Emily awoke in the unfamiliar surroundings of the guest room, its new colors confusing her but only for a moment. She blinked, and she knew where she was, who else was in the house and that today would change everything.
Today the results would be delivered, the news that she was either carrying Nolan or Daniel's child. She hated herself for not knowing who the father was, never in a hundred years had she thought she'd find herself in such a position. It was vulgar, it was irresponsible, it was...everything that Emily Thorne wasn't.
But then perhaps that's why it had happened. She hadn't been Emily Thorne since the fire. Ever since Nolan had brought her home, she had let her guard fall away, indulging in trust, in humor, in fun and in pleasure, all because her vengeance had found its quick end with the Graysons' exposure to the world.
That's why I let Daniel have me one last time - it was supposed to be goodbye, a close to everything that was before and a start to the new life...
And Nolan.
Emily could hear him moving about in the living room and kitchen, she covered her mouth to muffle her cries. That man wasn't her ally, he was her victim. How many times had he been hurt by her over the last year? How much more suffering could he stand?
She pressed her hands to her belly, her thoughts directed toward it, the tiny life within.
If you are Daniel's, I can love you with all I have...but Nolan doesn't have to pay for my mistakes anymore.
Emily stood and began to change her clothes, rallying herself to face the day, whatever it may bring.
When she emerged from her room, dressed in trim jeans and a lace top, Nolan was already sitting behind the bar. He looked tired; there were dark circles ringing his eyes and he was still wearing his clothes from the day before.
Nolan waved her over to join him at the bar and she could see why: there was a plain white envelope on the counter before him.
It's here already? I thought I'd have more time...
He glanced down to it, then back to her. "A courier just dropped this off. Do you want to open it or should I?" He asked, cutting to the chase.
Emily didn't trust her shaking hands. "I think you should."
Not arguing, Nolan stripped open the envelope and removed one sheet of folded paper. Emily watched as his eyes skimmed it, his expression stoney. After five seconds, very carefully, he refolded the paper and slipped it back into the envelope.
"Well, Ems, it seems that you are the proud new owner of the latest Grayson heir."
The ground tilted beneath her feet and Emily sank into a chair, not bothering now to hide her tears. With him, she could allow herself to cry. "This can't be happening. It was supposed to be yours."
He came to her, quickly, kneeling before her and cupping her shoulders. Gone was the cold man from the day before, Nolan had returned to her, deeply shaken himself. He had wanted the child to be his, but the proof was there in print; he was not the father, and this was their new reality.
"I know, Emily. I wanted it to be mine, you have no idea how much I wanted this..."
Emily looked up, meeting his eyes. "Nolan...I'm not getting rid of it, I can't - I won't do it, not even for you."
He shook his head, lightly touching her face. "I would never force you to make that decision Emily, please tell me you know that. I might hate this situation but I would never make you choose between me and that baby." Nolan dipped his head to her shoulder, ashamed of his tears. "I wanted it to be mine, Emily, I did, maybe a part of me always wanted that, but I should have seen this coming. We were too happy, things were going too well to last..."
Through the madness, they actually shared half a laugh at the situation - that they had finally found a measure peace and happiness with each other, only to have a new complication arise from their past involvement with the Graysons.
Emily had not wanted to think of this, of the heartache that would come of learning the child belonged to Daniel Grayson. She had formed a loose idea the day before, when Nolan had been so cold in his anger, when she had felt so alone.
I have other identities, I can be five other women or I can stay Emily Thorne - I have more than enough money to take off, more than enough to start a new life here in America, or Europe, Asia, wherever and whatever it takes...but I can't keep hurting you, Nolan...
Emily lifted her hands to his face, "I'll go, Nolan. You don't deserve this - I'll go, and you won't have to worry." He shook his head but Emily pressed on, "Listen to me, after today you won't have to think about me again."
Nolan pulled her hands from his face, holding them in his own. The coldness had fled his eyes, burned away by fierce defiance of her words. "Emily, I'm only going to say this once. Don't even think about running away again - it won't be like last time. Last time, I let you go and I won't make that mistake twice. Besides, I'm a tech genius with a lot of free time on my hands - how far do you think you'd get before I caught up and brought you back home?"
That he could dictate to her in one moment and be so flippant in the next was uncanny, but that was Nolan. He may be clownish in his threats but he had proven himself to her tenfold.
