Conception (The Wellingtons #4) - Tessa Teevan Page 0,119
question.
“Katherine, I’m just looking out for our boy.”
“Hmmph.”
I should respond before Dad’s foot goes any farther into his mouth and he ends up sleeping in the pool house tonight.
Mom sighs with relief when I laugh. “Calm down, you two. Don’t fight on my account.”
“Knox, he didn’t mean it,” Mom answers.
“Don’t presume to speak for me, woman!”
“Did you just call me woman?!” she shrieks.
“You heard me. And you like it!” he insists with force.
Holy fucking hell. I have to get out of this.
“If you both don’t shut up, I’m hanging up the phone!” I shout, wincing as my voice echoes down the hall. So much for keeping the call private.
Dad clears his throat. “Apologies, son. You were saying?”
“The answer is no. Amelia isn’t trying to trap me. Branson is definitely mine.”
“Branson?”
Fuck. I do not want to have this conversation right now.
“Yeah, Dad. I’m not getting into right now.” Or ever, I think. “She didn’t know about the family name. She’d already named him. After her father.”
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. Then it’s Mom to the rescue. “I think that’s sweet, Knox.”
“Yeah. Me too,” I respond, realizing as I say it that I actually mean it. Plus, if I have my way, and I seldom don’t get it, we’ll have more children in the future and one of them can be my namesake. The Wellington namesake.
That’s when it hits me. What the hell last name did Amelia give Branson?
My chest constricts, panic bubbling up at the thought that he may not be a Wellington. I can’t get off the phone quick enough. I have to get Sunny out of here. Amelia and I need to have this conversation. It hadn’t crossed my mind before, but now that it has, I need answers.
Because he may not have my first name, but my kid better have my goddamn last name.
“Listen, I’ve got to run. I need to make sure Amelia’s comfortable and that the baby doesn’t need anything.”
There comes Mom’s wistful sigh again. “Knox?”
“Yeah, Mom?”
“Before you go, I just wanted to say…I don’t know this woman, but I can hear the change in your voice. The pride. The love. We’re incredibly happy for you. We can’t wait to meet her and our grandson.”
“Thanks, Mom. As soon as she’s up for visitors, I’ll let you know.”
“And, Knox,” my dad says. “Don’t worry about work. Take a few weeks off to figure out your future. We’ll be waiting for you when you decide what’s the next step for you.”
I close my eyes, struggling to imagine a future where I don’t go back to Wellington. Where I don’t spend my life by my father’s side, continuing to build the franchise. Where I don’t have my own son who’s raised learning the ropes in hopes of one day taking over.
But I also can’t imagine a future without Amelia.
“Appreciate it, Dad. Amelia and I have a lot to discuss. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Love you, son.”
“Yeah, love you, Knox.”
“Thanks, guys. Love you too.”
Just as I’m about to hang up, I hear my brother’s distant voice.
“Hey, Jaclyn said Knox is on the phone. Did he get Amelia back?”
Mom’s coy voice comes over the line. “That and then some.”
Click.
The line goes dead.
After placing the phone back on the receiver, I brace my hands against the kitchen counter. I really should pick my battles, but when it comes to my son, my firstborn, this is one I have to take on. One I have to win. I also know I can’t push Amelia too fast too soon.
What do I want more? Amelia or my son having my last name?
Fuck, I want both. And one comes with the other, unless I push her away.
I have to approach with caution and not end up with a bottle indent on my forehead.
Just as I turn to walk down the hall to Amelia’s—our—bedroom, Sunny saunters into the kitchen. She leans back against the wall, folding her arms across her chest, eyeing me. I can’t read her expression. Not that I care. I’m getting impatient with all this time away from Amelia. Knowing I need Sunny as an ally, though, keeps me glued to my spot against the kitchen counter. I take a long drag of my beer then set the empty bottle on the counter.
“You make a cute kid,” she offers, the mask still in place. Which, with Sunny, is odd, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen her without a smile.