave, so she didn't intervene.
"All this is for your baby, Mommy?" Nick asked.
"It's our baby. You'll be the brother and Sophie, the sister."
Sophie asked, "Who will be the daddy?"
Megan wasn't ready for that question. Before she could answer, Peter said, "Me. I'm your daddy, so I'll be the baby's daddy."
Megan hissed. "Peter."
"It's only right. I know you don't want to share this baby. If you claim it's mine, you'll never have to worry if Evan shows up."
Megan's heart stopped with a jolt, as Peter rounded up the twins. "We'll see you tomorrow. We can talk about this more later."
She had tears in her eyes as she hugged her kids goodbye again. She wasn't even sure what she was crying for - a bit of the past, present and future. Perhaps it was hormones, but she couldn't work it all out. Eventually she dried her eyes and texted Kristi to see if she would go shopping for baby things.
YOU ARE READING
Shattered Hearts (TP1)
Storie d'amore(Complete) Peter isn't prepared for the reality of another man spending the night with his ex. He should be, but his heart has never let her go. Peter, who was abandoned by his father as a young boy, will do anything for his kids. He won't stop unt...
