What Makes A Father (HQR Special Edition)

by Teresa Southwick

  “Yeah.”

  He handed back the phone. “But why would you think I’d change my mind?”

  “I just found out that the babies I thought were mine are actually not. I won’t lie. This information hit me pretty hard because I’ve wanted to be a dad very badly and for a long time. It seemed to me that the man who is their biological father would jump at the chance to claim Charlie and Sarah.”

  “Does Annie know you contacted me?”

  “I didn’t want to say anything until after I talked to you. But these kids deserve to know their real father.” Since he felt like their real father, it tore him up to even say that.

  “Look, I’m not father material and maybe I never will be. My childhood was crap and my old man was a son of a bitch, probably still is. I wouldn’t know because I refuse to see him. The fact is I doubt I’d be a very good father because my role model sucked.”

  Mason had always taken his close family life for granted, until he’d met Annie. She’d told him more than once how lucky he was to have his parents and siblings, and this guy was confirming that.

  Mason met the other man’s gaze. “So you’re sure about this? The decision is right for you?”

  “Some choices are hard, but this isn’t one of them. Especially because they have Annie and you.” He shoved his fingers through his blond hair. “Look, I’m not a complete bastard. If there’s a health issue, or someday they’re curious about me, I’ll do what’s right. But as far as raising them? Those kids are better off without me.”

  “Okay.”

  Tyler looked at his linked fingers for a moment then back up. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “I doubt that.” Mason almost laughed. There’s no way he could possibly know.

  “It’s nothing I haven’t thought about. I should have been more responsible about birth control if I feel so strongly about not having kids.”

  “Now that you mention it...”

  “Believe it or not, I’m very conscientious about that. I wore a condom. It broke, but I didn’t think too much about it because Jessica told me she was on the Pill. Those twins were meant to be, I guess.”

  “Apparently.”

  “Look, Dr. Blackburne, I made the right call—for me and for them. You obviously care and they’re lucky to have you. If it matters, you have my blessing.”

  Oddly enough, it did matter. “Thanks for not blowing off this meeting, Tyler.”

  “You’re welcome.” He slid out of the booth and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Same here.” Mason stood and shook his hand then watched the man exit the way he’d come.

  “You look like someone who needs a drink.” The voice came from behind him, but it was familiar.

  Mason had been so lost in his own thoughts, he hadn’t heard anyone approach. He turned and saw Leo “The Wall” Wallace, a former NHL star who co-owned this place with his wife.

  “Hi, Leo.”

  “How are Annie and the kids?”

  “Healthy.” Physically, anyway. She would barely look at him and cried every night, so there was that.

  The big man was studying him intently. “Well, my friend, you look like hell.”

  “Since when did insulting a customer become a good marketing strategy?” No matter how true it might be.

  “It’s just an observation and I wasn’t kidding about that drink. Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

  “It’s too early,” Mason protested.

  “You’re the doctor but you don’t always know what’s best.”

  Mason did as instructed and watched the other man walk over to the bar and say something to the bartender. Instantly the woman got two glasses then took a bottle of some kind of brown liquor from the display behind the bar. She poured, then slid the tumblers across the bar to her boss. Leo carried them to the table, setting one in front of Mason.

  “Drink up, Doc. It’s medicinal.”

  Mason looked at it for a moment then, figuring he couldn’t feel any worse, he tossed back the contents of his glass. It was smooth going down then burned in his chest and all the way to his gut. At least for a few moments the searing sensation took his mind off the pain eating up his insides.

  Leo toyed with his glass. “So, who was that guy you were talking to? The conversation looked pretty intense.”

  Mason saw no reason not to tell him. His family knew and had tried to help. But what could they say? Words didn’t change the results of the test. Talking this through might help. Although he wasn’t sure how. It wouldn’t change the fact that the rug had been ripped out from under him and the truth he thought he knew was a lie.

  “That guy I talked to is the twins’ biological father.” He explained about the lab error.

  “I’m speechless.” Leo looked like he’d just been smacked with a hockey stick. Finally he said, “How is Annie taking this?”

  “Better than me. She says it doesn’t make any difference. Love is all that matters.”

  The other man’s expression turned dark and serious. “She’s right.”

  “Wait a minute. You’re a guy. I thought you’d understand.”

  “You mean take your side. And I do understand. More than you think.” Leo tossed back the liquor in front of him then toyed with the glass. “I was married once before. We had a baby boy and I love him more than I can say.”

  “Okay. Didn’t know that, but I’m not sure what this has to do with my situation.”

  “He’s not mine biologically. She lied to me, said she was pregnant with my child, and I married her. After a couple of years when she was having an affair with the guy, she said her son should be raised by his real father.”

