Her Baby Secret (Friends & Lovers Book 1) (11 page)

Chapter Nine

By the time dinner began, Devin was in a sour mood. After the nonstop lecture by his father and Quintin, he'd had to endure his mother's pleading for him to do the right thing. It didn't matter that he'd assured them that Robyn would say no. They were upset that he wouldn't even try. Quintin didn't nag as much as his own parents had but he did give Devin the third degree about why he'd crossed the line with Robyn in the first place. And that had just been awkward. His brother had silently watched, not saying anything at all, and for that Devin was relieved.

Devin sat at the table, trying to meet Robyn's eyes. When she looked at him, she gave him a small smile before looking down at her plate. She was eating a plain baked potato and broiled chicken. She couldn't indulge in any of the Christmas feast but he was glad she was eating. Warmth spread through him, imagining their child growing within her, and some of his ire was soothed away.

Keith walked into the dining room, shaking his head and sitting at the table next to Peyton.

“Did you get some work done?” Peyton asked, cutting some baked ham on Whitney's plate.

“I did,” Keith said, smiling and kissing Peyton on the cheek. “And I checked the weather. It looks like we'll be able to hit the road first thing in the morning although they said we're going to get some more snow.”

There were a few groans at the table and Keith shrugged his shoulders.

“I don't understand people working on Christmas,” Marjorie complained, lifting her wine glass and taking a sip.

“It was work I was supposed to get done in the office yesterday,” Keith explained to his mother-in-law. “But since I knew the storm was coming, I left work early. I could have saved it for tomorrow but I wasn't doing much today so I decided to get it over with.”

Marjorie nodded silently but Devin knew that she didn't get it. She'd come from an upper-class family and had never
had
to work. She and his mother had opened their restaurant together on a whim, basically because they were bored housewives who's children were nearly grown.

Devin had anticipated going back to work the following day but his boss had called to let him know that 50G Studios would be closed. Being that it was Christmas and so many people had traveled for the holiday, many were stranded out of town. Business would resume on Monday. Devin didn't bother thinking about how far behind the deadline that would push him and his team. They'd just have to work overtime to make up for the lost time.

“Times have changed,” Robyn was saying, “Plenty of people have children without being married.”

Devin wondered what he'd missed while letting his thoughts wander but quickly saw that his mother was the one putting Robyn on the spot.

“But we do not do that in
our
family,” Angelica said plaintively.

“Mami, not now,” Devin warned her. He'd already gone over all of this with his father and Quintin, and then again with his mother. To have her bring it up again was extremely frustrating and Devin was pissed off.

“You're leaving tomorrow,” Angelica said, her tone icy. “When should we talk about it, then?”

“We're adults, Angelica,” Robyn said, putting her fork down and folding her hands on the table top, looking very much like the teacher that she was. “We will decide what is best for us.”

“What about what's best for the baby?” Marjorie chimed in.

“
Mom!
” Robyn exclaimed, obviously offended. “Of course we're going to do what's best for the baby.”

“A child needs two parents,” Angelica went on.

“Our child has two parents,” Devin said impatiently. “Stop overreacting.”

His mother gasped indignantly. Seated halfway down the table, Grace snickered. Everyone else at the table looked either curious or uncomfortable.

Devin glared at his sister, then his mother.

“So my grandchild will have two rooms in two separate houses and wonder why his parents didn't love each other,” Marjorie said mildly. “Yes, I can see how that's what's best for him.”

Robyn put her head down in her hands and sighed heavily.

“And he will wonder why you two were good enough to screw each other but not marry each other,” Angelica said solemnly.

“What the...!” Peyton slapped her hands over Whitney's ears.

“Forgive me,” Angelica said, actually blushing.

Grace's shoulders shook with quiet laughter. Everyone else bit back grins.

“I can't believe this,” Devin muttered.

“Well, it's the truth,” Angelica said, shaking her head.

“Mami! ¡Cállate!” Devin snapped. He'd never told his mother to shut up before but if there was ever a time to do it, now was the time.

“Devin,” His father's voice boomed across the table. “Don't you ever speak to your mother like that.”

“She's the one that started this,” Devin said accusingly. “This is a private matter that should just be between me and Robyn and she's made it a group discussion.”

“Mi propio hijo,” Angelica whispered, looking hurt.
My own son.
“Faltar el respeto a su madre.”
Disrespecting his mother.

“Enough!” Elena said. “Let us have dinner. The discussion can resume later.”

Devin's appetite was gone and he didn't even try to pretend to eat. He would have left the table but he didn't want them to gang up on Robyn again.

It was so quiet that the only sounds were the whispers of everyone's breathing. Robyn pushed her plate away, having only eaten a few bites. He got even madder when he thought about how enthusiastically she'd began her meal. Now her appetite was gone. Thanks to his mother's nagging.

“I raised you to do better,” Angelica said and Devin was ready to pop.

“Let it go,” He said, glaring.

“Angelica,” Jared said, grabbing her hand. “Stop it.”

“Enough!” Robyn yelled.

Whitney covered her mouth with her hand, looking scared. “Auntie...”

“It's okay, sweetie,” Peyton said, stroking a hand over her daughter's head.

“Not that it's anybody's business,” Robyn said, standing, “But I don't want to marry Devin. And he doesn't want to marry
me
. But we are planning to live together. I will be moving into his house shortly. So please, leave it alone. That's as good as your going to get.”

Robyn stormed out of the dining room, visibly upset. Grace stood up, stared at everyone, and ran out of the room too. Devin looked at little Whitney, who stared around the room with wide eyes. He looked back to his mother.

“I hope you're happy,” Devin said grimly. “You've made her upset.”

