“Are you really pregnant?” he whispers, those blue eyes boring into mine. “Or did you make it up to distract Corey?”
I shake my head, tears springing to my eyes.
“It was no act,” I whisper. “I’m having your baby, Ed.”
The alpha male’s still for a moment, but then he rushes over and sweeps me into his strong arms before dropping kisses all over my face and neck.
“Thank you,” he breathes. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’ve wanted to be a father again for so long, but never thought I’d get a chance. Now you, sweetheart, have given me the best gift of all.”
Tears are pouring down my cheeks now.
“So you’re not angry?”
Ed seizes my mouth in a deep, devastating kiss.
“I’m not angry at all, sweetheart. Far from it. You and the baby are the world to me, and I’m overwhelmed with joy.”
“But what about Corey?” I ask in a trembling voice.
Ed goes still for a moment, but then he pulls me in closer.
“We’ll figure it out, Magnolia. Nothing is perfect, but my son has to grow up and realize that he’s not the center of the universe. He’s an adult now and his behavior was atrocious just now. But we will figure it out, you hear? I won’t let him hurt either you or the baby.”
With that, that dark head sweeps down to claim my lips once more, and I sigh with bliss against his mesmerizing touch. After all, Ed Sterling is my world, and with his baby in my tummy, I know that everything’s going to be alright.
11
Maggie
One week later.
Unfortunately, things didn’t end at Prom. Ed and I were confronted by several chaperones after exiting the classroom and it was obvious that they were suspicious. Now, we’re being called before the school board for what I hope will only be a stern dressing down.
Ed and I approach the auditorium, where the meeting’s being held. Usually, these things are closed door events, but because of the salacious nature of tonight’s agenda, they’ve decided to open this meeting up to the general public. Ugh. I’m not looking forward to this.
There’s a man moving his arms sideways like a traffic cop guiding people to the left and right.
"What’s that guy doing?" I ask the man next to me while squeezing Ed’s hand. The old gent shrugs.
“There’s an overflow crowd," he says. “I guess even the auditorium isn’t big enough, so they’ve set up a feed in the gym for people who won’t fit here.”
Fuck. Tears spring to my eyes, but Ed squeezes my hand.
"Don’t be surprised. This is juicy stuff for Cedar Toms but it’ll be over in a flash. You’ll see,” he growls.
A school officer directs me and Ed into the auditorium, and with a sinking heart, I see that it’s packed. The space is full of townspeople craning their necks to get a good look at us. Ed and I might as well be wearing scarlet A’s on our breasts. The only thing missing are painted faces and barrels of popcorn.
It’s sad too because I sense that a lot of people are out for blood. They want us to lose the big game, and to forget the shirts off our backs as well. We’re the bad guys in their eyes, even if their ever-changing moral compass seems to be spinning around in circles. This uprising could turn into a bloodbath.
We look around the room trying to find a seat but have no luck. Then, I see my sister Prim stand up, Huxley in her arms, waving us over. Thank god my sister saved two seats for us. I rush over.
"Thanks, Prim. I think we would have had to stand if you didn’t save these seats," I whisper as I kiss Huxley on the cheek.
“Of course,” she says in a staunch tone. “I’m here for you, Mags.”
"Thanks for coming, Prim," Ed adds as we both sit. Then, my older sister leans over and whispers in my ear, "Did you see Mom and Dad?"
"No. Where are they?"
"Don’t look now, but Victoria and Malcom are in the back, wringing their hands. They look like they’re going to vomit because they’re so worried about what’s going to happen to their standing at the country club with this new scandal.”
I stare at her.
“They’re not worried about me?”
Prim sighs.
“You know them. They are, but they’re even more worried about their reputations. You think they’d be over it, seeing how I was the runaway bride, but you’ll never change those two.”
Tears fill my eyes.
“Thanks, Prim. I’m glad that at least you’re here for support.”
My sister manages to give me a half-hug with the baby in her other arm.
“Of course. You know I love you. Barry too,” she says, referring to her husband. “But I’ve been through this before. Just suck it up and ride out the controversy while keeping your head up high. That’s all you can do right now."