Chapter Thirty-Two
Serena
When there is a knock at Ashley’s door forty-five minutes after my call with Cade, I jump. Since his call, my cell has rung six times, all calls from unknown numbers that I send directly to voicemail. Paparazzi were already camped out at my home when I got the call from the dean, as well as Gus, that they were on campus.
I hurried out of my own home that morning carrying Alan with a blanket thrown over him as they shouted questions at me. On the drive to Ashley’s, I was convinced we were being followed and made erratic turns to get here.
Now, I’m simply paranoid and high strung as I tiptoe to Ashley’s front door and peered out the peephole. I let out a small sigh of relief to find only Cade standing there, and I open the door for him. He rushes inside and pushes the door closed, locking it behind him.
“Did they follow you?” I ask, looking out the peephole again.
“No, but I also don’t want to take chances, which is why I parked two blocks away. Are you okay?” he asks, gathering me to him and squeezing me tightly.
“They’re at my house, Cade,” I admit quietly.
“Serena, I am so sorry. I knew once it got out about us that they’d be interested in you, but I never thought this would happen, that they would be such damn vultures. On the bright side, I met Gus. I can see why you like him. He’s a real nice guy.”
“He called me this morning to let me know what was going on, but the dean had already called.”
“He told me. Still, it was nice of him to be thinking of you like that.”
“Yeah.”
“Where’s Ashley?”
“At her studio. There’s a show this weekend, so she had last minute details to attend to. She didn’t want to go, but I told her we’d be fine here.”
Cade glanced around and led me into Ashley’s living room. We sank onto her couch together, and I let him continue to hold me. “How is Alan?”
“Thankfully, he doesn't understand any of this. He’s napping right now in Ashley’s room.”
He nods. “I can't apologize enough, Serena. You didn’t sign up for this.”
“It’s okay, Cade. It’s not your fault. I mean, it’s not like you called them up and said, ‘hey guys, here’s where I’ll be tonight.’”
He sighs and leans forward, rubbing his face in his hands. “No, but I’m pretty sure Josephine tipped them off.”
“Your ex-girlfriend Josephine? But how would she know where we were going?”
“I think maybe she hired someone to follow me.”
“Like a private detective?” I ask.
“Yeah...”
I feel the blood drain from my face and must turn white, because Cade’s eye grow wide and immediately hugs me to him, whispering soothingly. Josephine might not figure it all out, but a private investigator definitely would. Now, more than ever, I need to tell Cade the truth, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to see where anything good is going to come out of it. I am feeling backed into a corner at this point. I want to keep my secret and my happiness, but good things cannot last forever.
I take a deep calming breath and pull back from him. “Why would Josephine do that?”
Cade shrugs. “I guess no matter how many times I tell her that she and I are over and she needs to move on, she’s just not getting it. I know she can be high maintenance and high strung sometimes, but I never thought she’d get so unhinged over this. She has to accept that this is how things are now, and she has to understand that she cannot exploit Alan like that. To bring a child into it was uncalled for.”
“It’s just one picture, maybe it will blow over?”
“Maybe, but probably not. You have to know I never wanted Alan to be exposed to this, to be the subject of such gossip. I am truly sorry for that.”
“I know, Cade,” I say, squeezing his hand in what I hope is a reassuring manner.
“Maybe it’ll just blow over, and they’ll move on to the next story soon. They’re like sharks, circling for blood. Some bigger story is going to pop up, and they’ll be gone and they’ll leave us alone.”
“I don’t know that they will ever just leave us alone, Cade.”
“There is another option,” he says carefully.
I look at him with interest. “What’s that?”
“We could release a statement through my publicist, make this a non-story.”
“What do you mean? How could we make this a non-story?”
“Well, what about Alan’s dad?”
I sit up and feel myself go into defensive mode. “What about him?” I say more harshly than I mean.
Cade holds his hands up. “Whoa, pull back there, mama bear. I’m just asking, do you know where he is?”
“Yes.” For once, I am not lying to him about Alan’s father.
“Okay, well, he’s not involved; has he terminated his parental rights?”
“No, he hasn’t.”
“Do you think he would give a statement that he is Alan’s father and that you have full custody? He could even remain anonymous.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Cade,” I tell him as I stand, beginning to pace Ashley’s small living room.
“Why not?” he asks, standing and blocking my path.
“It’s just not.”
“Wait. Does he even know?” he questions me point blank.
I don’t answer him.
“Serena, if he doesn't know, don’t you think he should?”
“Yes,” I whisper, staring at the floor, not able to meet his eye.
“Alan’s three so you were pregnant a little more than that ago. You’ve told me there have only been a few men in your life so the options are limited. How long ago was it?”
I turn away from him. “I found out March, three years ago,” I tell him softly.
“After we met?”
“Yes.”
I can hear the gears working with my admission. “Serena,” Cade finally says, “how many men were you with after me?”
I pull in a breath, hoping it will calm me. It doesn’t. “None,” I reply.
“And when was the last guy before me?”
“Months.”
“Serena,” he says, touching my shoulder and spinning him to face me. I look up at him slowly, feeling the tears burn my eyes. “Is Alan mine?” he whispers.
“Yes,” I murmur as the tears fall.