He stood from her and rubbed at his face, swiping away the remaining tears, regaining himself. Admittedly, he was the more emotional one between them, but only by comparison to Emily. He'd had enough tears and anxiety to last him the rest of the year, he was ready to move forward and if that meant he had to put his foot down to the little woman, then so be it.
I won't make you choose, I won't let you run away again. We need to put our heads together on this if we're going to get through it.
Emily stood as well, "But Nolan you don't have to-"
"No. Stop. I won't listen to anymore of this, do you understand me? If you think I'm going to let you just give up on this then you're crazier than I am." He grasped her upper arm, determined to stop this idea she had to leave him.
Emily stared him down, keeping her voice level. "Nolan, you're hurting my arm."
The unspoken warning was clear, You have three seconds before I break your wrist.
Nolan let go of her, knowing he'd crossed the line. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...I'm sorry."
Emily shook her head. "I know you didn't. I need some air, some time to think."
"Don't leave." He warned.
"I won't. I'll be in the backyard."
Nolan nodded and watched her go outside before moving to the bar, dragging himself to sit atop a barstool and pressing his forehead to the counter.
He hadn't meant to grab her that way, it was only that he was upset; learning the child wasn't his, then Emily's assumption that he would demand she terminate the pregnancy immediately followed by her intent to leave...it was a little much for a man to deal with at 10:30 in the morning.
He took a deep breath, pulling himself together. This is only overwhelming if we let it overwhelm us. Think. You know what has to be done.
They had faced down danger before, they'd dealt with loose canons, hired guns, corrupt businessmen and socialites crazed with their lust for power. They hadn't gone through all that just to shatter over this; Nolan wouldn't let Emily give up, he wouldn't let her be alone.
I thought it over last night, I just have to make her see...
Nolan went into the kitchen and poured two glasses of orange juice, nixing the idea of adding a splash of vodka. No. That would be the first thing to change. He looked over the layout of his house, noting the vast amount of baby-proofing he was in for, but it was either that or buy a new place, an idea that held no appeal for him. For better and for worse, this was home.
The man stepped outside, squinting against the bright summer sun.
He found Emily sitting on the bench swing he'd had installed under the shaded awning at the far edge of the yard. As a surprise nod to her father, Nolan had had what he dubbed the "Clarke family crest", the double infinity, carved into the arm rest. Emily had been tracing the symbol with her fingertips when he approached.
"Nolan?"
He handed her a drink and moved to sit beside her on the swing, though he kept his feet on the ground rather than curl his legs up to his chest, as she had. "No vodka, these are just OJ. Can't have the kid growing up thinking a screwdriver is part of a balanced breakfast."
"Why are you doing this?"
Nolan took a deep breath, laying it out to her. "When you first told me and I thought it was mine, I was happy. For one second, there was nothing wrong in the world because we made something together...but that's gone now." He sighed and gestured toward the house, to the paper therein. "Now, the truth is right there in black and white. It's a baby Grayson and the next thing I know you're talking about running away to have it by yourself."
Nolan didn't care that she carried Daniel's child. He tried to quash whatever disappointment he felt, and turned his thoughts to the happier fact that he would be a father in every way that mattered. He didn't want to pressure Emily but by the same token it would crush him if she were to leave now.
He hated it, but he didn't know if he could trust her yet not to pick up and leave in the middle of the night, disappearing the same way she had all those years ago. She had a tendency to run when she felt overwhelmed, and she somehow always justified it as a way to protect others. Selfish.
Nolan sank into his thoughts, thinking of everything he wanted to do for his – he refused to think of it as Daniel's – child with Emily.
"You don't have to leave. I…I want you to stay here."
Her eyes seemed to search his. "For how long?"
"For as long as it takes."
"Until the baby comes?"
The man took a deep breath. For this, he found courage. "Until the baby comes, and after that. Emily, I think we could make a family."
"What?"
He took her hands, fighting the impulse to break his gaze from hers. No. For this, he had to show her his honesty. "I know this isn't what you expected, and it's not how I wanted things to turn out either, but here we are. I know I'm good for you and I think I could be a good father."
"You don't have to do this." She tried to pull her hands away but his long fingers tightened over hers.
"Maybe I want to. Maybe we could make it work."
Maybe, maybe, maybe…
"I can't ask you to give up the chance to be with someone else, to start a family of your own."
