Covering the Carolinas by Casey Peeler Page A

shoulder to see Summer walk in. Our eyes meet and
she gives me a smirk before heading to the counter. I quickly turn
back to Marleigh to let her know we broke up.
    “ Marleigh, we aren’t together anymore, and
before you say anything, hear me out.” She nods. “I don’t know
what’s going on, but I need you to know I’ve never gotten over you.
I mean you just called us quits with no warning or explanation so I
figured I had to try to move on. When I got to school and your
sisters confirmed I needed to let you go, I decided to see if
dating would help. Summer was here. She’s a great girl, but she’s
not the girl for me. Last night when I saw you, I realized I had
never gotten over you and I knew I couldn’t be with Summer anymore.
But here’s the problem, I don’t understand. I thought we had a plan
and I don’t know what changed it. I didn’t do anything to you, did
I?”
    “ No, I just… you just… you had such big
dreams, and I didn’t want to hold you back,” she says as her eyes
gloss over. What is she hiding?
    “ How were you going to hold me back? We were
both going to come to Coastal and be together? Your dream was to
study Marine Biology? What changed?” Just as I think I’m finally
going to get my answers, all the color drains from her as if she
sees a ghost. All the sudden, a short little kid attacks her and
yells, mommy. What the hell? Did he say
mommy? She’s got a kid? I look at the little boy and
it all becomes clear as I see a miniature version of myself sitting
on her hip. Oh. My. God. That’s my little
boy. I look between her and the little boy and I have
no words to describe the rage I feel when I realize Marleigh has
kept this from me for three years.

Chapter 21
    MARLEIGH
    Oh my god. Please tell me this
isn’t happening. Not now. Looking at the door, I see
my parents and it’s obvious they thought I was alone. Scanning the
other side of the coffee shop, Summer comes into view with a smirk
on her face and glances toward GC, who’s expression I can’t, for
the life of me, read.
    “ Hey, y’all. What are you doing here?” I ask
my parents as chipper as possible.
    Mama chimes in and answers. “With Gunner’s birthday
being on Wednesday, we thought we’d come spend the week with you
since you had classes. We just saw your note and thought you were
studying or something. He wanted to surprise you.” Then she mouths,
“I’m so sorry.”
    Gunner is still attached to me and GC looks as if
he’s trying to put the pieces together. “Um, sweet boy, will you
give me just a sec?” I say as I kiss the top of his head. “Mama and
Daddy, can you give me just a minute?” They take Gunner to the
counter and I take a deep breath before telling GC the truth.
    “ GC, um, how do I say this?”
    “ You’ve got a kid? Is that why you called it
quits?” he says as he stands and it’s obvious he is unsure of what
is playing out in front of him.
    “ I was planning on explaining all of this to
you today. Can we go outside and talk?” I say pleading as attention
builds toward us. Glancing at Gunner, I know I can’t do this in
front of him. I take GC by the hand and pull him outside as he
follows reluctantly. Once we are outside, he yanks his hand from
mine.
    “ Gunnison Cyrus, I think it’s time you knew
that that little one in there is yours,” I say, pointing through
the window at Gunner. “That little boy in there is named Gunner
after his father, and his birthday is January 21, 2011, which is
nine months after Spring Break. He’s yours. That’s our little boy in there,” I say as
tears pour from my eyes.
    “ It’s obvious that is my little boy in there.
Just look at him, he looks just like me! More importantly, why
would you keep him from me? You knew how much I loved you. Why on
earth would you keep him from me? When we broke up, you left me to
assume you had simply stopped loving me!” As angry as he is, I see
hurt in his eyes, and I know that I made the worst mistake of