Shit. My heart drops. Do I tell him about Theo now? Or do I wait until they’re back?
“And, uh. They’re grabbing the ham.”
Beau frowns, pulling out his phone and tapping something. “The weather was getting worse when I was driving up.”
Patting my jean pockets, I curse and head back into the house and grab my phone on the counter. My stomach churns when I see the missed calls. I call my mom back immediately.
“Hey. Sorry, I didn’t have my phone on me,” I say as soon as she answers.
My mom shushes someone. “Kayla, the sheriff isn’t allowing anyone else back up the mountain for the night. They say the roads are too dangerous.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “How’s Theo doing?”
“He’s fine. We got some stuff at The Bear Diner. You know the one with the dangling lights? He loved it. We grabbed a room at the ski resort.”
Shoes shuffling have my gaze zeroing in as Beau walks into the kitchen, and I purse my lips.
“Okay. Okay, that’s fine.” My voice cracks. I trust my mother, and by some extension my sister, to take care of my son. At least, I pray I can trust her.
“He might want to call around bedtime when he realizes,” my mom says softly.
I nod. “Yeah, yeah. Of course, he can call me whenever. I’ll have my phone on me all night for him.”
My mom explains they’ll come up as soon as they can in the morning before we say goodbye.
Beau has been watching me with crossed arms from the doorframe.
“Boyfriend?”
With a furrowed brow, I throw him an incredulous look. “My mom. Have you talked to yourwife?”
His jaw shifts back and forth. “Texted her.”
When he doesn’t expand, I roll my eyes and wave at the fridge. “If you’re hungry, there are sandwiches from earlier. Most of the sides are for dinner tomorrow.”
Beau grunts, glancing around the kitchen, his fingers tracing over the small basket of chocolate crosses. “I didn’t know your family was religious. Kendall didn’t mention anything about church.”
“We’re not. The neighbor is just a kind elderly lady that I don’t have the heart to turn down,” I say softly, leaving out that I’m sure my sister didn’t tell him much about us either way.
Beau is silent for a few seconds, then says, “I didn’t say anything when I texted her. I figured it’s better to let her know about us tomorrow when she comes.”
I raise my eyebrow. “You plan to tell her about our drunken weekend while on a random vacation in Costa Rica?”
He nods. “It’s better that way, instead of her possibly finding out after some time has passed.”
My heart pounds, and a ringing starts in my ears, demanding I tell him the truth. It would be better if he found out from me, and not Kendall. And she will tell him if she suspects it even alittle. What started as a normal day is starting to look like one of my worst nights.
Beau frowns, staring at me and taking a step forward. “Are you okay? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
Clenching my phone tighter, I face him with an ache in my throat and fail to clear it. “I have a son,” I croak.
Something flickers in his face, but I continue on. “He’s three. So if you tell her about Costa Rica, then we have to tell her you’re his father.”
Beau stumbles back as if he’s been hit, his face draining to a pale gray while his wide eyes blink excessively. “W-what? What are you saying? I have a son?”
I struggle to nod while pulling up a photo of Theo to show him. Beau takes the phone with shaky hands, sucking in a breath when he sees him.
It’s undeniable when you mention his paternity. Theo has his blue eyes and curly blond hair, even the small dimple on his left cheek when he smiles.