At that, Nolan scoffed. "I think that ship has sailed, Ems. Who am I going to find that'd just want me for me?"
It was a sad truth, but a truth nonetheless. No matter who he might meet in the future, Nolan would forever carry the suspicion that all anyone saw when they looked at him were dollar signs.
"I could say the same thing." Emily returned.
She was, after all, only a few billion behind him in the wealth race.
"I found you." He reminded her. "You're not…thinking about going back to Daniel because of this, are you?"
He knew the answer, he just had to hear her say it.
"No."
"Then stay here. We can try."
"It's Daniel's."
"And you'll tell him. You'll tell him because he has a right to know about this." Nolan sighed, musing. "Daniel Grayson, a father."
Emily reached forward, touching his hair. "I wish I could go back and change what happened, Nolan. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
He shook his head, dismissing it. "So am I. But it doesn't change anything. Not for me. We can make this work, Emily. I know you don't want to give up what we have, and I'm here to tell you that you don't have to."
"Nolan…if you're sure."
"I am."
After, Emily rested her head on Nolan's chest. "Dad would've been happy for us, don't you think? His daughter and his friend, together."
Nolan yawned and drummed his fingertips on the curve of her hip. "Mmm, I don't think he'd be thrilled with the path that got us here, but yes, he would've been happy for how we ended up."
She was quiet for the next half hour as they simply laid together, enjoying the afterglow of their gentle afternoon connection.
"Nolan, if it's a boy…
"He'll be little David. That goes without saying." He purred to her.
Hours later, as Emily slept on at his side, Nolan laid awake, staring at the ceiling. He was prone to insomnia even when he wasn't stressed by one thing or another and now, he doubted he'd ever sleep again. He had once been told by his own father that "A dad never really sleeps": from the moment of fatherhood, a man's mind is to remain restless, always alert to the needs of his family.
Well.
Nolan's father had never been abusive, more negligent and dismissive. Nolan grew to understand that his father had suffered PTSD from time served in his lengthy military career, but he'd been resentful for years. His father was also dead. Any reparation of family ties was no longer an option, so Nolan was more or less on his own.
He thought that was all right; he knew what not to do. Unlike his own father, he had no excuse not to take an interest once the child was born. Unlike Conrad, he hadn't fallen for the cuckoo trick of raising another man's kid - he intended to go ahead with his eyes wide open.
He knew it would be an adjustment, but the more he thought about it, the more Nolan warmed to the idea of he, Emily and the child forming a family. His house would be the Island of Misfit Toys - none of them would belong anywhere else but with each other.
Slowly, Nolan reached under Emily's camisol and put his hand over her belly. It was far too soon for any change in her figure, and even sooner for there to be any movement. Still, he placed his hand there, his thoughts toward the child growing within her sealing his promise.
You should have been mine, but I won't punish you for that.
The car pulled to a stop along the curb, shadowed by the might that once was: Grayson Global. People were still filing into the building as if it was any other day, as if the founding family hadn't gone completely off the rails and that their investors weren't pulling out in a mass exodus. Nolan knew; it was all there in the files Ashley had provided.
The man looked away from the building, to Emily seated beside him. Her breathing was deep and steady, her hands weren't shaking and she wasn't sweating. This was not to say she wasn't nervous; Emily might not show it, but she had to be feeling some measure of anxiety.
She was minutes away from explaining to a man she no longer cared anything for that she was pregnant with his child. What Daniel Grayson would do would be anyone's guess.
"Are you ready?"
Emily took a deep breath and looked to him, "I think so. I was more afraid to tell you than I am to tell him."
"Why?"
Emily paused for a moment, but kept her eyes steady on his. "Because there was the real risk of losing you. I tell Daniel, and it changes things but I can go on without him. I never needed him."
Not like I need you, was the silent completion to her thought. Theirs was not a connection based on "I love yous", hearts and flowers. Deeper than the words, deeper than the touches, there was loyalty and their connection with each other.
The man raised his brows, "Oh, wow, Ems...I didn't know I ranked so high."
She quirked her lips, wishing that they were far from this place. "The highest."
"Call me when you finish, I won't be far."
Emily surprised him by grabbing his face and giving him a deep, charged kiss.
Before Nolan could pull her back, the woman had already slipped from the car, her stride eating the distance to the building entrance.
