She Fell for Her Stepbrother, Then Found Out She Was Pregnant novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Walls

Caleb's POV

By Friday evening Whitaker's deadline had been on my back for eight hours.

Lena had shown me his photographs in her locked office, one at a time, with her thumb steady and her face white.

I had looked at the photograph of myself in the boathouse doorway and wanted to put my fist through the screen.

Then I had told her to go home, lie down and eat something, and let me handle my mother first.

She'd said, "I'll come with you."

I'd said no.

It was the wrong answer, and I knew it as I said it.

My mother's house in Bexley has a green door that sticks in wet weather.

I let myself in with my own key and found her in the kitchen, rolling out a pie crust, with flour to her elbows.

"You're early for Sunday," she said without turning around.

"Mom. I need to tell you something, and I need you to let me finish."

She set down the rolling pin.

She wiped her hands, slowly, on the dish towel.

Then she pulled out a chair at the table and sat, and I understood that she had been waiting for this for a long time.

I told her.

I told her about the hotel in Dayton, and the four rules, and the boathouse.

I told her Whitaker had pictures and a Monday deadline.

I told her last, because it was the part I couldn't get a steady voice around, that Lena was pregnant.

My mother did not move for what felt like a minute.

"How far along?" she said.

"Five weeks. Maybe six. She found out Thursday afternoon and told me that night."

"So you found out Thursday."

"Yes."

"And you told her you were glad."

"I told her I was terrified. Then I told her I wanted it."

She closed her eyes.

When she opened them, they were wet, and she was smiling.

"Oh, Caleb."

"You're not angry."

"I'm furious that you both thought you could hide it from me. I'm not angry about the rest." She reached across the table and put her floury hand over mine. "I know about you and Lena. I've known since the lake."

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