“Darling, it’s so nice to see you,” my mother chimes, pulling me in for a hug. “I’ve been so worried about you since that awful, awful occurrence.”
Trust my mum to call it an “occurrence.”
“I’m fine,” I answer, pulling away. “Dad’s been looking after me.” I look over to Richard, and he’s smiling at me. My mother does the same to him.
“I’m so happy you two have finally patched things up. You don’t know how much it means to me to see you two together—happy and getting along.”
I smirk at him. “Yeah. Dad and I have been getting along really well. Haven’t we, Dad?”
Those intense eyes are on me again. Ones that say he wants to both throttle me and fuck me at the same time.
“Yes, we have.” Once his glare is off me, he looks at my mother, and his whole appearance changes from hard to soft. It’s amazing how much of a difference there is in how his features look when he’s not so menacing. I like his menacing face, though. It’s … sexy.
“I see you’re still growing your beard, Richard. It suits you.”
I smile at my mother. She’d drop her knickers for him in a heartbeat. That thought alone makes me horny because I know for a fact he couldn’t care less. His interest in her went out the window when I came along and he became determined to hate me. Over time, his hate changed into lust, which finally morphed into sheer obsession. I can understand that now as an adult. He made me the same way.
Like father, like daughter.
Richard runs his hand over his messy, but sexy beard. “You think so?” he asks, making me smile. “Scarlet likes it too.”
My mum turns her head to me, so I nod. “Yeah, I love it. I think it really suits him.” When she snaps her head away, I wink at Richard before licking my lips. Despite his warning glare telling me to behave, I know he secretly loves this shit.
“Come,” my mother finally says, shooing us further into the house. “Amber’s just dying to see you both and so are David and Porter.”
When I see the scowl on my dad’s face at the mention of David, I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. He knows full well that David has a thing for me, and he doesn’t like it. Not one little bit. Not to mention the fact that he knows Porter and I have fucked.
No wonder he called me a slut.
Inwardly, I sigh. It’s only what he made me in the end. Every time I slept with someone, it was a big “fuck you” to my dad.
We all stroll into the living room where I see David sitting on one sofa and Amber and Porter on the other. When they all see us, they smile and rise out of their seats.
“Scarlet!” Amber says, rushing into my arms. It’s all fake, though. She secretly doesn’t care that I’ve been attacked and raped. I feel it in her arms when she hugs me. I know I’m jealous of Amber. I can admit that. But I believe she’s jealous of me, too. I just don’t quite know the reason why.
“How are you feeling?” Amber pulls away, looking into my eyes for an answer.
“I’m a lot better thanks to Dad.”
As soon as I mention him, she looks to Richard, and her attention is instantly all over him. “Dad,” she says, rushing to him, and I know that when she puts her arms around him that it’s genuine. “How are you feeling now?”
Richard pulls away from her, smiling adoringly at her as he strokes her hair. “I’m a lot better now, sweetheart.”
I will that bitter anger down and try to keep it from rising. I’m better than this. Still, it doesn’t stop me from playing it for all it’s worth when David comes over, offering me a nice, genuine hug. I accept him with opens arms, allowing all my affection to pour into him and only him.
“I’ve been worried about you,” he whispers into my ear.
“I’ve been fine, but thanks for asking.”
“But what about him?” he asks, and I know full well he’s talking about Richard.
“He’s been fine. In fact, he’s been looking after me since what happened. It’s almost like seeing me getting attacked has put a new spin on things with him. He’s being more attentive.” I try my hardest to whisper all of this, but with an audience, it’s difficult. Luckily, Amber’s too busy chatting away to hear anything. It doesn’t stop Richard from staring daggers into us, though.
“What would you like to drink?” My mother asks me.
I’m about to answer when Richard chimes in, “Just a Diet Coke for Scarlet.” He beams at me as I scowl back at him. Soon, though, I’ll have the last laugh.
My mother snaps her head from Richard to me. “Why can’t you drink? Are you on antibiotics or something?”
I completely floor Richard when I answer, “No, it’s not that. In fact, I have news. I’m pregnant.”
Now, it’s Richard’s turn to offer the death stare. I bet he never expected that in a million years.
“Pregnant?” Amber repeats with a look of complete shock on her face. “But … but … how? I thought you were a lesbian? Unless …” she looks at Porter before turning her head back to me again. “You said you had your period.”
I almost laugh at my dad’s expression when Amber says this. I can see the hope in her eyes, but I’m about to dash it. I did get my period, but I got it earlier than I said I did.
“I did. I’m sorry, but getting pregnant was totally unexpected.”
Amber suddenly runs out of the room. “I need a minute,” she says before disappearing. Porter diligently follows after her.
I turn my attention back to my mother and David. They both look so confused. “Do you mind telling me what just happened there?” my mum asks.
Acting nervous, I wring my hands together. All a show. “I feel really badly about this. A couple of months ago, I agreed to be a surrogate for Amber and Porter’s baby. The first attempt failed, and I never got round to doing a second. I slept with someone. I didn’t think I’d get pregnant, but I did.”
My father’s face is a picture. No doubt he’ll be angry with me for withholding the implications of this information from him.
“I … I don’t know what to say,” Mum says, sitting down on the sofa. She looks away in shock before turning her head to me. “Who’s the father?”