Shivering from the kiss, Nolan pulled out his cell and hit a speed dial command.
"Good morning, Mr. Ross."
A subtle frown crossed his face. "You won't think it's so good after I explain why I'm in the city today."
"What do you need, sir?"
He watched as Emily disappeared into the Grayson Global building and drummed his fingertips over the steering wheel. "I need a face-to-face. Today. Now, if you can."
"Yes, sir. Of course. I can meet you if you're-"
"No, I have my car and I'm about three blocks away. Let me take you to breakfast."
"All right, I'll grab my purse and be waiting for you just out front."
Denise Walker glanced down at the open toes of her new pumps as she stood near the curb in front of the building that housed Lennox & Associates. She had worked for the firm for the past ten years, and acted as the personal attorney for Nolan Ross for the better part of her tenure there.
Of all her clients, Mr. Ross was certainly not the most demanding, the most eccentric or the most troubled. Nolcorp had its own team of lawyers, as all large companies do. No, her responsibilities to Mr. Ross were more personal. He kept her on a massive retainer to clear the occasional speeding or parking ticket, and for her immediate availability, be it over the phone, through Skype or in the flesh for legal advice. Hence, when Nolan Ross asks for a face-to-face meeting, her schedule for the morning is cleared and she is there, ready and waiting for whatever he could need.
It's been nearly two years since the last time I saw that man, what could be so important that-?
Her thought was interrupted as Nolan pulled up to the curb, and there he was, eyeing her from the driver's seat. "Is that you, Denise?"
She nodded and smiled to him, "It's really me, sir."
"Good. Get in."
She slid into the passenger seat and buckled up as Nolan pulled into traffic. "You look different from the last time I saw you. Your hair was longer then."
Eyes fixed on the street, Nolan shrugged. "Yeah, it was time to grow up a little and part of that was to go ahead and get rid of the shaggy prep look. How's your family?"
"Very well sir, thank you." She'd always appreciated his concern, not to mention his assistance with her son's education. "May I ask where we're going?"
"Breakfast." Nolan said tersely as he realized his own hunger. "I don't think I've eaten since...I don't know. It's been a couple days."
At that, Denise had to ask, "You haven't eaten in over two days?"
"I'm pretty sure, I mean that would explain the dizzy spells." He shook his head, "I'll be fine, I just have to find somewhere to eat that's close. I can't drive too far from Grayson Global."
"May I ask why?"
"It's a long story, and it'll be better told over eggs." Nolan parked on a sidestreet and guided her into a small diner that catered to the business crowd that swarmed the area during lunch hour.
Denise set her purse and cell aside in the boothe Nolan chose and simply waited as he looked over the menu. Now that she faced the man, she could see for herself how tired his eyes were, how grim his expression. This was a far cry from the carefree man she remembered.
Denise Walker was many things, but above all, she was a professional. Nolan Ross was her client, so she did not badger or complain when he ordered a mountain of salted grease and sugar for his breakfast, nor did she hurry the man as he dug into the meal. She sipped her coffee, ate her cinnamon bagel and waited; it had to be a heavy thing to bring on their first in-person meeting in two years.
Finally, after three scrambled eggs, four pancakes drowned in syrup, a slice of buttered toast, two sausages and a tall glass of orange juice, Nolan felt close to human again and was ready to talk.
Denise sat up straighter when the man set his fork aside. He took a deep breath, "Denise...I'm going to be a father."
Of all the things she thought he might tell her, this had not entered into her mind. "Oh, Mr. Ross, that's wonderful news! Congratulations-"
Nolan blinked tiredly, "You know, you're the first person I've told."
"Me? Why's that?"
"My family is few and far between. Anyway, this is...it's complicated."
Her happiness for the man dimmed somewhat. She saw now that this wasn't a visit for him to announce a new addition to the Ross family, he needed immediate legal counsel.
"Tell me everything, sir."
And so Nolan did, the edited version of the tangled web that wove its way between Emily, the Graysons and himself.
"...and she's over at Grayson Global now, telling him about the baby. Maybe we should have talked to you about all of this first, but Daniel should know, don't you think?"
Denise nodded, silently assessing everything he'd told her. Clearly, the situation with the Grayson family had escalated; he'd already hinted to her that an affair had sprung from his time spent with Miss Thorne but this development added a new dynamic to everything going forward.
