Forever. I loved that.
Chapter Twenty-Eight — Jade
It was time to tell my family that Ryder and I were officially a couple. I stopped my car in the driveway to my parents’ house and let myself in. Ryder wasn’t aware that I planned to do it like this, but I simply had to do it face to face—alone—so I called my mother to tell her that I was coming over straight after work.
She didn’t pick up the call, but minutes later Mom had messaged me that she was out picking up the dry cleaning but wouldn’t be long, and that I should put the kettle on for a cup of tea.
Does Mom suspect anything?
I’d dropped little hints whenever I spoke to her, and thankfully she’d never reacted badly. She’d probably told Daddy that she thought I had a new man, but I felt it was the right thing to tell them myself. I was going to be a mother; I had to finally stand up for myself and act like an adult.
Once they knew the truth, and that we were living together, I’d organize for us to have dinner so that they could finally meet Ryder. Then together we’d break the news of our baby.
It wasn’t only Marcus’s threat that prompted my desire to tell my family. At nearly four months pregnant, my baby bump was starting to show, and I couldn’t hide it from my family any longer. And I didn’t want to come to the usual family dinners without Ryder any more. It was time they accepted that I'd made my choice, and lived with it.
Daddy was going to be at the office for a while, so I’d have a chance to talk to Mom alone first. I filled the kettle and turned it on, relieved that I'd finally gotten to this stage of facing my parents.
When I heard a car drive up and the door open behind me a few minutes later, I turned, surprised to find Harrison standing there.
“Hey, Sis,” he greeted, both of his hands in his pockets.
“Hey, stranger.” I smiled. I hadn’t seen Harrison in a few weeks, and he looked tired and drained. His skin was sallow as if he hadn’t seen much sun, and he had uncharacteristic bags under his eyes.
His lips brushed my cheek. “Is Mom back with the dry cleaning yet?”
“No, I'm waiting for her. I’m making tea. Want some?”
He nodded and sat at the breakfast bar while I waited for the kettle to boil.
Our dynamic had changed so much since I’d met Ryder and it felt plain awkward having a stilted conversation with him when we’d always been so casual with one another. We made small talk while I poured the tea and placed a mug in front of him.
“Why are you wearing a big, sloppy sweater to work? It's not like you.” He took a sip of tea as he appraised me over the rim of his mug, one eyebrow raised.
My nerves were so raw, that I decided to come clean. Big mistake.
“Harrison, I . . . um . . . it's because I’m . . . pregnant.”
His skin paled and his mouth twisted as if he were in pain.
“Please, Harrison, be happy for me,” I begged, wringing my hands together.
He paced the room, pushing back his hair, a look of despair on his face. “Jade. You don’t know what you’re asking me.” His face was grim, his lips pursed together. “Of all the things in the world, you get pregnant by . . . a criminal. The kind of person who took Amy and my child.”
With no back-up or support, Harrison was going to be more difficult to handle than I’d believed. He stared at my stomach as if I were carrying the devil’s child. I’d never expected him to react this way. I knew he disliked Ryder, but I’d thought he would accept this baby once he knew how much it meant to me.
“Harrison, what you went through—no person should ever have to live through that. Yes, Ryder may have done unsavory things in his past. But no—he’s not the one who killed Amy . . . or your baby. You’ve got to get over it.”
“Jesus! Get over it?” he roared, making me jump. “Never. I’ll never get over it.” He grabbed hold of my upper arms. “Why, Jade? Are you trying to kill me?” His eyes narrowed as he glared at me. “Did he do it on purpose? Getting you knocked up?”
“I . . . didn’t mean for it to happen—I was on the damn pill. Ryder didn’t get me pregnant on purpose—”
“What do you mean?” His voice was raw.
Before I could think, I blurted out the truth. I’d never really lied to Harrison, except for small white lies, and I didn’t want to start now. “I thought Ryder would kick me out when he found out I was pregnant. I didn’t think he’d want kids.”
“Fuck that,” he hissed.
His eyes traveled up and down my body. “How far along are you? Is it too late for—” He swallowed hard, unable to say the word.