446 Secrets in the Cottage
(Winona)
I've spent the last hour booking flights, organizing the kids' documents, and triple-checking every detail. The tickets are locked in-direct to the States, first class, in three days.
I figure we just get it done instead of stopping and starting. After Jayden's texts last night, the sooner the better. His concern over Judy's obsession with getting Abby and Henry off me, aren't misplaced. Judy has always wanted Abby to herself and Jayden. No doubt that extends to Henry, being Jayden's blood. She and Ashlyn tried to make me look unfit to be a mother. Almost happened too. For a while Abby lived with her. I cannot let that happen again.
In the states I have the no-contact order in place. Here, is a different story. If I was in doubt about traveling before, I'm not now. Dr. Klein has said sooner rather than later for the baby and Dr. Green has echoed that in an email. Anyway, the flights are booked and I'll have top medics with me.
The doorbell rings, pulling me from my thoughts. My heart skips a beat, but I push the paranoia aside. It's broad daylight, and Judy is in London.
When I open the door, Cass is standing there, duffle bag slung over her shoulder, her signature black-on-black style back in full swing.
"Cass?" I blink, startled. "Oh My God! What are you doing here?!"
"Surprise," she says with a smirk, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. Her bag hits the floor with a thud, and she takes in the room with a quick glance. "Hugo sent me in a car. Thought you might be happy to see me." "I am! Of course, I am!" I pull her into a tight hug. "I tried to call you and I messaged so many times. I've been so worried."
"Lost my phone. I should have let you know somehow. But you know me."
"I do. How long have you been traveling." I look her up and down. She's thin.
"A couple of weeks. But I made it."
"I'm so glad you did, but... I'm about to leave."
Cass steps back, her eyes narrowing as she notices the kid's suitcases. "What? Why?"
"Come on, you must be starving. Let me fix you something." I want to tell Cass everything, but we aren't alone at the moment. I have staff helping us pack up and clean the cottage. "Nice try. What's going on, Sis?"
I glance toward the hallway, listening for any signs of the staff. "Let me grab some tea," I say, stalling. I can tell her I'm leaving Jayden, but she will argue it out with me.
Her eyes narrow. "You're acting weird. Spill."
"I'm just so happy to see you." I nod to Cass. "Ladies, take a lunch break. My sister is here for a surprise visit." I call down the hallway.
Four staff file out.
Once I'm certain we're alone, I sit across from her. My voice almost a whisper. "Cass, I need you to promise me something. What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room. It doesn't even leave your head okay?" Her expression shifts. "Okay. I promise."
"Judy has spies around here. I have to be careful." I take a deep breath, my hands tightening around the edge of the table. "Jayden and I are having a baby."
"What! How?!.... I mean.. I know how, but I thought that could never happen?"
"It happened. But it's high risk for the baby and me. I'm heading home to my doctors and to get some distance between me and Judy."
"Judy came here. Mia said she was away, but I never suspected she'd come here. I would have told you."
"I know. Look, it's a very long story.
But Jayden is going to bring her down while I'm away and then we'll look at where we are, but to everyone else this is a legitimate split for us." en
"What do you mean, see where you're at? You two are stupidly happily married."
I look down.
"Winona, what's happened?"
"You remember hall pass week?"
"Of course."
"I had sex with two other men."
"Okay...oh wait, is Jayden not the father?"
"No, I mean yes, he is. I checked but... he knows who I had sex with and we had a huge fight."
"Wait... he knew what hall pass meant, right?"
"Yes. But it's more that he found out who, from pictures he got sent."
"Right. So...?"
She looks at me questioningly.
"It was Phillip... and Lance."
"Fuck me! You really know how to double down, don't you?"
"So Jayden gets the photos on his way here so I can tell him I'm pregnant. The first person he
Lance on a surprise visit with
"Oh boy."
is
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"Lance barely survived his attack and then Jayden and I had the worst fight ever, he said Judy was right about me all along."
"Stop, this has more layers than a parfait."
"Anyway, now we're sorting that after we have Judy out of our lives."
"Oh yep. On the twelfth of never, then."
"We have to try, Cass. Jayden says Judy is still talking about him getting Henry and Abby off me. I need to get home and Jayden will keep Judy here while they work on getting something solid on her."
"And what if he can't?"
"I can't think that far ahead. Any stress, any rise in blood pressure can be life and death for me and the baby."
Cass pulls me into her arms. "Oh sis, this is so amazing and so sucky at the same time."
"I know right? You're here and now I'm going. You can come back with us."
Cass frowns and I can see she has something on her mind too.