I look to Richard, who still looks floored by my news. “It was someone I knew from a long time ago. I didn’t mean for anything to happen. It was a stupid one-night stand. I normally use protection, but I must have been so drunk that I forgot. I could have sworn he used a condom, but I guess he didn’t. I was stupid and should have checked.”
My mother swallows before turning her attention to the door that Amber left through. “Now I understand why Amber’s so upset.”
“I honestly didn’t do this on purpose. I would have waited to say something, but Dad kind of spoilt that.”
Mum looks up to Richard, who’s obviously trying to compose himself. “You knew about this?”
Clearing his throat, he nods. “Yes. I was there when she took the test.”
“What about the guy who … the one who … attacked you?” she asks, finally getting the words out.
I shrug. “It’s a possibility, but an extremely slim one. That happened only a little over a week ago, and he never had a chance to … you know.”
“But what if it is his? Are you okay with raising a baby whose father … did what he did to you?”
Purposefully, I look down. I need their pity right now as the last thing I want is the blame for getting pregnant when I agreed to be Amber’s surrogate. The more I think about it, the more I could kick myself for not going down this avenue where Reid is the father. At least then they’d think the baby was conceived by rape and not because I was merely careless.
“I can’t have an abortion. Not again.”
“Again?” David asks.
I would have thought my mother would have told him, but obviously not. “I had an abortion when I was sixteen.”
David’s head immediately turns to my father. The rage on his face doesn’t go unnoticed—especially not by Richard. My dad fixes him back with a murderous glare before David eventually turns his attention back to me. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he finally says with sympathy in his voice.
“Even if the baby is from the rape—which is a possibility—I still have to raise him or her no matter what. It’s not the baby’s fault how he or she was conceived.”
My mother suddenly sobs, “Oh, Scarlet, you’re so brave!”
I smile despite myself. I guess having a rapist as the father is an avenue I need to push. At least that way Amber won’t think me the devil incarnate.
“It’s what I will have to live with,” I say with a sigh, thinking modesty is best at this time.
“And I will help raise the baby with her,” my father says, walking over to me and offering an arm over my shoulder.
My mother smiles at this. “We all will, dear. No matter what, we’ll get through this together. The baby will be loved whether he or she has a father or not.”
I smile. “I know. I’m so lucky I have such a great family, and I’m grateful that you all want to be there for me.”
I want to vomit.
Getting up from her seat, my mother closes the distance and grabs my hand. “I’ll go talk to Amber. She’ll understand once I tell her.”
I’m surprised when she says this. Maybe I have an ally in my mother after all. Despite knowing that Reid most probably isn’t the father, I know that’s what she’s going to tell Amber anyway. I was raped, and now I’m pregnant with the rapist’s baby. Therefore, Amber can’t be mad at me anymore.
“Thanks,” I say, squeezing her hand.
“Don’t mention it,” she says back. “We’re only just starting to become a family again, and I know this would devastate Amber. What she doesn’t know won’t harm her.”
“Agreed,” my dad says, chiming in.
Mum looks at Dad, beaming at him. “Well, it’s settled then.” She points to the door. “I’ll be back in a few. David, if you wouldn’t mind getting those drinks?”
“Of course,” he says, smiling before looking back at me and Richard. I can see his reluctance to leave, but he knows he has no choice. When he faces me, I offer him a soft smile to let him know I’m okay. That’s when he turns to leave.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Richard growls, walking towards me.
I smile. “Where would the fun have been in that?”
“You fucking bitch. You let me think Porter could have been the father of my baby. It is my baby, isn’t it?”
For the first time ever, my father looks rather vulnerable. I nod. “Yes. You are the only possibility.”
He scrutinises me with his eyes. “I’m still going to get you tested.”
I feign hurt. “I’m crushed. You seriously just hurt my feelings, Dad. Despite what you think of me, I’m not that bad.”
He’s about to say something when David strolls back in with a Diet Coke and a generous shot of whiskey for my dad. He didn’t even have to ask him. David already knows that whiskey is his drink of choice.
An air of awkwardness suddenly ensues. It’s so bad that I’m actually glad once my mother, Amber, and Porter emerge from the other room and join us. Amber’s wiping her tears as Porter comforts her. When she looks up, she locks her eyes with mine. “I’m sorry about running out like that. It was selfish of me. I should have known you’d be suffering. I guess not getting pregnant is taking its toll on me.”
I smile softly towards her. “I completely understand, Amber, so please don’t apologise.” I bet it sickens her that she’s had to. I step towards her. “Listen, I know things haven’t quite worked out the way we wanted them to. If it helps, we won’t talk about the baby at all. In fact, I think I would like to avoid it for a while until the shock settles in. I only just found out today, and I’m still trying to process everything myself.”
Amber sniffles into a tissue before nodding. “I completely understand.”
“Thanks,” I answer, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She looks up to me with a smile before walking towards Richard and throwing her arms around him. “Dad,” she says, seeking out his comfort. I don’t want it to, but that ugly green-eyed monster surfaces again. It doesn’t help when he seems to play it for all it’s worth. I see the way he looks at me when I watch them both. He has this knowing smirk, and he seems to be doting on Amber even more than he normally would just because he knows that it winds me up.
Fuck him.
Fuck both of them.
“Excuse me,” I say, walking towards the door. “I just need to use the bathroom.” A bathroom I currently want to vomit in.
And I do just that.