Page 44 of Blue Norther
Beau scoffed, his hand rubbing along his jaw. “So she says.”
“And so I believe.”
“If you believe that, please, tell me how the hell a baby is conceived when two people haven’t spoken to or seen each other since their divorce? I mean, I’m not living in an alternate reality where her pregnancy is going one hundred times slower than a normal one, am I? Christ. Jessie told me about some weird alien romance she was reading a few weeks ago, but those pregnancies only lasted half the time. Is that it? Are you here to tell me Violet is actually some weird intergalactic being with a decade-long gestation period?”
His mocking made me want to punch him all over again. “Shut the fuck up, and listen to me. There was an embryo left over from the IVF we did.”
Beau shrugged his shoulders. “And?”
“And…“ My non-throbbing hand rubbed against the stubble on my chin. “I signed over my rights to it in the divorce. It was hers to decide what to do with.”
His eyes went wide, and the color drained from his face.
“She got to decide…”
I nodded. “And earlier this year, she made the decision to try one more time for a baby. It took. Now she’s here?—”
“Now she’s here. Holy fuck.” Beau took a step towards me. “Please tell me you aren’t stupid enough to believe this. Please tell me you called the fucking clinic. That you asked for the records. That you’re getting a paternity test done!”
“I’m going to fucking punch you in the mouth again,” I warned. “I don’t need any of that.”
“Yes, the fuck you do! You’re so blinded by your love for her and this golden carrot she’s dangling in front of your face, that you can’t even see it! You think we haven’t noticed the sadness creeping back in after Jess had Beckett? That we didn’t see the way you pulled back into yourself because you were thinking of every time you lost your chance at fatherhood?”
“I haven’t?—”
“Save it. The others might want to tiptoe around you, but I don’t have the fucking temperament for it. Jesus, I want to shake you, Colt. Be fucking smart for one goddamn minute. Demand a test. Make sure you’re stepping up for the right reasons.”
“If you want a paternity test, I’ll be happy to do it.” I spun on my heel. Violet stood in the doorway, her jacket wrapped tightly around her body.
“Did you walk out here alone?” I growled.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking on my own.”
“I told you to wait inside for me.”
“The ranch is safe, Colt. And I’m glad I didn’t wait. If you feel like what Beau is saying has any possibility of being true, then I want to clear the air. I’ll have the test done.”
My jaw clenched. “I don’t. I know that baby is mine, and I don’t want to do anything that could hurt him, or you.”
She took a step closer to me, her eyes flicking to my brother before settling back on my face. “But he’s right. You shouldn’t just take me at my word. If it makes it easier, I’ll show you the paperwork from the transfer. It has all the dates on it, and our information. And the paternity test wouldn’t hurt me or the baby. It’s just a quick blood draw.”
I moved to her. “How would you know what a paternity test entailed?” I asked, cupping her cheek.
“I just thought you might ask. You have a right to, you know? And I’ll do it. No questions asked.”
“I don’t need it,” I sighed.
“You can think about it. Before things are complicated.”
Behind me, my brother chuckled, no humor in the sound.
“You got something to say?” I asked, whipping around to stare him down.
“Just feels like things are already complicated.”
“I swear, Beau?—”
“Could I have a minute with your brother?” Violet’s request hit me like a ton of bricks.