"It's better that Mr. Grayson is aware, better to have it out in the open between the three of you now rather than for him to learn of the pregnancy later on, in which case he could file for custody or, if he were to take action after the child is born, file a restraining order against you."
Nolan raised a brow, "He could do that?"
Denise laced her fingers before her, as if in prayer. Nolan hoped they weren't that desperate just yet. "He could order a DNA test and, on proof that the child is biologically his, yes, he could file for immediate paternal custody with a restraint stipulation against you, preventing you from further contact with the child. If you had decided not to tell him and he were to learn that you had been aware of the child's true paternity from the start he could even launch a kidnapping charge."
"You're serious?"
"This is all worst case scenario, sir." She reassured him. "At this point we need to hear back from Miss Thorne about Mr. Grayson's reaction. Perhaps a bit later in the month we could have a meeting with his attorney and agree to a custodial balance between the three of you."
Nolan groaned slightly, "Yeah...that will be a problem - I can almost guarantee that Daniel won't be thrilled to know I'll be involved in the kid's life."
"Why's that?"
"I...I might have..."
"Mr. Ross, if there has been some kind of altercation between you, I will need to know about it in case it comes up later in dealing with Mr. Grayson on your behalf."
Nolan sighed and rubbed his face. He was so tired, and he was not proud of what he had done, but he had to tell Denise to keep it from coming back and biting him or worse, hurting Emily. "Remember last month when Daniel was arrested on a drunk and disorderly charge?"
"Yes sir."
"Yeah, there's more to it than what went into the police report and what was on the news. Daniel didn't get to where they found him on his own..." Nolan cleared his throat. "By that I mean my security team might have orchestrated the whole thing under my orders as payback for my arm and everything that family has done to Emily. So..."
On hearing this, Denise rubbed her temple, reigning in the impulse to reach across the table and shake some sense into this man. "All right...I'll spare you the lecture. If Mr. Grayson has not attempted to press charges against you yet, it's unlikely that he could do so in future as there would be no way to prove it - and I assume that your security team will remain discreet?"
Nolan nodded. "Yes, we're covered."
"He might bring up the incident but all that would accomplish is bring more attention to his own lengthy trouble with the law, compared to your clean record. What you've told me of Miss Thorne's time in juvenile detention will remain negligible as the incident stemmed from self-defense as a minor. In any case, it will come down to an agreement struck between Mr. Grayson and Miss Thorne, and I'll be happy to represent her if that's what you require."
Nolan took her hand, thankful, so thankful for her intelligence and her reassurance. "I require all the help in the world. But for now, let's stick with finding a way for Emily, the baby and I to just be together without Daniel's interference."
"You've hired me to keep a Grayson away from something that belongs to him."
Nolan gave a wan smile. "See? I told you meeting with me would ruin your morning."
She shook her head, legal steps already forming in her mind for anything the Grayson camp might send their way. "On the contrary sir, I love a challenge. If I pull this off, I might have finally earned that vacation you've been promising me."
"Denise, if you can pull this off I'll buy you your own island."
The hustle of people striding in and out of the Grayson Global offices was familiar to Emily. As Daniel's fiancé, she had visited him at work a scatter of times in the past. No one stopped her as she walked closer to Daniel's office, though she wasn't sure if it was because she was recognized for her former connection to him or because every worker on the floor was so wrapped up in trying to save their jobs.
Grayson Global had already gone through a round of lay-offs and it was no secret that jobs were scarce in the city; there was desperation in the air, Emily knew the signs and so she had to wonder how many people in the office were trying to save Grayson Global and how many were sending out their resumés.
There was no one at the reception desk before Daniel's office, so she let herself in, and there he was. Daniel Grayson, dressed in a $10,000 looking tanned, toned and as handsome as he was on the day they'd first met - when he was part of a plan...though, Emily supposed that's what he was to her again, a puzzle piece she had to turn in just the right way to keep him from interfering in her life going forward.
Emily came closer to him, the small smile touching her lips hiding the trepidation she felt beating in her chest. This was not her vengeance, this was nothing she had ever thought to prepare herself for, but her skills were still useful.
"Daniel, hello."
Daniel looked up, puzzled for a moment but he smiled as he stood to greet her. She forced herself not to turn away when he kissed her cheek.
"Emily, hey, what're you doing here?" He was uncertain, given how they'd last parted ways.
