Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“Charlotte, I’m worried about him. Nothing more. I want to make sure he’s okay.”
Get a grip, Charlotte. “He’s okay. Honestly, Rock, as long as I’ve known him, he’s always”—I hesitate, trying to find the most honest and least offensive way to phrase this—“looked up to you. Thought of you as a father.”
“Obviously, I don’t deserve that.”
This is a far different conversation than I ever expected to have with Rock. Feeling more confident, I give him my honest opinion. Thoughts I’ve already shared with Marcel. “From the stories he’s told me, I think you do. He’s always said you’re the only person he’s been able to count on. You’re the one who steered him in the right direction. Made sure he finished school. Kept him out of trouble. Gave him the ability to take care of his sister. Nurtured his business sense. Those are all things he’s told me were because of you.”
Rock’s jaw twitches as he seems to digest my words.
“If it wasn’t for you, he wouldn’t have been able to take care of Heidi,” I repeat.
Finally, his lips twist into a wry smile. “He ever tell you how we met?”
Something about trying to steal from the club. It’s a miracle Marcel’s even alive to tell that story. “Just bits and pieces.”
“He was a brave kid. Risking his life to take care of his sister and his buddy.”
“Murphy?” Who else?
“They were inseparable long before I met them.”
“Marcel’s a good man, Rock. Maybe you didn’t know he was your son, but you raised him well.” I hope he understands I mean every word.
“Thank you, Charlotte. Appreciate that.” He stares at me and I force myself not to flinch under his penetrating gaze. “You’re good for him.”
“I hope so.”
“When did he call you? What did he say? He tell you where exactly he is?”
Although I don’t think Rock’s here to hurt me, I still want to protect Marcel. If he doesn’t want to be found right now, by Rock or anyone else, that should be his choice. “He called about half an hour before you showed up. He didn’t really give me any details, but he said he’s fine.”
“You know where he is?” he asks again.
Damn. What is it about this man that makes it impossible to lie? He should have been a lawyer. “Niagara Falls. I’m not sure why he went there. I offered to meet him.”
“But he wants to be alone?”
“Yes.” I gesture to the pile of papers on my desk. “I would’ve taken the time. Whatever he needed.” I hope Rock knows I didn’t choose work over Marcel.
“It’s not you, hon. He needs to be alone and sort it out. Maybe when he gets back, you two could take off together for a bit.”
That would be nice. “I hope so.”
“Everything okay with the house?”
The question has the flavor of fatherly concern, and for the first time it hits me, really hits me, this man isn’t just Marcel’s MC president—he’s going to be my father-in-law. “It’s fantastic. He’s in his country-boy element. He and my brother were discussing buying baby chicks and building a coop.” My voice falters. Why am I rambling about chickens? “Before the news.”
“If you need something while we’re gone, don’t be afraid to call Murphy or Z.”
“I will.”
He stares at the stack of files on my desk. “You ever deal with a case like this?”
“Like this?” A long list of the cases I’ve handled spins in my mental filing cabinet. Nothing seems to match. “An adult discovering paternity? Not quite. Children, one or two teenagers. But not an adult.”
“How does it work out?”
Holy shit. My earlier unease returns. What do I say that won’t offend him? “It’s hard. If the father already has another family, sometimes his first reaction is denial for fear of angering his wife or losing his family.”
“Marcel doesn’t have to worry about that. Hope already treats him like a…younger brother.”
“Yes, but you’re getting ready to have a baby. I think he’s worried this has lessened that experience for you somehow. To find out you’re already a father.”
“It hasn’t lessened anything,” he insists. “I’m worried he’s pissed that I didn’t figure it out sooner.”
The admission frees me to give my honest assessment. “Sometimes the children are angry. They feel abandoned. But I don’t think Marcel feels that way at all. I think he’s almost…embarrassed? He already has no love lost for his mother, and this only multiplies that hatred.” And oh, how I understand Marcel’s hatred.
“Shit, yeah. I don’t blame him there. But I can’t really blame her either. I doubt she knew. If she was with someone else…”
I refuse to point out that Marcel’s mother took advantage of Rock. Nice to me or not, he’s still a biker. Giving any indication that he’s a victim in the situation won’t be received well. “You must’ve been a kid yourself,” I say.