16
“Are you sure you want to go in there alone? I don’t mind going in with you.”
“I appreciate it, but it’ll be okay, Alec. This has been a long time coming and it’s time to get this all out in the open.”
Alec held her hands in his as they stood outside Malcom’s office. He did as she asked and got her back home, courtesy of her father’s private jet, and arranged the meeting with him at his lawyer’s office.
“Okay. I’ll be in my office if you need me. Are we still on for tonight? I know this great sushi place that I want to take you to.”
“Sounds wonderful. We also need to pick up some things for Madison’s birthday party tomorrow. I can’t believe she’ll be four.”
“I can’t either. It seems like just yesterday. Are you going to invite him?”
“Trevor? No way.”
“No, I mean him,” Alec said as he nodded toward the office door.
“That still remains to be seen. I agreed I would meet with him and that’s all I can promise right now,” she said before giving him a quick kiss.
After a quick knock, Katie Lyn opened the door and stepped inside. She was extremely nervous as she looked around the room only to see she was alone. She dreamed of this moment when she was a little girl, but as the years came and went, she gave up on the hope of ever being in her father’s life. Her feeling of rejection eventually turned to anger, to the point she refused to acknowledge his name. But now here she was, in his lawyer’s office, ready to meet a man who was her father. Would this be how it was going to be for Madison one day? she wondered.
“Katie Lyn.” She heard a deep male voice and turned to the door. Waylon Bishop—singer, songwriter, Grammy winner—stepped into the room. He was dressed in jeans, denim shirt, worn boots, and a black Stetson hat. He looked just like he did in the magazines she’d look at growing up. They eyed each other for a few minutes until she took a deep breath.
“Hello, Waylon,” she said as she exhaled.
“Would you like something to drink? Have you eaten?” he asked.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
He nodded and once again . . . silence.
Katie Lyn imagined this day quite differently in all the years she thought of her father. She envisioned just walking past him and ignoring him the way she felt he ignored her. Then, once she thought about just letting him have it and getting out all her anger and frustration on him. She even had dreams, from time to time about just running up to him and telling him she loved him, and she missed him. Now, she wasn’t sure what to say or how to act.
“I know you must be thinking to yourself, why now after all these years, is this big jerk wanting to meet with me?” he said.
Katie Lyn couldn’t hold back the smile. She was thinking exactly that very thing.
“I knew it. I don’t blame you, darling. I would be thinking the very same thing if I were in your shoes,” he said as he pointed to the sofa to the left of them.
She relaxed and made her way to the sofa, sitting on one side as he joined her on the opposite end.
“Why?” she asked him. She already knew the answer, but she wanted to hear him say it.
“I don’t know, darling. Your mama was a good girl and I know I broke her heart. I never should’ve taken her away from her family. She was so young, and I was just a wild rebel who was out to prove something. I wasn’t husband material, and I sure wasn’t mature enough to be a father, so I took her back to her daddy.”
“She needed you. When her father found out she was pregnant with me, he kicked her out.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.” He hung his head.
“You would have if you’d stayed.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
“So, when did this all start with having Alec watch over me?”
“The day I found out you came to Malcom’s office looking for me.”
“But he wasn’t here.”
“I know, but Alec was. That boy sure let me have it that day.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You mean he didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“The day my granddaughter was born, he came and found me, and he let me have it.”
“He hit you?” she asked, stunned.
“Nah, but he wanted to. I could tell he wanted to really badly. He basically told me how I was a lousy father for not taking care of you and that he was going to do everything in his power to make sure his grandfather dropped me as a client.”
“He did?” Her shock was apparent.
“He sure did. He impressed me that day.”
“What did you do?”
“What any man would do, I hired him to look after you.”
“I hate to break it to you, but not any man would do that.”
‘Well, maybe you’re right. But any man that would stand up to me the way he did, I wanted on my payroll.”
“Why didn’t you just come talk to us yourself? Why all the secrecy?”
“I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me and how sorry I was. I never would have left you and your mom penniless. If I had known, I would’ve taken care of you. I wish your mom had come to me, like you tried to do.”
“I wish a lot of things, too.”
“I can’t change the past, but I’m here now. It’s your call. I’m so proud of what you’ve accomplished, and I don’t want to tarnish it in any way. If you want the truth about us to stay hidden, just say the word and I’ll make sure it stays that way.”
“What if that’s not what I want? What then?”
“It’s your call, darling. If you want to go tell the world, I’ll stand beside you and proudly claim you as my daughter. You just say the word. In fact, I would love to invite you and Lipstick Outlaws to open up for me at Disney World on December 30th.”
“You’re touring again?”
“Yep. I have an album releasing next week and another one in the works. That’ll be my first concert opening the comeback tour. I hope this old man still has it.”
Katie Lyn stood and walked to the window, looking outside. This was a decision she didn’t want to make lightly. It could affect her career and the career of her bandmates. She needed to talk it over with everyone first, especially her mom. She owed her that.
