17. Leah

CHAPTER 17

LEAH

I stand in Jack's office, my head buzzing. I knew he'd be surprised at the paternity test results, but I didn't expect him to run out of the room like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

He didn't even have a word to say to me. No "I'm sorry." No "I'm in shock."

Nope. He just cut and ran.

But why am I surprised? Jack does what he wants when he wants it, and communicating personal issues is probably at the bottom of his priorities.

I leave his office feeling heavy. Hearing the results did nothing for my ego. I don't feel like gloating, don't feel like rubbing it in Jack's face when I see him next.

Even though the truth has come out, I don't feel like I won at all.

Trudging down the hallway, I catch sight of the balcony with all the potted trees on it. It's empty, with everyone else probably at their desks.

Pushing the door open, I inhale the fresh air and take a seat on a bench. I don't feel like I can possibly dive back into work right now, so it seems like as good a time as any to call my grandparents and tell them (Surprise!) I'm pregnant with triplets.

It's a call I've been dreading, but I need to get it over with. I need to tell them before so much time goes by that it becomes awkward and they end up being hurt when I finally do tell them.

With shaky hands, I pull out my cellphone and call their house number.

"Hello?" my grandma answers.

"Hi, Gram," I say in a tone far more cheerful than I actually feel right now. "How are you?"

"Oh, honey! Is everything all right?"

"Yeah. Why?" I draw my legs onto the bench and sit cross-legged. It won't be long before I'm so pregnant and swollen I won't be able to sit like this at all.

"You're calling during work hours. We normally only hear from you at night."

"I'm taking a break. Supposedly they're good for your mental health." I force a laugh.

"Who is it?" Grandpa asks from somewhere in their house.

"Leah!" Grandma calls back.

"Ask her how working for that asshole is going."

"George," she admonishes him.

"What? I know how to use the internet. He's an asshole. Pushes all the little guys out of business."

I sigh. Oh, Grandpa. If only he knew.

Well, he will shortly. I can't keep what's happening in my life a secret forever.

"Leah?" Grandma prompts. "How is work?"

I hesitate. "It's… a lot. I actually called because I want to share some news."

"Oh. What is it?"

I suck in a deep breath. "I'm pregnant. With triplets."

The line goes silent.

"Did you hear me?" I chew on my bottom lip.

"I heard you, honey. Triplets?" Grandma's voice is trembling, and I can picture her clutching her chest in shock.

"Yep." I nod. "Triplets. And yes, I know this is a shock. Both the triplets part and the… whole pregnancy part. And I know what you're probably wondering. The father… he and I aren't together, and that's fine. I'm okay with it."

My eyes fill with tears. Yep, I'm completely okay with that.

"I see." Grandma's voice is measured, and I can practically hear the gears turning in her head. Surely, she wants to ask me a dozen more questions, but she's holding back. "Well, congratulations, Leah. This is wonderful news."

Grandpa chimes in. "Triplets, huh? You're going to have your hands full, girl."

I smile through my tears. They're doing their best to be supportive, but the old-fashioned people they are, they must be so shocked.

"Leah…" Grandma hesitates. "Honey, one baby is a lot, but three… What's your plan?"

I swallow hard. "I'll need a bigger apartment. And at least a part-time nanny."

"And the father will be paying child support?" Grandpa's voice has turned gruff.

"Yes." Of course I'll be getting child support from Jack. I'm on a good salary, but Olympus City is expensive. I can't hire help and raise three kids on what I'm pulling in.

"Who is he?" Grandpa asks.

I hear Grandma quietly shush him, but no doubt she's just as curious.

"He's…" Here's my chance. With this one conversation, I can get the whole truth out there and then be done with it.

Except I can't bring myself to do that. I know that as a modern woman, I should be holding my head high and that I technically haven't done anything wrong.

But I'm still embarrassed. This wasn't how I saw myself becoming a mother, and I'm still grieving too much to be confident.

Add in the part that the triplets' father is my boss, and it's just too much. I'm not ready to share that information with my grandparents. Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

"Uh, he's just a guy I met in the city." I can't think of a single lie to elaborate on it with.

"Just a guy you met in the city? And what does he think of all this? He'll be there for the kids, right?" Grandpa is clearly on the edge of his seat now.

My mouth is dry. "I don't know Grandpa. This is all so new."

No, Jack won't be there for the triplets. I already know that. I just can't bring myself to say it out loud.

"Don't overwhelm her," Grandma whispers.

