“So your theory?”
“She never got a chance to tell Kayne that his mother didn’t up and abandon him, and his next caseworker was unaware he didn’t know or didn’t bother to tell him. Either way, the information slipped through the cracks.”
“That’s almost too impossible to believe.”
“Crazier things have happened. A woman once gave the man who kidnapped her, lied to her, and forced her to submit a second chance, and now she’s having his baby.”
I squint petulantly at Jett. We are not talking about me and my questionable decisions.
“We need to tell him. We need to just bite the bullet, tell him, and hope we survive the wrath of Kayne.” I pace the room.
“Hold that thought.” Jett pulls his phone out from his back pocket and glances at the screen. “That wrath may come sooner than you think,” he informs me before he answers it. “Hey, man. Yeah,” he looks directly at me, “she’s here.”
Oh, shit.
“Okay . . . see you in a few.” He hangs up. “You’re done blowing in the wind.”
“Apparently. You just gave me up.”
“We have like seven seconds before he gets here.”
“Should we take cover?”
The doorbell rings.
Too late.
“At least he’s using his manners and didn’t break down the door,” Jett points out.
“He probably just doesn’t want to pay for another home repair.”
“Ellie!” Kayne’s voice blasts through the house.
“Up here!” Jett yells back.
Moments later, Kayne appears in the doorway. He’s wearing loose jeans and a fitted blue t-shirt. His hair is a mess—my guess from trying to pull it out—and there’s a hollow look in his eyes.
“Let’s go.” He tries to grab my arm, but I step back.
“No.” I see the devastation on his face, but we have to dothis. We have to address the albatross in Kayne’s life.
“Ellie, now.” His tone becomes stricter, desperate almost.
“We need to talk.” I hold my ground.
“No, we don’t.”
“Yes. We do.” I’m adamant.
“Maybe you should listen to her,” Jett interjects.
“Maybe you should mind your own fucking business. She’smywife—”
“Yes, I know,” Jett cuts him off sharply. “You love to remind everyone of that. Maybe you should remind yourself why you married her. Wait. I’ll do it for you. Because she has your best interests at heart and only wants what’s best for you.For youandyourchild.”
Kayne immediately clams up. I know he wants to argue with Jett, wants to tell him to fuck off and drag me out of the house, but he’s exercising his restraint. He may be excitable, but he’s not stupid.
“Sit.” I gesture with my head to the couch. “Jett has something he needs to tell you.”