“Please, I need a day or two to think things over and talk with the band. This could impact all of us and I don’t want to make this decision without them. I hope you understand that.”
“Of course, I understand.” He stood and approached her. “I’m not going anywhere, at least not for a while, I hope.”
Katie Lyn walked to the door, but stopped, turning to face him again.
“Tomorrow we’re celebrating your granddaughter’s fourth birthday. The party starts at two. I’d like you to be there.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Katie Lyn nodded and stepped out of the office.
* * *
That afternoon, Katie Lyn and Alec met with Val and the girls at the Turquoise Horse. She had asked Waylon for a few days, but in truth, she wanted to get this over with before Maddie’s birthday party. She meant what she told him this morning, this was a big decision and she wanted to make sure everyone agreed.
She had met with her mother earlier and was surprised when she gave her blessing and would support her in whatever she decided. Now, it was the moment of truth.
“So, let me get this straight. You want us to do a concert with Waylon next month and then you’re going to announce to the media that you’re his daughter?” Rissa said as she looked over at Val.
“Yes. I would like to, but only if we’re all in agreement. Like I said before, I don’t want to do anything that’ll jeopardize our band.” Katie Lyn looked at each of them and then they all looked at Val.
“What’s everyone looking at me for?”
“I think I speak for all of us, I’m behind you, Katie Lyn, on all of this, but Val is our manager,
and I think the final decision should be hers,” Rissa said and all the girls nodded in agreement.
“Gee, thanks,” Val said as she looked at Katie Lyn.
“What do you think, Val. Do we do this or not?” Katie Lyn asked as Alec stood behind her with his hand on her shoulder to show his support.
“If you girls are all willing to take some time away from your vacation to do this, I say . . . let’s do it.”
17
Katie Lyn’s entire backyard looked like an undersea world. Everywhere you turned there were mermaid decorations to celebrate Madison’s fourth birthday. There were several bounce houses, and even a pony that Auntie Cin Cin borrowed for the day.
“Do you think you may have gone a little overboard here? And who are all these kids?” Cinnamon asked as she helped her set the cupcakes out.
“Kids from Sunday school, and the neighborhood, and of course, you know Jake’s daughter, Emmy. She invited them all and he’s the culprit in all of this.” Katie Lyn extended her arms before pointing at Alec.
“It’s just a couple of bounce houses, I couldn’t make up my mind which one to get!” he exclaimed with wide, innocent eyes.
Katie Lyn was feeling sentimental thinking about how quickly Madison was already growing. She was the one highlight of her life that Trevor gave her. She only prayed she could continue to be there. The fear of Trevor getting custody terrified her. When she found herself feeling scared, she looked at Alec. He stood so strong and proud and she knew he’d do anything for her and for Madison.
“Hey, there. What are you so deep in thought about over here? Why aren’t you sitting over there and talking to the girls?” Alec came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Just taking care of a few things, that’s all.”
“Waylon is here, by the way. In case you didn’t know.”
“Where?” Katie Lyn looked around the crowd in the backyard.
“Over there talking to your mother by the cotton candy machine.”
She finally spotted him and was shocked to see that he was indeed talking to her mother. She bet there were some pretty colorful words being exchanged right now between those two.
“You better be ready to save him. After all these years, my mom probably wants to strangle him.”
“I don’t know about that. They look pretty friendly to me,” Alec teased her.
She looked at them again and Alec was right. They were smiling and talking, and her mother was laughing. It appeared they were having a good time.
“What’s going on? She almost looks happy to see him.”
“Not sure. Maybe she decided if you could forgive him, she should try.”
“Maybe.” She shrugged.
“Hey, my folks called earlier, they just got to Maui. They wanted to be sure you got Madison’s gift in the mail.”
“I did. It came yesterday. Wow, Maui. I bet the weather is gorgeous there right now. I hope one day I can take Madison. I bet my little mermaid would love it.”
“You’ve never been?”
“No, but it’s on the bucket list.”
“Maybe we can go someday soon,” Alec whispered in her ear.
“Maybe.”
“Anyway, they wanted to apologize again for not being able to be here today and for having to decline your invitation to Thanksgiving dinner.”
“They don’t have to apologize. Your mom and I spoke the other day and she told me that they go to Hawaii this time every year. She’s just thankful that you have somewhere to go for Thanksgiving dinner and not be stuck in your apartment eating burnt turkey pot pie.”
“I only did that one year, and I’m not so sure I like this whole thing about my mom calling my girlfriend and telling her embarrassing stories about me.”
Katie Lyn paused at the mention of the term girlfriend. She and Alec had been so caught up with the pending court date, and the Waylon fiasco, that they hadn’t really discussed their relationship and what the future would hold for them. She wondered if he was sure he wanted to go from being a lonely bachelor to instant family man?
“Hey, what’s wrong? You suddenly got all quiet on me,” Alec said as he turned her to face him.
