Hot Revenge Box Set 4

Michael

“I’m pregnant.”

Charlotte’s mother chews at a lip as Beth holds her hand. “I… I thought I couldn’t… I thought I was too old. I’m forty-eight for God’s sake… When Larry was here, I didn’t… I mean… we didn’t…” She splutters to a halt and sits staring at her fingertips, picking at one thumbnail with the other. “You must think I’m stupid, letting something like this happen...” She slants eyes toward Charlotte… “… Again.”

“I see.” I glance over towards James, still framed in the doorway, now gazing up at the ceiling, grimacing as he rubs the back of his neck.

“Interesting news, James,” I say, twisting in my seat to face him. Out of Mitch’s line-of-sight, I eye-point her, waving palms downwards…

Cool it…

Moving as though the earth might just cave in under me, I pull up a chair, sit by my ‘mother-in-law’. “In the first place, Mitch, I don’t think you’re stupid. I can understand why…”

Choose your words…

“… why you might not have believed there was an issue. Secondly, for the avoidance of doubt, you are not old.”

Her mouth opens and closes but nothing comes out.

“So…” I glance down at the pregnancy tester, and its blue line. I prise her hand from Beth’s, sandwiching it between my own. “So…how do you feel about it, Mitch?”

She raises emerald eyes to me, so like those of her daughter’s. But they’re glossy and fluid.

James, apparently recovering his composure, joins us, snaking out a long arm to pull up a chair and sit with us. In soft tones, he says, “… Um… An… interesting situation… Are you… happy about this, Mitch?”

Her voice chokes. “I’ve not gotten that far. I only knew for certain half an hour ago. I still can’t believe it… Oh, God…” Shuddering, she tugs free of me, dropping her face into her hands. “What am I going to do?”

right hand from her cheek, he squeezes the fingers between his own, then kisses them. “Mitch, you’re family. Any child you produce is family.

are black pinpricks

and I share a look, then he releases her to

his ring. Unlikely as it might

the finger. “Do you think it

know what else it could be. Yes, he

circles, around

of him, over a period

James Hmmms agreement.

mistreatment of Charlotte when she was young… All of it… seems to me to be simply something that filled the gap inside him. Larry believed he was abandoned as a child. He believed you simply abandoned him for Conners. Sometimes when you get to the core of what went wrong with someone, you have the answer

he expected parenthood to be

already accepted parenthood. That first time we saw him, in prison still, after he realised he was Charlotte’s father, he was so proud. He is still proud. You can

bites her lip.

“I’m sure.”

James, who nods agreement.

Jenny’s twenty-six. She’ll have a baby brother

but clasp her hand more tightly in mine. “Calm down. There is only one…” I press a forefinger to the back of the hand. “…

breathing shudders, but

know without asking that James agrees…” James nods vigorously… “ … And I am happy to speak for Richard too… “ Now Beth nods… “… Everyone here will support you in whatever you decide. Larry… whenever we see him again… whatever he thinks… will have to

Mitch blinks hard…

Breathes…

Calms…

splutters… “Him… Her…