Chapter 19: Confrontation
Natalie hung up the phone and looked at John, biting her lip. "She's on her way," she said, talking about Amber of course. She saw the way John's shoulders and jaw tightened at her name and was very glad Katalina had agreed to watch the girls for the day. She walked over to place a gentle hand on John's shoulder. "John, I know you're not ready for this. To be honest, I'm not either. But I want to be with you when you confront her about this."
He lifted her hand off of his shoulder and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. "I know her lie hurt you too, Natalie. I wouldn't have you be anywhere else." She smiled slightly as she stood on tiptoe to press a kiss against his lips. "Thank you for not trying to protect me." "Well, I learned the hard way that the best way to protect someone is to tell them the whole truth and let them make their own choices."
The doorbell ringing broke the moment, and Natalie took a deep breath as she gave John's hand a quick squeeze. They walked into the living room, both steeling themselves for the confrontation they knew was coming. Natalie's hand was trembling as she reached to open the door, but John's small smile reassured her that they were going to make it through this.
Amber plastered on a smile as the door swung open. It faded when she saw the somber expressions on John and Natalie's faces. "What's wrong?" she asked, trying to act as though she hadn't just checked on her son. "Is it the babies?" "No, of course not." Natalie finally stepped aside and let her enter.
"Oh, okay. So what is it then?" She frowned as they led her to the couch and all three sat down. "Amber, we know the truth." John's voice was quiet and tight with pain, and Amber sat back with shock. "What truth?" "Don't play dumb with us. The labs did a paternity test and we know that your son isn't John's child. I'm trying really hard to keep my temper, but it won't last long so you had better start explaining."
Amber breathed a silent sigh of relief even as she slipped into her role of the confused woman who wasn't smart enough to realize she'd been found out. "What are you talking about? He has to be the father!" she insisted shrilly. "Amber, cut the crap and tell us the truth." Natalie's voice was cold and calm as she seethed inwardly.
Tears began to fall from Amber's eyes but they did nothing to dissuade Natalie. "Tell us who the father is or get your ass out before I do something I'll regret." Her voice was trembling with anger and it was all she could do to keep herself from reaching across John and slapping the truth out of her. Suddenly Amber's control broke at the disarming superiority in Natalie's voice. "You want the truth?" "Yes!" She closed her eyes and bit the words back, counting to ten. She was on the verge of screwing up everything she and her husband had worked so hard for.
Mask firmly back in place, Amber began to tell her carefully pre-constructed story. "It was a one night thing," she began softly. "It was a few nights before John and I—" She swallowed. "It was just a one-night thing. We had been friends for a while, and we both needed it. He told me the next morning that he couldn't be just friends anymore, but I didn't want anything more. So he left—and I mean left town left." Another tear slipped down her cheek.
"Then I found out I was pregnant and I guess I just kind of ignored the possibility that it could be Julian's baby. Please don't hate me for it," she begged, turning her widened eyes from Natalie and then to John. "You both have been so amazing. I can't stand to think I might have ruined it." A moment of tense silence passed, and then John spoke.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through that pain," he began slowly, not quite sure how to express what he needed to. Natalie gave his hand a gentle squeeze and he turned to smile softly at her before returning his attention to Amber. "But—you put me through a hell of a lot. I lost a son, and then just when I thought I was getting him back he was snatched away from me again." He shook his head and took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay strong. Breaking down would come later.
Natalie took over, the two of them having discussed this in depth already. "What John's trying to say is that we don't think that we could trust you again." She took a deep breath, gathering her courage to say what needed to be said. "We don't want you to be a part of our lives, or the girls' either." Amber's eyes widened and she nodded, taking a deep breath as her face twisted in a mixture of emotions.
"I understand," she whispered, standing to her feet. She shook her head and brushed the tears. "I guess I'm really just relieved that I don't have to live with this secret hanging over my head anymore. Thank you both for being so kind to me—I won't forget it." She smiled through her tears and quickly turned to leave.
"Amber, wait."
TO BE CONTINUED