"I...I was hoping that I could talk to you." She gestured to the desk before his office. "I'm sorry to have let myself in here, but there was no one at reception."
He shrugged, "Yeah, as you can see, things have been kind of crazy around here. I had to send Jackie to grab a few files for me from the archives."
"It looks a little crazier than usual." She remarked.
Daniel followed her gaze out to the main floor, where the cubicles seemed to stretch for miles to a constant symphony of ringing telephones and anxious chatter. It was chaotic when compared to the way things were when his father ran the company and Daniel damn well knew it.
He wanted to confide in someone but most especially her. In his heart of hearts, Emily was still the one for Daniel Grayson, for whatever that was worth now. "We...a couple weeks back, some files went missing - client access, major account holders and all their assets. Just what we need on top of everything else." Daniel rubbed at his eyes, frustrated. "Sorry, what did you want to talk about?"
Emily rallied herself, "I have to tell you-"
A third presence in the room stopped her, Daniel's receptionist, Jackie, had return to her post. "Mr. Grayson, excuse me, but I have that message from your mother's defense lawyer."
Daniel took the notice and Emily watched on, silently, as Daniel's expression became stormy, his face coloring with new frustration. Emily could see that he was close to buckling under the weight of the world that had been thrown onto his shoulders. She felt sorry for him, but this was the price he paid for the sins of his family; she had paid for a decade after her father had been taken from her, it was Daniel's turn to suffer.
"Emily I - Emily, are you still on good terms with Nolan?"
Her eyes widened in surprise, "Nolan? Yes, I'm still living with him."
Daniel looked up, surprise clear on his face, "You've been staying with him all this time? So what he said was true, you are with him now."
"We're - wait, when did you talk to him?"
"I went to that Nolcorp party to try talking to you but your new boyfriend got jealous and kicked me out." Daniel groused, rolling his eyes.
"I had no idea about that. And he's not my boyfriend."
Emily added that last to gauge Daniel's reaction, true, but she had never liked that label, especially since Nolan was decades past being a boy.
"Oh, he's not?"
She shook her head. "He just wanted me as his plus-one for that party."
That much had been true, what happened later that night was no business of Daniel's.
"That makes more sense, I knew he was a little too...you know, to be with you." Daniel had given her a limp-wristed wave in describing Nolan, alluding to the other man's sexuality and perceived weakness.
A roaring lion of rage welled up inside Emily, but Daniel had already gone on, "Anyway, if you didn't know he had me kicked out of the party then I'll bet you also had no idea he's scheduled to take the stand and testify against my mother when the trial starts?"
Emily pushed the lion back into its cage, her mind caught up by the new development. "What?"
"It seems that he's dead-set on sending my mother away." Daniel sat on the edge of his desk, his frustration mounting, making him desperate, desperate enough to ask, "Emily, Emily, I know you hate her and a part of me hates her too, for everything she's done to us, please believe that. But this is my mother...God, please, you can help me - Nolan will listen to you. Just...if you could convince him to recant his story..."
Emily pulled back, "Convince him...?"
Daniel's eyes were full of self-loathing as he plead to her, "He'll listen to you if you make him think you...please, Emily, whatever you can do to convince him. Please, for me. And then, after, when this is all over, you and I, maybe we can start again..."
Emily felt a wave of nausea that had nothing to do with her pregnancy. It was Daniel Grayson, he was making her sick.
"Daniel...I have to go."
"Please, Emily, just think about it."
Emily did not pause at the doorway as she left the office - she strode away from Daniel and all that he was.
Nolan looked up from his cell as Emily opened the car door and sank into the passenger seat. The man had just come back from breakfast, worried but eager to hear what Emily had to say so that he could relate it all back to Denise. He looked closely and was relieved to see that her eyes weren't red; if Emily hadn't become upset while meeting with Daniel then things might go their way during mediation.
"So, how'd it go? Did he say anything about custody? My lawyer said she'll represent you in-"
"I didn't tell him."
Nolan raised his brows, "What?"
Emily shook her head, not caring about consequences, not caring for anything but putting as much distance as possible between Daniel Grayson and her family.
"I didn't tell him. I couldn't. Nolan...I don't want him anywhere near our baby. Please, I just want to go home."
At her words and by the steel in her eyes, Nolan had sense enough not to argue.