If Evie isn’t his…I can’t even go there in my head.
“Definitely,” James says, leaping up.
Cas pulls out his car keys. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER20
Grayson
I’m pacingback and forth, my phone on the kitchen counter on speaker. “Mom, please, just bring Evelyn home.”
“First you complain that I’m not babysitting your daughter enough, and now you’re demanding I bring her home?”
Sighing, I rub my forehead and strive for patience. My mother and I get along, for the most part. The problem is, we’re basically the same person. She is reacting exactly the way I would to an unreasonable demand, and I get it. I really do. It’s also really fucking annoying.
“I didn’t know I was going to get the DNA results today. I want Evie with me when I read them.”
The package had arrived via FedEx this morning. For some reason, I had thought it would be something more innocuous, less weighty, like an email.
But no, it was an overnight express envelope that I had to sign for, which felt ominous and downright terrifying. What if this is actually a letter from a judge telling me I have to relinquish custody of Evelyn right this second because she’s not mine?
I’ll throw up if that happens. I can’t let this innocent, intelligent baby get yanked away from me and sent God knows where to live with God knows who.
Being afraid is a new emotion for me and I fucking hate it.
“Evelyn can’t read,” my mother says. “And we’re at the zoo in Charleston. She’s having fun. The monkeys are making her laugh. They’re making your father laugh too. He’s been very bored since he retired.”
She’s redirecting me. It’s a great tool that I’ve utilized many times in business.
I refuse to fall for it. “What time are you coming home?” I’ve already lost the war. Might as well attempt to win the battle. “She needs to be in bed by seven or she’s impossible to put down.”
I open my refrigerator, suddenly wanting a drink. I don’t have anything at all. I know food delivery has come to Honeysuckle Harbor but has alcohol delivery reached here? It has to. There are tourists from April to October who may or may not have cars and who might want a cocktail in their beach rental. If there isn’t alcohol delivery here, I should invest in that.
Now I’m just distracting myself, which apparently I need. I’m a bundle of fucking nerves and that damn envelope is mocking me on the counter.
“We’ll be there by seven, I promise, Grayson. Your daughter is a delight, I have to say.”
“Ifshe’s my daughter,” I say glumly. “What if she’s not?”
“She’s your daughter. She looks just like you.”
She does. “But we don’t know for sure,” I insist.
“For heaven’s sake, just open the results. Call me back on FaceTime if you want to see Evelyn.”
I slam the refrigerator closed again.
I had impulsively texted Caroline that I’ve gotten the results. I don’t know why, not exactly.
Okay, that’s a lie.
I know why.
Because she cares about Evelyn.
And I care about Caroline.
I’m also jealous of the fact that she’s having what is clearly hot sex with James and Cas next door. I know that because I heard them last night. The bed was hitting the wall, rattling the toys on the bookshelf in my living room that rests against what must be their bedroom. I’m ashamed to admit I put my ear to the wall and heard male grunting and a very clear, “Yes, James, yes!” from Caroline.