“Are you sure you want to do this? Date someone who’s in the limelight and about to have more media attention. Someone who will be on the road again at the beginning of the year, traveling all over. Someone who will be devoting the only spare time she has to being a mom to her child. Do you really want a girlfriend with so much going on and so much baggage?”
“I know I want you and that little girl to be in my life. I love both of you and your world has now become my world. Correction, our world. As long as we love each other, we can make this work.”
He touched his forehead to hers and stood looking into her eyes. She didn’t shy away this time and kept eye contact with him as she spoke.
“I do love you and I trust you. Neither of those words come easy for me, but it’s true.”
* * *
“I grabbed the last decent can of cranberry sauce they had. All the other cans were dented,” Cinnamon said as she placed the can on the self-check register.
“Thanks. We need to hurry and grab these things and get home. Mama is watching the turkey and taking care of Madison. Alec and Waylon are on their way. Are you sure you won’t stay and have Thanksgiving dinner with us?”
Katie Lyn hoped her friend would change her mind. She could use her moral support right now. The days were flying by and the court date was fast approaching. Trevor and his lawyer hadn’t reached out, nor dropped the petition. She wondered if a judge would buy his story as the poor father, who was cheated out of the first four years of his daughter’s life. She didn’t care about the money; she’d gladly pay him. She just wanted to make sure her daughter stayed with her.
“Thanks for the invite, but I promised Nick I would have dinner with them. Maybe next year.”
“Oh, I don’t even want to think about next year. It could be possible that Trevor has Madison for Thanksgiving then. Cin, I don’t know what I’m going to do if he gets to have custody of her.”
“Alec is not going to let that happen. You have to have a little faith, girl.”
“I know. Everyone keeps telling me that, but it’s hard. There’s so much going on. The holidays, the court date, the interview with Waylon and the press next week and then another concert we didn’t plan on,” she said as she grabbed the bags of food and headed for the door.
They stepped out of the Winn-Dixie and right into a middle of a media mob. Lights were flashing in front of them and they could barely move for the mics shoved in their faces and bombarded them with question after question.
“Katie Lyn, what was it like growing up as Waylon Bishop's daughter?”
“Katie Lyn, did Waylon Bishop leave you and your mother on the streets?”
“Katie Lyn, are you and your father going to tour together?”
“Is this the end of Lipstick Outlaws?”
“Is the band going to break up?”
“Please, just stop. What’s going on?” Katie Lyn cried out. She tried to push her way through the crowd, but it was too thick to get through.
“Move out of our way and leave us alone,” Cinnamon yelled.
“Move out of the way. Move.” Katie Lyn heard someone yelling and the next thing she knew she was being pulled to the side of a man and helped into a limo. Cinnamon was right after her. He wasn’t just any man. He was her man, Alec
“Go. Get us out of here,” Alec told the driver. “Are you girls okay?”
“Yeah, now. Thanks to you,” Cinnamon said as she straightened herself up.
“Alec, what’s going on? Why are all those reporters out there?”
“I suppose your ex-husband finally played that card.”
“Trevor did this? He went to the media?” Katie Lyn looked over at Cin.
“Yep. It’s all over social media right now,” Alec confirmed.
“Safe and sound. Don’t worry. I have guards at your gate. No one comes in without approval.”
“What did he tell them?”
“Oh, wow . . . Katie Lyn, he told them everything. Look at what he wrote on Twitter.” Cin already had her phone out to investigate.
Katie Lyn read the post. Cin was right, he spilled the beans about everything about Waylon and her mom . . . and the custody hearing.
“Oh great. Val and Nigel are going to flip out about this. We don’t need this kind of press,” Cinnamon said.
“Cin, I’m so sorry.”
Before Cinnamon could say anything, Alec said, “Waylon contacted the media and set up an interview for tomorrow morning. He and Nigel decided it’s best to just get it out there now and do some damage control. They both want your ex-husband’s head on a platter for this stunt.”
“I can’t say I blame them,” Cinnamon chimed in.
* * *
They were able to drop Cinnamon off at her brother Nick’s place and waited there for the limo to leave, hoping the press would follow. Alec gave the driver instructions to drive around leading them on a wild goose chase so he could find a way to get Katie Lyn safely home. Nick agreed to let them use his truck to plan an escape back to Katie Lyn’s place and it seemed to work as they were able to drive back with no one following.
As soon as Alec was notified that the press was following Katie Lyn and Cinnamon this morning, he went into action. Seeing the woman he loved being hounded by the press, disturbed him. How was he going to be able to protect them at all times? Especially when she goes back on the road at the beginning of the year. They were going to have to have a serious talk soon.
“How’s Waylon handling all of this?” Katie Lyn asked him as he drove them home.
“Fine. He’s used to this kind of stuff. He’s more worried about you.”
“Me? Why’s he worried about me?”
“I think he’s afraid you’ll change your mind about going public with him, and of course, he’s worried about how all this attention is affecting you. But most of all, I think he’s worried because he loves you and wants to protect you.”
Katie Lyn’s Guarded Heart: Sweethearts of Country Music, Book 4 Page 13
