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)
He spread his hands. “I’m here as a concerned member of the family, of which you are now a part, I might add. Richard hasn’t hired me in any capacity, except to facilitate the meeting.”
Her eyes flew to mine, for the first time our gazes connecting fully. I saw the wariness and anxiety in them. The same I was sure as she saw in mine. I cleared my throat and spoke.
“Ashley, I know all this has come as a shock to you. It has to me as well.” I leaned forward, earnest. “I didn’t know your mother was pregnant.”
“Why would she lie to me?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “She was right about one thing. The man I was when she knew me was cold. Unfeeling. I wasn’t a nice person, and I suppose she was protecting you from me.”
“What changed?” she challenged me.
“I met Katy. Fell in love. Became a different person.”
She rolled her eyes. “Love changed you?” she questioned. “How Hallmark.”
“I don’t know about Hallmark, but I know Katy being in my life made me a better man.”
“I don’t know if I believe you. My mother was an honest person. She never lied to me.”
“She did in this case.”
She shook her head. “You expect me to believe you?”
“No,” I said. “I don’t. You don’t know me. All you know is the hate you feel. The hate your mother’s lies fed into all these years.”
“Don’t you dare say a bad word about my mother,” she snarled.
I held up my hands. “I’m not. I’m stating my truth, just as you’re stating yours.”
She sat forward, her hands clenched. “My truth is I grew up without a father. Watched my mother struggle. I never felt the security of a family. My truth is very different from your other children’s.”
I reined in my temper. “Again, I didn’t know.”
“And what would you have done if you did?”
I was honest. “Back then, nothing emotional. I would have given your mother money. I like to think once you were older and I had matured, I would have sought you out. Tried to help. Perhaps attempted to build a relationship with you.” I sat back, studying her. “I don’t know, Ashley. We were both lied to and never got that chance.”
Her hands curled into fists. “Don’t you dare,” she spat.
Luc curled his hands around hers. “Ashley,” he murmured.
She shook off his touch. “I will not hear my mother disparaged.”
“I don’t know why your mother told you I knew. I didn’t,” I stated clearly. “She had her reasons, and I’m sure, to her, they were valid. She isn’t with us to ask her. But it doesn’t change the here and now. I do know about you. You know who I am. So, the question is, where do you want to go from here?”
She glared at me. “What are you offering, Richard? You going to welcome me to the clan? Host a party at the Hub announcing me? You think your other kids are going to welcome me into the fold? Your hidden mistake from the past?”
Her words touched my sore spot. I was worried about telling my kids. Their reaction. How they would feel about me when I told them.
Before I could speak, Katy did. Her voice was calm.
“Our children will be shocked by this news, but we will figure it out as a family, because that is what we always do.” She tilted her head, studying Ashley. “I met your mother a few times. She was beautiful. Kind. I saw her after she and Richard—” she swallowed “—your father, broke up. She came to see him, but he was out of town. I think she knew she was pregnant and decided not to tell him. She left BC not long after. She never got back in touch with him.”
“Of course you would defend him,” Ashley said.
“I’m simply stating the facts as I know them.”
“Excuse me if I think your facts are distorted,” Ashley sneered, her voice dismissive.
I stood. “I will not allow you to disparage my wife,” I said firmly, using Ashley’s words against her. “I know you’re angry and upset. I am as well, so I get it. But we need to find a starting point and go from there.”
Halton interrupted us. “Can I suggest we all take a minute? Richard, sit down.” He focused his gaze on Ashley. “Ashley, you started this. You could have suspected Richard was your father and walked away, but you didn’t. You confronted him, agreed to the DNA test for proof, so you must want something. You need to tell us what that is.”
Ashley was quiet for a moment.
“Is it money?” I asked, unable to keep my mouth shut.
“I don’t need your money,” she hissed, her eyes flashing in anger.
“What is it you need, then?” I bent forward, resting my elbows on my thighs. “What do you want, Ashley?” I shook my head. “Can we try to have a simple, honest conversation?”