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 spoke up. “Gracie, let your dad explain.”
She turned to him. “Do you already know?”
“I only know the basics. Your dad was worried about your reaction,” he replied honestly.
Our shared glance said it all. I should have been worried.
She turned back to me. “Well? What does she want?”
“I have no idea,” I said. “At this point, all I know is that the DNA tests proved she is my daughter. We met at Halton’s yesterday and got the news. She has my contact information, and I’ll leave it to her to decide the next step.”
“The next step?”
“If she wants to get to know me. To get to know our family,” I said gently.
“Maybe I don’t want to know her.” Gracie sniffed. “How old is she?”
“Older than you. It was before your mom and I were together,” I repeated. “I didn’t cheat on her.”
“And why did she wait until now to contact you? She must want money.”
“She didn’t know who I was.”
“None of this is making any sense, Dad,” she snapped.
I met Katy’s gaze, unsure how to handle Gracie’s anger. We were so close, it was rare for her to show me anything but affection. Annoyance on occasion, but never this level of anger.
Katy leaned forward. “Let your dad explain, sweetheart. There is more to this than you know.”
“I can hardly wait to hear it,” Gracie replied sarcastically. “Tales of my father’s misspent youth. This should be fun.”
“Watch your tone,” Katy warned. “This hasn’t been easy on your father. On either of us.”
Gracie crossed her arms, silent and unrepentant.
Stalling for time, I took a sip of coffee. I glanced at Katy, hating to see the worry on her expression.
“I never knew Juliet was pregnant. She didn’t tell me. Through a freakish set of circumstances, this woman recognized me and told me her story,” I said, glossing over the details, knowing Gracie would only get angrier. “I had Halton and Reid do some checking, Halton arranged the DNA test, and it confirmed what I already knew. What I could see with my own eyes.” I drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Ashley is my daughter.”
Gracie’s eyes grew round. “Ashley?” she repeated. “The woman we met at the wedding? Luc’s date?”
“Yes.”
“Ashley is your daughter?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. How did she arrange to meet you and tell you this?”
I scrubbed my face. “She didn’t, sweetheart. She recognized the monogram on my shirt sleeve as matching a shirt of mine that her mother had kept. Her mother told her it belonged to her father.”
Gracie snorted. “She decided you were her father because of a monogram? That’s pretty thin.”
I shook my head. “She saw the resemblance between us. How much she looked like Heather with my eyes. Hell, I saw it but didn’t put it together. The eyes, the cowlick, something about her smile. Even her damn hands are like mine. The dates her mother lived in BC lined up.” I paused. “She is my daughter, Gracie.”
Gracie shifted and crossed her legs, swinging her foot in agitation.
“And now she wants what, exactly?”
“Don’t make her out to be a villain,” I admonished her gently. “She hasn’t asked for anything.”
“And when she does?”
“Then your mother and I will handle it.” I paused. “She’s angry too.”
“Why the hell should she be angry? She just found out her father is a rich business tycoon. That the boyfriend she’s been dating has an adopted family of wealthy businessmen. She’s rolling in it.”
“She didn’t plan this, Gracie. It happened in the blink of an eye. She’s as shocked as we are, I think. And right now, she wants nothing to do with me. Her mother told her I abandoned them, and she hates me. There is a very good chance she’ll have nothing to do with me or us as a family.”
“Good.”
Katy shook her head. “You don’t mean that, Gracie. You’re just upset right now.”
“Did you abandon her, Dad? I mean, you tell us all the time you were an asshole before you met Mom. Did you knock up her mother and walk away? Have you known all this time and just hoped it never came out?”
I was shocked at the flare of anger that went through me. “No, I did not,” I said, tapping the top of the table. “You know me better than that. You know the kind of father I am.”
“But I don’t know how much of a bastard you were before. How many other past mistakes are suddenly going to show up?”
Katy gasped and I stood, my rage so hot it burned and sizzled under my skin. My voice was cold and removed when I spoke.
“I know you’re distraught, Grace. I know all this has come as a shock. It fucking has to me too. And your mother. Yes, I was an asshole. Selfish. But I didn’t know about Ashley. If I had, I would have sought out her mother and helped them. Your mother taught me how to love, and that would have included an innocent child.” I leaned forward, bracing my hands on the table. “She is still innocent and under the misguided notion I abandoned them. It hurt enough to know she thought that, still thinks that, but to hear you question it?” I shook my head as my throat felt thick.