“No, but I am an investor. Carrie is an old friend.” My stomach tightens. I thought I was offered the job for my talent. It all reeks of Cooper and my mother. Is there any part of my life they won’t try to control?
“Chicago?” Mom raises a brow at me pretending to be unaware. I want to believe that it isn’t another attempt for them to control my life, but deep down I can feel that it was a setup.
“Yeah. I know how you feel about me finishing school, but I think it could be fun.”
“Paris is your dream. It’s all you used to go on about,” Theo interjects.
“I know but my plans have changed.” I touch my stomach under the cloak of the table. I have someone else to think about now. I can’t afford to be selfish. I have to do what will be best for my child. My heart squeezes tight and my thoughts drift to Killian. He wouldn’t want this though. He said he doesn’t want a kid.
Mom frowns. “You were talking about Paris all week.”
“I changed my mind. Gee. Why don’t you share your news, Mom?” I smile at her wanting the focus back off me.
“What news?” Theo stares at her and Cooper smirks.
Aw shit. Why did I open my mouth?
“Well, when we spoke on the phone you said you wanted Liri to meet Tanya and for us
to all be a family unit still…I thought tonight would be a good time to share that I’m seeing Cooper.”
“What?” Theo’s fist pounds on the table.
“Don’t act like you care. You always knew how I felt about her, and you married her anyway,” Cooper starts in.
“Are you still in love with your wife?” Tanya shrieks and pushes her chair back.
“Theo will always love me. I’m his first wife,” Mom says with a laugh.
What the hell is happening here?
Everyone starts yelling and my head starts to spin. I can’t stand all the fighting. “I’m pregnant,” I blurt out and everyone goes deathly still and quiet.
“I knew that boy was trouble.” Mom holds a hand to her mouth and starts to cry.
Theo’s face is so red I am afraid his head is going to pop off.
Cooper starts laughing and Tanya smiles at me. “Congratulations, sweetheart.”
“She’s not your sweetheart,” Mom snaps.
“It’s okay. We can work through this as a family.” Theo glowers at me, but I can sense he is trying to hold back his temper.
“There’s nothing to work through. I’m moving to Chicago, and I’m going to keep the baby. My baby.” Cooper may be the reason I got the offer, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take advantage of the opportunity.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t move to a new city alone and pregnant.”
“I’ll adopt the baby,” Theo announces.
“No. If anyone is taking my grandbaby to raise it’ll be me and Cooper.”
Have they all gone mad? “Stop. No one is taking my baby.”
“What about Killian?” Cooper questions.
“He doesn’t know. I’m not going to tell him.”
“That’s not fair of you.”