Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“I suppose I did.” He ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair. “Juliana made it easy by leaving, and once she was gone, Collette took over. I was busy twenty-four-seven with political events and fundraising.”
“Nikki said she’s manipulative and good at it,” Winter muttered.
Beside her, Harrison obviously decided to join the senator and poured himself coffee. “Want some?” he asked her.
She shook her head. “No, thanks.” She was jittery enough.
The senator started to speak again. “I realize now Collette kept me busy, so I wouldn’t have time to think about Juliana.” He shook his head. “And I admit there was a part of me that was ambitious enough to push thoughts of your mother away and concentrate on our political plans. And then Collette got pregnant with Nikki.”
Finally, Winter understood. “After your wife found out about your affair, she got herself pregnant. How did she find out about you and Mom?”
Her mother hadn’t had any idea how Collette knew about them, let alone that Juliana was pregnant. The one and only conversation her mother had had with Corbin’s wife was the day Collette brought her the check and told her to get rid of that baby.
Even now, the thought had bile churning in her gut. How had Nikki and Derek come from that woman? Did their goodness come from their father? Her father?
“Apparently, my wife didn’t trust me.” His lips twisted in a self-deprecating frown. “She wasn’t wrong not to. After you showed up at the house and I found out I had another daughter, Collette admitted she’d had me followed and knew I was meeting up with a woman. She’d then had Juliana followed as well.” He placed his cup on the table and sighed. “Collette came from money, you see. Whatever she wanted, she was able to have. In me, I’m afraid she saw a man she could mold and do her bidding.”
“Your wife was a piece of work.” As was he, since he’d let her manipulate him. Winter shook her head, disappointed in him despite already knowing the truth.
“I can’t argue with that. But Collette and the political world, that life is behind me. No matter what you or my other children think of me, I am trying to change. And the reason I wanted to talk to you today is to apologize. I’m sorry you grew up without a father. I’m sorry Nikki would have been better off with parents other than the ones she had. I should have done better. I will do better. If you let me.”
Throughout his speech of sorts, a lump rose in the back of Winter’s throat. While growing up with a mother who’d adored her, she’d told herself she didn’t need a father. Hadn’t wanted one. Hadn’t missed having one. Her mother had hammered home the need for independence, and she’d taken those words to heart.
But now, face to face with the parent she’d never had, Winter considered the possibility that she’d been lying to herself. Telling herself her life was fine without a dad because she had no choice.
Now she did.
“Would you tell me about your mom?” he asked, sounding eager for any information about the woman he said he’d loved. “About your life? And what Juliana ultimately did tell you about me?” the senator asked, his voice choked up.
Winter swallowed hard. The day she’d revealed herself to him, she’d informed him that her mother had passed away, but she hadn’t gone into detail. Exposing his wife’s role in paying off her mother and insisting Juliana have an abortion had been more important.
Today, though, she decided it was time. Harrison sat silently by her side as she detailed her childhood in Maine. Her mom had gotten a new job as a legal secretary, and they’d been happy. They talked about her mom’s cancer and the revelation that Senator Corbin Bettencourt was her father.
Before she knew it, the entire afternoon had passed, and then they were standing by the door to the suite and saying their goodbyes.
“I’m glad you came today, and I’ll leave it to you to get back in touch when you’re ready,” the senator said.
She nodded, appreciating his innate understanding that she needed time to process today. “I’m glad I came, too.”
The senator kept a respectful distance, not trying to hug her or push past the emotional boundaries she kept between them.
“Take care, Winter. Thank you for coming, Harrison. I’m sure it was a long day for you.”
Winter had thought the same thing. Harrison had sat beside her and listened, not getting involved with their get-to-know-you session.
Harrison shook his head. “It’s all good.”
Winter looked at the man who was her father, not comfortable using his first name, calling him senator, and especially not saying dad. “Goodbye,” she murmured as she and Harrison stepped into the hall.