Chapter Forty-Eight

I had chosen not to tell Cullen the real reason why he had been taken to the doctor’s office yesterday morning. Instead, I chose to let him think it was a routine visit. He hadn’t questioned it, and I was thankful. I didn’t want him to worry. He was four, and I wanted him to get to be a child.

His birthday party was in two days, and he was excited about it. I was torn between the pleasure of hearing him talk about his party and the fear of the test coming back with news I did not want to hear. I caught myself studying Cullen’s features closely, trying to find something that reminded me of Decker but I couldn’t.

Cullen laughed loudly at Rio, who was asking him questions about the different Spider-Mans. He was as confused as I was about it. He had been clinging to Rio today. I knew it was because of him not being here the nights I had been mad at him.

He was attached to Rio, and if things ever did go bad with us, then he was going to hurt. I wasn’t sure if I could have helped it though. Not falling in love with Rio had been hard when I thought a part of me had always loved him.

Rio glanced back at me then and winked. The butterflies in my stomach woke up, and I felt my cheeks warm. I was as attached to him as Cullen. Rio was a charmer. I watched him attract people, not even meaning to do it. At work, I often caught myself getting jealous over the way women reacted to him.

I finished cleaning up the mess we had all made while making breakfast this morning. Rio had talked me into staying home today with Cullen. We would get a call about the results at any moment, and he didn’t want me at work when it happened. Instead, we had made plans to have a big breakfast, which we had, and go to the park. Maybe even visit the candy store later.

I glanced at the clock on the microwave, and it was almost ten. I twisted the towel in my hand as I stared at it, wondering how I would keep from breaking down if I was told Decker was in fact Cullen’s father.

Rio’s hands slid around my waist and held me against his chest. “It’s going to be okay,” he told me.

I tried to nod, but I couldn’t. It wouldn’t be okay if I had to fight for Cullen. Nothing about that would be okay. I didn’t say that though because I did not want Cullen to hear me.

The phone rang, and I jerked as if it had slapped me instead. Rio reached for it and handed it to me. I took it from him. My entire body was shaking. I held his gaze as I answered the phone.

“Hello?” I said over the lump in my throat.

“May I speak with Bryn Wallace, please?” the lady on the other line said.

“This is she,” I replied, my voice trembling.

“Ms. Wallace, the results of the paternity test for Cullen have returned,” she began.

I wanted to yell at her to tell me. I knew why she was calling.

“And?” I prompted.

“Decker McGiven is not the father.”

I thanked her, I thought. The tears that filled my eyes as I ended the call made it hard to see. Setting the phone down on the counter, I felt as if the fifty-ton weight on my chest had been lifted. I could take a deep breath again.

Rio took both my hands, and I knew he was waiting on me to tell him.

I smiled through my tears of relief, and his entire body relaxed as he pulled me to him, hugging me.

“He’s not the father. For once, my sister told me the truth,” I said against his chest.

Rio ran his hand over my head and back, and he let out a long sigh.

“What’s wrong with Aunt Bryn?” Cullen asked as his little hand pulled on the hem of my shirt.

I let go of Rio and bent down to pull Cullen into my arms and hold him. “Nothing. I am just very happy,” I assured him.

“Why are you crying if you’re happy?” he asked me.

“They are called happy tears. Sometimes, when you’re really happy, you cry because there is so much relief and joy inside you.”

Cullen stared at me with the frown that reminded me of his mother. “Okay, but that’s weird.”

Rio ruffled his hair and laughed. “Buddy, you have no idea how weird girls can get.”

Cullen looked up at him. “Yes, I do! Katie stuck a rock in her ear on the playground last week.”

I kissed Cullen’s head, then stood up.

“Let’s go to the park!” Cullen said.

“Then, go get ready,” I told him.

He hurried off, and I turned my attention back to Rio.

“That’s over,” I said more to myself than him.

He reached for my hand and threaded his fingers through mine. “During nap time, we can celebrate in the shower,” he said with a grin.

“I like that idea,” I replied as he tugged me in for a kiss.

Maybe life had decided it was time to give me a break. If Rio March was going to be the way my story ended, then it was going to be a happily ever after worth fighting for.