Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“I love you.”
I pressed a kiss to her head. “Thank you,” I murmured, my voice catching. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You never have to find out,” she promised.
I held on to those words like a lifeline.
21
RICHARD
The day after meeting with Ashley in Halton’s office, Gracie and Jaxson came to our house, holding hands. Gracie looked anxious, and I bent and kissed her cheek. “Hey, baby girl.”
“Dad,” she responded.
“Mom has coffee. I thought we’d talk in the kitchen. She made you some herbal tea since you’re off caffeine right now.”
She offered me a tight smile.
“Kylie with Addi and Bray?”
“Yes, the girls are playing together,” Jaxson said with a grin. “Well, Kylie is bossing her littler cousin around, more like it.”
I chuckled. “She’s not that bad. They play well together.”
“I still don’t know why you asked us to come alone,” Gracie said, her voice worried.
“No great mystery there. Mom and I needed some privacy with you to talk.”
“That’s what makes this so freaking scary,” she muttered and headed to the kitchen.
I looked at Jaxson, who shrugged. “I told you earlier, she’s emotional. She was when she was pregnant with Kylie, and this time, it’s a bit worse.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “Be prepared.”
I had met with Jaxson earlier and told him. His eyebrows had flown up in shock, and he had been silent for a moment.
“Ashley? Luc’s girl?” He paused. “Is your daughter?” He repeated slowly.
“Yes.”
“And you just found out?”
“The DNA test confirmed it yesterday.”
“Jesus, Richard. And she confronted you after the wedding?”
“Yeah.” I ran a hand through my hair. “She was pretty angry.”
“What is it with weddings and this family?” he mused. “Gracie and me. Now you and Ashley. Drama.” He pursed his lips. “Common denominator here is you—the father.”
I appreciated his attempt at levity.
“What can I say? We love drama.”
He chuckled, then became serious. “Obviously, this has been stressful. Katy okay?”
“She’s amazing. Supportive. Understanding.”
“And you?”
“I’m a fucking mess.”
“And you’re telling me first because you’re worried about Gracie’s reaction.”
“Yes.”
“You really didn’t know?” he asked quietly.
“No.”
“Then she’ll come to terms with it. I’ll stand by you—and her.”
“Thanks, Jaxson.”
“Favorite son-in-law now?”
“Meh. I suppose.”
“Excellent.” Then he clapped his hand on my back. “It’s going to be fine, Richard.” He paused. “Eventually.”
Somehow those words didn’t bring me any comfort.
I followed him in silence into the kitchen. Katy and Gracie were at the table, beverages already poured, a plate of cookies I was sure would be untouched laid out.
I paused beside Katy, bending to press a kiss to her head. She reached up and squeezed my hand that was resting on her shoulder. I sat down beside her, meeting Gracie’s anxious gaze. I smiled at her.
“Relax, my girl. Everything is fine.”
She didn’t buy my words for a second. “Are you and Mom getting a divorce?”
“What? No!” I insisted.
“Is one of you sick?”
Katy spoke up. “Gracie, your dad and I are in perfect health. Our marriage is fine. We’re fine.”
“But something is wrong. It has been since the wedding. Is Heather okay?”
“Everyone is good. No one is sick, no one is breaking up,” I hastened to assure her.
Jaxson slipped his arm around her shoulder, drawing her close and pressing a kiss to the side of her head. “Relax, Gracie. Let your dad talk.”
She focused her gaze on me. The same blue eyes as her mother’s were steady and calm, but worried. Obviously, we hadn’t fooled her this past while, trying to pretend things were normal.
“I have something to tell you. I need you to listen carefully.”
She nodded, and I saw her hand move to Jaxson’s leg. He shifted closer, offering her the protection and strength of his body. I was grateful to him for his silent support.
“I just found out that, before I married your mother—” I stressed that piece of information— “a woman I was involved with had a baby.” I swallowed. “My baby.”
Gracie blinked. “What?”
“I have another daughter. Your half sister.”
Gracie looked between us, slowly comprehending my words.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“We got the DNA results yesterday. She is my child.”
Gracie went into instant lawyer mode. “What does the mother want? Is she trying to go after you for money? Have you talked to Halton? What is the angle?”
I held up my hand. “There is no angle, Gracie. The mother passed about six years ago.”
“So, what, your supposed daughter has been searching for you? Is she blackmailing you or something? What does she want?”
“Whoa,” I said, shocked. “She found me by accident.”
She snorted. “Accident? How does one find their father by accident?” Her eyes widened. “Oh God, did she use one of the home DNA kits? Why the hell was your DNA on their site?” Her voice rose. “Did you put it there thinking you had other kids or something? What the hell, Dad?”
I blinked at her words, surprised at where her mind went.