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)
Jaxson rolled his eyes. “As if I wouldn’t look after her, Richard?”
I slapped him on the back. “Just checking.”
I watched Katy hug Gracie, tears of happiness in her eyes. It made me smile to see her excitement. “There’re gonna be babies everywhere.” I chuckled. “We’ll never be home with all the visiting.”
Jaxson laughed. “You love it.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“You’re okay now?” he asked in a low voice.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied, forcing my voice to remain light. Until I had the test results, I wasn’t going to discuss it.
“If you need me, I’m here.”
I met his eyes. We bickered and traded insults, but I was fond of my son-in-law. It shouldn’t have shocked me that Gracie married someone who reminded me of myself. It was what she knew. And Jaxson was a great husband to her.
“Thanks. I’m around to show you how to be a good dad, too.”
He snorted. “Whatever.”
There had been other moments of levity as well. Time with our friends. Another successful meeting I held for The Gavin Group.
I had taken a detour on the way home, sitting in my car outside the small place Ashley shared with a friend. The lawn was green, the flower bed neat, and her older Toyota sat in the driveway, clean and well maintained. The urge to go to the door and knock on it had been strong. To ask her to talk to me without the rancor and bitterness that colored her image of me at present. But I held myself back and drove away, somehow finding a strange comfort seeing where she lived. It was a quiet, nice area, and her home looked well looked after. I had read everything Reid found about her, absorbing the details. She was smart, independent, and successful. She did a lot of charity work. She had graduated with honors. Reid had found some pictures, and I studied them, seeing the resemblance so clearly now, I was shocked I hadn’t noticed it instantly. She was a blend of her mother and me, my eye color and cowlick standing out against the more feminine features she’d gotten from Juliet. Her smile was more like mine, though. Wide and toothy. She had my height and hands. I recalled Juliet lamenting her short fingers. She never wore rings and kept her nails blunt and trimmed, unlike so many models who had long, tapered nails and loved to flash jewelry on their hands. Juliet had preferred earrings and necklaces which showed off her long, elegant neck and ears. More and more details flooded my mind as the days went by, including her sense of humor, and I wondered if there would ever come a time I could share those memories with Ashley.
Halton cleared his throat, and I redirected my attention his way. I needed to pay attention to the present.
“I have the test results. Ashley will be here in a moment. Do you want to know them before she arrives?”
I felt Katy’s grip on my hand tighten.
“Am I her father?”
“Yes. The test was conclusive, Richard. You are her father. How do you want to proceed?”
His words echoed in my head. Although a huge part of me already knew the answer, hearing him confirm it was still a bit of a shock. I looked at Katy, seeing only love and understanding in her eyes. I squeezed her hand.
“I think we need to see what Ashley wants, Halton.”
“What do you want?”
I cleared my throat and took a sip of the coffee his assistant had brought in when we sat down.
“For her not to hate me. I don’t want to be her enemy.”
“That’s up to her.”
I nodded in agreement.
His intercom buzzed, and he stood. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
I drew in a deep breath, tamping down my anxiety.
“I’ll do the talking, Richard. Stay calm.” His gaze moved between Katy and me. “Both of you.”
Ashley came in, her shoulders back, her head held high. Not unexpectedly, Luc was with her, his hand holding hers. She was lovely, dressed impeccably, looking calm, although her eyes were anxious. I stood, as did Katy, nodding in greeting to them.
“Luc, Ashley,” I said.
Luc held out his hand, and I shook it. Ashley remained out of reach, and I didn’t offer her my hand, already knowing she didn’t want to engage with me.
We all sat down, and Halton looked between us, his voice level and calm. “We all know why we’re here. I have the test results, and it won’t come as a shock to you, Ashley, that Richard is your father.” He slid a piece of paper her way. “This shows a confirmed match. I have already informed him.”
She took the paper, her hand shaking. She studied the words and information, then nodded.
Halton sat back. “How would you like to proceed, Ashley?”
“Are you asking in your professional capacity?” she responded, tossing her hair over her shoulder.