His mother looked like she might cry but Devin was too mad to care. He walked out of the room and went up the stairs to look for Robyn. How could today be one of the happiest days of his life but also be so damn aggravating? He was sure that later, after he'd calmed down and thought about everything, that he'd be relieved that Robyn had announced to everyone that she was going to live with him. But for now he was so mad that he really couldn't think straight. He hoped that Robyn wasn't too distressed from all the bullshit.

Robyn got into her bed and pulled the covers over her head, so upset that she was surprised no tears would come. Perhaps she was all cried out. Perhaps it would hit her a lot later. No matter, she was just thankful she wasn't crying. She felt a very distinct pang from her and Devin's parents' disapproval. Sitting through that confrontation had been brutal, and with so many witnesses too. Still, it had gone a lot better than all the scenarios that she'd imagined in her head. No wonder her heart continued pounding.

A knock sounded at the door and Robyn thought about ignoring it but knew that would be immature to do. She pulled the covers off of her head.

“Who is it?”

“Devin,” Came his low reply.

“I really don't want to talk about this anymore, Devin,” She said without getting up. She'd just had to shoo Grace away, telling her that she needed to be alone.

“Fine,” He said. “We don't have to talk.”

“I'll see you in the morning,” Robyn insisted, turning from her back to her side, staring at the door. She almost expected it to swing open although she'd locked it.

“Let me in, Robyn,” Devin said firmly. “Like it or not, we're in this together...whatever that involves. We have to start sticking together.”

She bit her lip and slowly sat up. What he said was the truth. And she'd be childish to ignore him.

“And besides,” He went on as she slowly approached the door, “It's the least you owe me for not telling me about the baby for a whole month.”

She opened the door, instantly irritated.

“You ass,” Robyn muttered, glaring at him before walking back to the bed. “I told you why I didn't tell you about the baby.”

He closed and locked the door, then leaned against it, folding his arms over his broad chest. She tried not to notice the way the muscles in his arms moved when he folded them.

“But we just saw each other on Monday,” Devin said. “Why didn't you just tell me, knowing that we were going to see each other on Christmas just a few days later?”

“How could I tell you anything?” Robyn asked, impatiently. “When I saw you, you weren't alone. You were with Casey.”

He shook his head sadly. “I thought I was spending time with a friend. Obviously I was wrong about her.”

“Anyway,” Robyn went on, deciding to be fully honest. “I wasn't planning on telling you or anyone...not for awhile. It's all so overwhelming. I guess I was being a punk and I didn't want to deal with it just yet.”

“Deal with it? Is that how you see our child?”

“I don't mean the baby,” Robyn replied crossly. “I mean
this
. The discussions and arguments and judgments. The pressure and expectations. It's too much.”

He walked over to her and sat beside her on the bed. He picked her hand up and held it in his, gently squeezing. Unbelievably, a ripple of pleasure ran down her spine.

“But I'm glad the truth is finally out,” Robyn went on, feeling unsettled. “It was very hard keeping the baby a secret.”

Devin lifted their clasped hands to his mouth and gently kissed the back of her hand. Another ripple ran through her and she felt goosebumps rise up on her skin. She pulled her hand away as her breasts began to ache. She tried to keep a straight face as she walked to the desk and sat down, but damn him; he knew the affect he had on her. He gave her a knowing smile and remained on the bed.

“I thought you said we didn't have to talk,” Robyn pointed out, needing a break from everything.

“We don't.”

“So stop talking.”

“Fine.” He grinned. Damn, he was gorgeous.

She reached for the remote and turned on the big, flat screen TV. After flipping through half the channels, she settled on some action movie, hoping that would appease him for the time being. She excused herself to go use the bathroom, her overactive bladder becoming a nuisance. When she returned, he'd kicked off his shoes and leaned back against the headboard. He didn't look in her direction at all, just focused on the movie.

Wordlessly, Robyn gathered her toiletries and pajamas and left her bedroom to go take a shower. Angelica stood in the hallway, her beautiful face in a tense frown.

Robyn pulled the bedroom door closed, not wanting Devin and his mom to have another confrontation. She'd had enough of the ugly mess for one night. If Angelica thought she was going to start with her judgment again, Robyn would politely walk away.

“Robyn,” Angelica said immediately, rushing towards her. “I need to speak with you.”

“Okay...” She stood stiffly, trying her best to appear calm although she was starting to tense up.

“I'm sorry,” Angelica said, looking sad but also sheepish. Robyn instantly began to relax. “I know I'm old fashioned but I always thought that my grandchildren would be born to happily married parents. I'm sorry I behaved so horribly. Please forgive me.”

“Of course,” Robyn said, offering her brightest smile.

“Come, let's talk,” Angelica said, taking Robyn's hand. “I won't keep you long. I see you're about to take a shower.”

Robyn walked with Angelica to the orange room, which was a lovely orange and cream room. Angelica and Jared always used that very room each time they stayed for an overnight visit. Robyn sat with Angelica on a small cream colored couch and folded her hands in her lap.

Although she knew that Angelica wasn't about to berate her anymore, she was still cautious about not revealing too much to the older woman.

“How are you feeling?” Angelica asked. “I'm sorry I ruined your dinner.”

“I'm fine,” Robyn assured her. “And don't worry. I was finishing up anyway. I haven't been able to each much.”

“I can see you've lost weight. I thought you were just on a diet. Not that you needed to be dieting,” Angelica hurriedly added. “I never suspected that you were pregnant.”

“No one did,” Robyn acknowledged ruefully. “Everyone assumed that I was single, therefore I could not have possibly been who Elena was talking about.”