Chapter 94: Noah's Been Arrested

Molly-

My cheeks hurt by the time I got home. Spending so many hours forcing myself to laugh and smile with Becca so she wouldn't worry about what was going on with me. Not that I thought I was particularly successful at it. Several times I had to dodge questions I didn't want to answer.
Becca was my best friend, and she would do anything to help me, just as I would do for her. But I wasn't ready to talk about anything.
Becca had made it perfectly clear that she knew about Scott and I, and she approved of us. But after hearing Paul's disgust over and over, I was starting to feel the shame of what we had done.
Besides, when Becca told me she and Noah had FINALLY slept together, the last thing I wanted to do was ruin that by drudging up all the awful things that had happened in the last day and a half. Hell, I didn't even want to think about it. It was all just too much to deal with at the moment, and I wanted to concentrate on something normal.
My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten all day.
"That's not good for the baby," I told myself quietly and headed toward the kitchen.
Thankfully, the house was quiet and seemed empty, which suited me perfectly. I allowed myself to relax and enjoy the act of scrounging for food.
At first, I reached for everything healthy for the baby. But my stomach wanted more... sweet food. My plate was almost heaping by the time I was done putting food on it. Humming happily, I headed back up the stairs.
I sat on my bed and nibbled on everything, laughing about my increased appetite. While I satisfied my stomach and the baby, I allowed my mind to wander and fantasized about what my life would be like once I had the baby.
A sweet, sweet angel that would fill my life with laughter and joy. At that moment, I could finally feel the happiness and excitement that an expectant mother should feel. As long as I kept all the other stuff out of my mind and stayed in the moment, I could enjoy being pregnant.
Needing to SEE confirmation of the baby, I walked back to my dresser drawer and pulled out the stick again. Sitting down on my bed, I just stared at the two lines as a goofy smile played over my lips.
I was going to have a baby, Scott's baby.
A knock at my door made me jump, hiding the test by my side.
“Who is it?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“Molly, it’s me! Do you have so many people that knock at your door that you don’t know who is who?” Scott’s voice sounded from the other side of the doorway.
I jumped off the bed and raced to my dresser, trying to find someplace to hide the test. In the top drawer of my dresser sat a jewelry box next to my childhood teddy bear, Mr. Scruffkins.
I took a few deep breaths before finally telling Scott he could come in. But quickly realized how much of a bad idea it was when I saw Scott. Everything that had happened sprang to my lips, and all I wanted to do was to jump into Scott's arms and spill my guts to him. My eyes feasted on him for a moment, and my heart screamed at me to go to him. Scott was supposed to care for, protect, guide, and love me.
Scott LOVED me. He had spent the entire night showing me how much he cherished me. How could I keep so many important things from him?
To protect him, of course. Scott would want to do the right thing if he knew I was pregnant. Hell, Scott would move heaven and earth to do the right thing. But it would also cost him and the family everything.
There was no way I could let him make that decision. Scott deserved to have everything he was working so hard for.
He moved into the room quickly and shut the door. “What were you doing?”
“Nothing,” I said a little too fast.
I swallowed hard and tried to compose myself before Scott noticed it. However, he was pacing the room, barely paying attention to me.
I walked over to stop his manic pacing. “What’s wrong?”
“I just got a call from Noah,” Scott replied. “He’s been arrested.”
My hand flew to my mouth as I gasped. “What? Why? What happened?”
“He wouldn’t tell me exactly. Just asked me to go check on Becca because she seemed upset when he returned her phone this morning,” Scott explained in frustration.
"I just got back from her house. All in all, Becca is doing fine. It was just her mom doing her thing. But we need to let her know what is happening," I insisted as I hurried to grab my purse.
"Wait," Scott said, holding his hands up. "We'll go tomorrow. Tonight, I want to get as much information as I can. It's late, and both you AND Becca could use some rest, I'm sure."
"Scott, she NEEDS to know," I argued, shocked that he wouldn't agree.
"I know. But Noah's still dealing with all the red tape. We have no idea what he's in for, and I won't know until tomorrow. Now, I need to go meet Esme and Laurent at the club. Then try to shake information out of Noah. I'll tell you as soon as I hear something," Scott promised.
He pulled me into his arms before I could react.
Paul's words echoed in my ear, telling me how disgusting it was that I desired Scott.
Scott, being the perceptive man that he was, pulled back immediately and looked down at me.
"Everything alright, baby girl?" he asked with a concerned frown.
"Yes," I tried to reassure him, even while I pulled away. "Everything is alright."
I ducked my head and refused to look into his eyes. If I saw any more suspicion or concern in those eyes, I would break down and tell him the truth. I faked a deep, loud yawn and stretched hard.
"You are right. I'm very exhausted and could use some sleep. Becca needs rest, too. Might as well wait until tomorrow when we have more info... hopefully," I stated.
I moved to my dresser and pulled out my pajamas. When I turned back around, Scott was staring at me like I had grown two heads. I felt my cheeks flush as if Scott would call me out on my lies.
"What is going on, Molly?" Scott asked quietly.
I forced a sleepy smile and another, hopefully convincing, yawn.
"Nothing. I'm just tired, Scott. It has been a long day," I reassured him.
He looked like he wanted to say more but decided against it. "Alright, baby girl. Get into bed, and I'll tuck you in before I head out," Scott instructed me.
I shouldn't let him care for me; it would only serve to make me crave more. But I couldn't give up this one small thing, not after sacrificing our whole future to keep his father from disowning him.
This was just for me.
I crawled into the bed, and Scott tucked me in tightly. He sat on the bed and looked at me with such sweet tenderness that my heart swelled and melted for him. He reached up and gently ran a finger along my cheek.
"I love you, Molls," he said softly.
A lump of guilt and shame formed in my throat, and I couldn't speak. Tears teased my eyelids, and I had to quickly blink them away before he spotted them.
I swallowed hard, forcing my vocal cords to work despite how tight my throat felt.
"I love you, too, Scott," I whispered, hoping he would mistake it as sleepy and not shame.
Scott bent forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Get some sleep, love. We'll talk soon."
I rolled away from the door but laid stiff as a board until I heard my door close. Only then did I let the tears flow.