Chapter 2: The Baby Nobody Told Me About
Tyler stared at the photograph as though someone had just pulled the floor out from beneath him.
"Where did you get that?"" he demanded.
Michael didn't answer immediately.
He took the folder from his wife's hands and opened it to the first page.
"Tyler, this is my wife, Rebecca.""
Rebecca gave him a cold look.
"Hello, Tyler. We've technically met before. You just didn't know who I was.""
Vanessa grabbed Tyler's sleeve.
"Don't listen to them. They're trying to humiliate me.""
Rebecca laughed without humor.
"Humiliate you? You managed that yourself.""
I shifted Poppy into a more comfortable position.
My arms were beginning to ache, but I couldn't bring myself to put either baby down.
Tyler looked between the two women.
"Someone explain what the hell is happening.""
Rebecca removed a photograph from the folder.
It showed Tyler sitting on a hospital bed, holding a tiny baby wrapped in a yellow blanket.
His face was unmistakable.
His watch was unmistakable.
Even the small scar above his right eyebrow was unmistakable.
Tyler took one step backward.
"That's not what it looks like.""
Rebecca folded her arms.
"Really? Because the birth certificate says otherwise.""
Vanessa's face turned red.
"Rebecca, stop.""
"No. You don't get to tell me when to stop.""
Michael stepped beside his wife.
"Tyler, yesterday Emily contacted me. She wanted to verify your return schedule because she'd planned to surprise you with the twins.""
Tyler looked at me.
"You called Michael?""
"I called the company," I replied.
"I wanted to know when my husband was coming home.""
Michael continued.
"During that conversation, I mentioned that Vanessa had requested an unusual amount of personal leave over the past several months.""
Tyler frowned.
"What does Vanessa's leave have to do with me?""
"Everything," Rebecca answered.
She pulled another sheet from the folder.
"Vanessa and I have been married for six years. We have a four-year-old son together. And three months ago, she gave birth to another child.""
Tyler's mouth opened.
No words came out.
Rebecca placed the birth certificate on top of the folder.
"His name is Noah.""
She tapped the father's name.
Tyler James Carter.
I felt my stomach twist.
Vanessa shook her head.
"That document is private.""
Rebecca stared at her.
"Then you should have thought about that before telling my husband you were single.""
Tyler looked at Vanessa.
"You told me you were divorced.""
"I was going to explain.""
"Explain what?""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"Tyler, not here.""
He stepped away from her.
"Is that my son?""
She looked toward the floor.
That was answer enough.
Michael rubbed his jaw.
"There's more. The company has been investigating irregularities involving employee travel expenses and unauthorized room assignments.""
Tyler stared at him.
"You're not seriously suggesting—"
"I'm not suggesting anything. I'm telling you what the records show.""
Michael opened another section of the folder.
"Vanessa used company accommodations to arrange private meetings with multiple employees. Some of those expenses were charged to your department.""
Tyler's expression hardened.
"That's ridiculous. I didn't authorize anything.""
Rebecca turned a page.
"Then why did you sign the reimbursement forms?""
The silence that followed was deafening.
I watched Tyler's fingers tremble.
For the first time since I'd arrived, he looked genuinely frightened.
"Vanessa," he whispered, "what did you do?""
She shook her head.
"You told me everything was fine.""
"Everything was fine because I thought you were single!""
"And you thought I was your only girlfriend?""
He flinched.
Michael looked at him.
"Apparently, neither of you were telling the truth.""
I almost laughed.
Almost.
There I was, standing in the middle of a cruise terminal, holding two babies who had never been held by their father, while three adults argued about a relationship that had apparently been built on lies.
Tyler suddenly turned toward me.
"Emily, listen. I can explain.""
I stared at him.
"You told me there were other women.""
"That was a mistake.""
"You kissed her in front of our daughters.""
"I didn't know you were coming.""
"Would that have made it better if I hadn't?""
He looked away.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Honestly, Emily, don't act like you're the only woman who's ever been hurt.""
I tightened my grip on Poppy.
"You're right. You're not the only one.""
Then I looked at Rebecca.
"Does your son know?""
Her expression softened.
"He's staying with my sister. He knows his mother made some terrible choices. He doesn't know all the details.""
I nodded.
For a moment, we were simply two women standing in a crowded terminal, holding the consequences of someone else's selfishness.
Michael closed the folder.
"Tyler, your company credentials have been suspended pending an investigation. You're required to cooperate with HR.""
Tyler's head snapped up.
"You can't fire me over my personal life.""
"We're not discussing your personal life. We're discussing company property, falsified expenses, and misconduct.""
Vanessa grabbed her suitcase.
"I'm leaving.""
Rebecca stepped aside.
"Of course you are. That's what you always do when someone asks you to take responsibility.""
Vanessa hurried toward the exit.
Tyler didn't follow her.
Instead, he approached me.
"Emily, please. Let's go home. We can talk about this privately.""
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then I said something I hadn't planned to say.
"You don't have a home to come back to.""
His face crumpled.
"Emily, don't do this.""
I turned toward the exit.
Michael offered to help with the luggage I'd brought for the babies.
I accepted.
As we walked away, Tyler called after me.
"At least let me hold my daughters!""
I stopped.
Piper opened her eyes.
For a second, I considered turning around.
Then I remembered every night I'd rocked them alone, every bottle I'd prepared, every time I'd whispered that Daddy would be home soon.
I turned my head.
"You had five months to become their father, Tyler.""
And I kept walking.
But just before I reached the doors, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent me a message.
Emily, before you leave Miami, you need to know why Tyler really wanted you to stay home.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
Check the mortgage documents. Your house may not be yours anymore.
