Cross-Checking by Evie Graham

Author:Evie Graham [Graham, Evie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-06T05:00:00+00:00

The next morning dawns early and bright, and I wake with a knot in my stomach. Sleeping was almost an exercise in futility, as I tossed and turned all night long. I stand in front of my closet and mentally reject half a dozen outfits. This isn’t me. I don’t usually worry about these things. But in thirty minutes I need to be at the rehab center to have brunch with Grant and Camden. I trust Grant with my life, and I know I can trust him with my secret.

“You’re pregnant.” Grant’s voice was calmer than I had expected.

“Yes. Just about six weeks. I confirmed it at the doctor this morning.” I wasn’t even sure that the voice that came out of my mouth was mine. The dread that had settled over me like a thick blanket quickly lifted once I looked at Grant’s face. He was absolutely beaming. His smile was wider than the sky, and there were small tears running down his face.

“A grandchild,” he whispered. “Another Locke.” The reverence on his face startled me. He had already fallen in love with the small ball of cells taking up residence in my uterus. I took a deep breath and prepared to tell him the next bit of news.

“I’m not telling him, Grant.” The words came out on a whisper.

“Why the hell not?” I didn’t hear judgment in Grant’s voice, just disbelief.

“You know he would come right home. He would leave hockey and you would be—” I had to take a moment to think through my next sentence. I also had to swallow back the tears that threatened to fall. “You would be on the streets, Grant. I can’t do that to you—or to him. He will be home in the summer. He can meet the baby then, and I’ll tell him everything.”

“I don’t agree with this, Cora. I think he deserves to know. We would be fine. We’d find a small house, and I would be fine.” Grant’s voice was bordering on anger. His tears began to fall fast and furious.

“I won’t be responsible for that! I can’t be. Please, please, please don’t tell him. Please. I am literally begging you. This is absolutely killing me. But I have to do it. For you, for Camden, and for the baby.” The emotions that flowed through me were stronger than anything I had ever felt before.

Grant let out a big sigh and held out his arms. I crawled up on the chair with him and tucked my chin under his. My sobs shook us, and my tears soaked his shirt. We sat there for what seemed like hours, with him stroking my hair and telling me it would all be okay.

“Okay, Cora. I won’t tell him. For now. But I’m telling you, he deserves to know. We will work it out regardless. But this needs to come from you. I’m here for you, always know that.” His arms stayed around me as I let out a sigh of relief.

My plan was to tell him once the season was over.

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