CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

COLIN

Something was up. They were two of my best friends, I knew better. Finn could even see that something wasn't quite right, and he was sober. It was pouring rain outside, no weather to be out. Logan was out of town on business while Finn was on a date with Eva, the red headed Irish. They were getting pretty serious. He once forgot to put on shoes after a night with Eva and got 2 blocks before he realized it and walked back. Yet he noticed something was wrong between Rory and Logan. Steph had cancelled our plans, something about work and obligation, so in other, less whiny words, I had nothing to do but sit here and think about what's going on with my friends. I sat on the couch, flipping through channels, no matter how pathetic I think I am, I still won't sit through the 'I love Lucy' marathon or yet another Disney movie, which was all on my T.V. There was a knock on the door, I thanked god for the distraction and got up to get it. There stood Rory, wet and shivering. Cameron stood behind her, looking damp. Rory had Lawrence in his car seat.

"What happened?" I asked, pulling them into the apartment. I took the baby from Rory and started searching her diaper bag for dry clothes for him. We men had to stick together after all.

"The cab left us in front of my school; which is next to Lawrence's day care. We were walking in the rain when some guy stopped us and started yelling at Mom. She said she wanted to come here." Cameron explained. What guy? I handed Cameron the dry baby.

"Here, put the baby in the center of the bed and change, you still have clothes here right? Don't forget to get a dry shirt from Finn's closet for your Mom." Rory sat on the couch, and I sat next to her. She looked frightened.

"He's back Colin."

"Who? Who's back?" I was more than a little confused.

"Jacob." The name stung my ears. I hated that man more than Finn hated virgin drinks.

"What?" I stood up, already forming my plan to kill him. 10 different ways, all in various levels of gore and chances of getting caught.

"He wants me."

"Had he..." I didn't want to say it.

"No, but he broke two picture frames and threw my nameplate out the window."

"What happened today?"

"We were walking home and he stopped us, started yelling at me about returning his calls and I told him to just leave me alone and tried to walk away."

"Does Logan know?" I asked her. Jacob was during his lost years, not exactly their proudest time.

"I never told him about Jacob. It was 4 years ago; I didn't want to bring all that up again."

"I don't think you have a choice now."

"I know but it's hard. I mean no one knew until that last night."

"He's your husband."

"I love him and I trust him with my life but this is one thing that if he knew, he might now look at me the same way."

"You have to give him that chance Rory, he needs to know." Cameron came in and handed Rory a shirt. She kissed Rory's cheek.

"I need to check on my little brother." We started laughing at Cameron's cuteness.

"When does Logan get back?" I asked her

"He should be getting home in about an hour."

"Then go change. I'll give you three a ride home/"

"Ok, Thanks Colin." She hugged me, and then got up to chance. I couldn't believe that that bastard was back.

RORY

I helped Cameron out of the backseat and handed her the empty car seat, witch she happily took. I pressed Lawrence closer to me and breathed in his bittersweet baby smell, and somehow, I knew everything would be alright. At least I had my kids, and my husband.

"Cammie, can you unlock the door?" I tried to get the keys from my pocket. The door opened before I could retrieve them. Logan stood there.

"Hey. I thought you were supposed to be back for a little while."

"I caught an earlier flight." He kissed me, and then picked up Cameron.

"So how are my two favorite girls?" He asked.

"The taxi left us in the rain so we walked to Colin and Finn's apartment and Colin changed us and drove us home." Logan put Cameron down and she ran into her room.

"I need to talk to you, it's kinda important." Logan told me with his serious face. I had only seen that face a handful of times, when I told him about Cameron, when he proposed, when Lawrence was born.

"Ok, let me just put Lawrence to bed." I told him and placed Lawrence in his crib. Logan was sitting on the bed in our room when I entered.

"What's up?" I gave him an opening.

"I have to tell you something I only found out three days ago and I'm not sure if it's true or not but it's something we have to deal with."

"What is it? Your not pregnant, are you?" I joked.

"Do you remember, in 2005, when we broke up?" He started, ignoring my joke. I nodded, giving him his answer. "Well I went back to my old ways, going on numerous dates and sleeping with those girls."

"I knew that." I responded. What was he talking about?

"There was this one girl, named Marissa. I ran into her three days ago." What was he saying? Did he kiss her? More than kiss her? Don't jump to conclusions Rory. He could take this a completely different way, she could have won a Nobel Prize, who was I kissing? Most of the girls Logan dated had a negative I.Q.

"What are you saying?" I asked him. How bad could it possibly be? Maybe I should tell him about Jacob, maybe Colin was right…

"She told me that I got her pregnant. She had a boy who is 7." I felt my heart stop beating; the blood stopped flowing, and my lungs stopped accepting air. I sat down roughly on the bed. This was officially the worst week of my life. Logan put his hands on my shoulders.

"We can figure this out Ace."

"Are you sure that she is telling the truth?" I asked. Unsure of what else to say.

"There is a DNA test scheduled for next week. We'll find out then." Our family was falling apart. I couldn't tell him about Jacob. I'd just have to figure out how to fix that situation, and then Logan and I would figure out this one together.

"It will be fine." He kissed me. "I love you." He told me and I smiled. At least that was something I could count on not to change.

About an hour later, I called my Mom.

"Hey kid, what's up?" She answered, I closed the door to mine and Logan's room, Logan was putting Cameron to bed and I needed to talk to her about this.

"Jacob's back."

"What? How?" I proceeded to tell her about the confrontation at work and today. "Oh hon. what are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure Mom. I just can't believe this is happening to me again.""

"Well what did Logan say?" I stayed quiet. I wasn't sure what to say. "You did tell him, right?"

I didn't need one more person pressuring me to tell Logan. Colin and Myself was enough.

"Of course I told Logan." I lied. I couldn't believe myself. I lied to my Mother, my best friend.