Grandpa ignores her. "Leah, how about you consider moving back here? Your grandma and I, we don't have anything to do all day long. We could watch those babies while you go to work. You wouldn't have to spend a dime on a babysitter."

I close my eyes. The offer is tempting, for sure.

But there's GourmetGlobal. There's my career. I could work remotely, but it wouldn't be the same. I wouldn't be able to keep up with the competition the way I can here in Olympus City.

I've worked too hard for too long on my career to throw it all away.

"I don't think that'll be possible, Grandpa," I finally say. "I love you guys, and thank you for the offer, but I need to stay here."

There's a long pause on the other end before Grandpa speaks again. "Well, all right then. I guess you've got your mind set."

"I do."

"You can change it anytime," he says. "We're always here for you."

My eyes fill with tears. "Thank you," I whisper.

They're the only parents I've ever known. My dad was never around, and my mom died before I was one. If it weren't for my grandparents, who knows where I would have ended up.

I owe everything to them.

"I should go." I stand up. "Time to get back to work."

"Thanks for the call, honey," Grandma says. "Call us anytime."

"I will. I love you."

I hang up, feeling a bit better than before. So what if Jack won't be in the picture? After growing up without a father, that's not something I wish on anyone, but hey, I survived. Thrived, really.

I'm successful. I'm capable. Generally, I'm happy.

I'll be all right, and so will my kids.

I head back inside, watching for signs of Jack with each step. I don't pass by his office, though, so there's no way of telling if he's returned yet from storming off.

I enter the office to the sound of my desk phone ringing. It's some law firm I've never heard of.

Frowning, I hit the answer button. "This is Leah."

"Ms. Woodland, this is Carl Wallace from Gregson and Patterson."

"Hello." I take a seat, perplexed as to why a law firm is calling me. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm calling on behalf of our client, Jack Leadsom."

My stomach does a flip. Whatever this is about, if Jack is involved, it can't be good.

"All right." I sit straight, bracing myself for whatever is to come next.

"This is to inform you that from now on, all manners relating to the children you and Mr. Leadsom are to be sharing will go through our law firm. You are not to contact Mr. Leadsom directly on this issue."

My jaw drops. "Are you serious? We work together!"

"I understand that, Ms. Woodland. As you know, Mr. Leadsom is in a high-profile situation. All personal matters must be dealt with in the most delicate manner. As far as child support, as per state law, you will be receiving twenty percent of Mr. Leadsom's monthly income. This will begin at the end of this current month so as to cover any expenses in the prenatal period. Mr. Leadsom will be free from all obligations to provide for the children except financially."

I guffaw. Seriously? Jack couldn't tell me this himself?

"How nice of him," I say through tight teeth.

"I'm sure you are aware of Mr. Leadsom's financial situation," Carl Wallace continues. "Twenty percent of his monthly income is quite a hefty sum."

I collapse back into my chair. I can only imagine what kind of money we're talking about here. Enough to change mine and the triplets' lives. We could probably live anywhere we wanted. I could quit working and stay home with them full-time if I wanted.

But while money is important, it's not everything. And yet from Carl's voice, you would think I've won the jackpot, that I should be pleased to trade my children's chance at a father for a chunk of money.

"I will send over the documents for you to sign," Carl says.

I unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth. "All right."

What else can I say? This man is only doing his job. He doesn't care about how terrible of a person I think Jack is.

I hang up, my whole body feeling numb. I feel sick, bile rising in my throat.

Rushing to the trash can, I vomit into it. Even after there's nothing left for my stomach to expel, the dry heaves rack my body.

Closing my eyes, I sit on the floor, my back against the wall. I don't want to feel sorry for myself or these babies. After all, with the child support, we're now set for life. I should be grateful.

And yet I can't help but think about what we don't have. A loving partner to hold my hair back when I'm sick and to be by my side to welcome these babies into the world.

A man who will rock them to sleep and teach them to ride bikes when they get older. Someone dependable that they can always count on.

I know how it feels to grow up without a dad, how it leaves you wondering if you're not good enough and that's why he left.

But I won't let my children feel that way. I'll be everything they need and more. I'll be their rock, their protector, and their guide. And maybe, just maybe, someday they'll have a father figure in their lives.

But for now, I'll focus on the present. I'll take care of myself and my babies. I'll make sure they have everything they need, and I'll give them all the love in the world.

Standing up, I wipe away my tears and straighten my back. I won't let Jack ruin our lives. We'll be just fine without him.

This may not be the path that I chose, but it'll be the path that I excel at.