“Yup.”
“Couldn’t you have fought the conviction?”
“My attorney and I talked about it. But I couldn’t prove she lied to me—it was a ‘he said/she said’ kind of thing without a drop of proof. By then I was mentally and physically exhausted, anyway. So I kept my mouth shut and did my time. Which helped me get out in three years instead of five to seven. Unfortunately, I’m still considered an ex-con. I should have told you all this when we first started seeing each other. But things with us happened fast … and it’s not exactly the kind of thing you want to mention on a first date. Or even on a second. Plus, we always seemed to have people around us. Then I went to California, and …”
Maddie’s hand felt safe and warm in his, as if it had always belonged there. “It wouldn’t have mattered to me, Rex. You had me hooked from the beginning.” Saying that made her realize it was true. “I only wish you’d told me sooner. When you finally did, I wondered if there were other things you’d been holding from me. And that maybe I shouldn’t have been so quick to trust you after all.” There. She’d said everything that mattered the most to her. “On top of that I thought there was a child out there in the world who you had abandoned.”
Resting his head back on the pillow, he shut his eyes. “I can’t believe I did that to you. I’m so sorry, Maddie.” Then he looked at her again. “When Taylor said you’d be here today, I planned a whole speech that went something like, ‘If you want to bail on me now, I understand. I’ll support the baby, I’ll sign my life away to you—and her, or him. But please, let me be in the baby’s life.’” He tightened his grip. “Corny, huh?”
And in that moment, Maddie knew she’d never, ever,want another man but Rex for a life partner, however they wound up figuring that part out.
“I love it when you’re corny,” she said.
“And I love you that you do. And I promise never to keep a secret from you again. Okay?”
She nodded. “And I’ll keep none from you.”
“And we won’t keep any from our baby.”
“Well,” she said, “not unless it’s for his or her good.”
“Her,” Rex said. “I really don’t care if it’s a boy or girl, but for now, let’s think of our baby as a her. And that she’ll be as sweet and amazing as her mother. And make no doubt about it, she will be my one and only. Unless you think we should have more.”
Maddie was about to burst out laughing, when another thought leaped into her mind. “Hey!” She sat up straight, her eyes grew wide. “Do you want to hear her heartbeat? Do you want to see her dancing inside me?”
Rex jerked back a little, which made both of them wince.
“Ouch!” she said.
After a short pause, he grimaced but said, “Are you talking about an ultrasound?”
She grinned and nodded simultaneously. “The doctor asked me, but I said I wanted to wait until the baby’s father could be with me. Only if you want, of course.”
“Can we do it today? Likenow?”
Maddie laughed again, which felt so good she hardly heard the knock on the door. Then it opened a few inches.
“Rex? Are you in there?”
It was a man, who sounded casual—more like a friend than a medical professional.
“Yeah? Come on in, whoever you are.”
He was a tall man like Rex; he looked sort of familiar inhis blue shirt and navy tie, dark pants, and …Oh, no!Maddie thought. It was Ken Lawrence, Chilmark’s police chief, aka constable.
Chief Lawrence, of course, was only one of four people—including Brandon, Officer Lindstrom, and, naturally, Maddie—who knew about the notes.Fivepeople, if Taylor had put two and two together when she’d handed back the note Maddie had given the guy in the ICU.Six, including the despicable person responsible for having written them.
Thankfully, the chief was looking at Rex and not at her.
“Hey, man, how’re you doing?”
“Geez, Ken, haven’t seen you for a while. What’s happening?”
“Not as much with me as I guess with you.” At that point he looked at Maddie and smiled a pleasant smile, but didn’t seem as if he recognized her. “I brought someone to the ER and thought I’d stop in and say hi. And make sure they’re treating you right.”
“Everyone here’s terrific, no complaints,” Rex said as he nodded. “It’s been a long haul, but I’m through the worst. The best medicine is that I’m home.”
Chief Lawrence nodded. “Happy to hear that.” Then he turned to Maddie again.