  Pain darkened the man’s eyes and he sucked in a breath. “The thing is, I felt like his real father. I changed diapers, fed him, played with him, got up at night when he cried. Loved him more than anything. It doesn’t get more real than that, but suddenly I had no say in any decisions concerning my son, simply because he didn’t have my DNA.” Leo met his gaze. “Everything changed except the way I felt about him.”

  “Oh, man—” Mason shook his head. “Now I don’t know what to say.”

  “Tess and I got off to a rocky start emotionally, but there was this irresistible physical attraction from the moment we met. One night we gave in to it and she got pregnant. She swore the baby was mine, but I’d been burned once and didn’t want to be made a fool of again. It nearly ruined the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “That’s rough.”

  “Yeah. But now the most wonderful woman in the world is mine and we have a beautiful little girl.” His expression brightened. “My point in telling you this is that I have a pretty good idea what you’re going through. And I have to say that meeting with the twins’ biological father seems straight up to me.”

  “I appreciate that.” Mason remembered his conversation with Annie the night he’d found out about the error. It was bitter and full of self-pity. “But Annie... I said some things.”

  “People say stupid stuff when they’re dealing with really emotional situations. It’s understandable.”

  “Not this.”

  Leo frowned. “What did you say to her?”

  “That we didn’t need to get married.”

  “I’m sorry... What?”

  Mason sighed. “I told her—”

  “I heard what you said.” His friend stared at him as if he had two heads. “You implied that you only married her because you believed you were the twins’ father?”

  Mason winced. “When you say it like that—”

  “I’m guessing that she wasn’t happy.”

  “She’s moving out with the kids as soon as she can find a place to live,” he confirmed.

  “You are an outstanding doctor, but communication is not really your thing.” Leo ga
ve him a pitying look. “So, genius, why did you marry Annie?”

  Mason was running on pure adrenaline now and just snapped out the answer without overthinking it. “I’m in love with her and the babies. I love her so much that I’ll let her go if that’s what’s best for them. Even if it kills me.”

  And just saying those words, he died a little more. But he meant it.

  “You’re a damn fool, Mason.”

  “What?”

  “This isn’t some romantic tragedy. This is real life. You have a beautiful woman who loves you.” Leo pointed a finger at him. “Don’t give me that look. I know what I’m talking about. You may not believe this, but I’m a lot more than just an ex-jock businessman. I saw the way she was looking at you the night you got married. Right here at Patrick’s Place. Trust me. Those were not the looks of a woman getting married just for the sake of the kids.”

  They had deliberately avoided defining anything besides friendship and respect—even in their wedding vows. And what Mason felt was so much more than that or he never would have proposed in the first place.

  “Oh, man... I really blew it,” Mason said.

  “You think?” Leo pointed at him again. “You gotta fix this, pal. And trust me. It won’t be easy.”

  He was right, Mason thought. He had to fix things with Annie. But how?

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Bob wants to see you in his office.”

  Annie was working in her cubicle and looked over her shoulder at Ella, who was standing right outside. “What does he want?”

  “Don’t know. He just told me to tell you. Consider yourself told.”

  “Did he look happy? Sad? Mad?”

  Ella thought about the question. “Not sure. If people’s faces were emojis, I could tell you.”

  “Point taken. And it has to be said, no one can tell what Bob is feeling. He’s remarkably even-tempered.”

  “He is.” Ella studied her. “You, on the other hand, wear your heart on your sleeve.”

  Annie really hoped that wasn’t true. Because then everyone would know how crushed she was about why Mason married her. “Really?”

  “Are you kidding? Everyone in the office has been wondering what’s been bugging you for the last couple of days.”

  “No way,” Annie said. “I’m the same as always.”

  “That’s not what Cruz says, and he’s right next door to you.”

  “What is he saying?”

  “That since the night Mason picked you up here and took you to dinner you’ve been so bright and shiny it makes his head hurt. But the last few days, you look like someone popped your wedded-bliss balloon.”

  Hmm, she hadn’t realized her cubicle buddy was so observant. Or that she was so transparent. Or that she could miss Mason’s touch so much it was impossible to hide her feelings about him. Being humiliated in school because of her learning disability had been the training ground for her poker face. Only Jessica had been able to tell when she was concealing her pain and anguish. But apparently now her coworkers could, too.

  “I’m fine. Just tired. With two babies in the house, who can sleep?” Duck, cover and conceal.

  Old habits died hard and she didn’t want to talk about this. The babies had been sleeping better than those first few months after she’d brought them home from the hospital. It was Mason keeping her up. All the what-ifs and if-onlys haunted her. How could she have been stupid enough to fall for him? That was actually the easiest question to answer.

  Chemistry. She’d felt it from the beginning and it wasn’t something easily ignored. Plus he was so darn nice, a truly good man. Practically perfect, which was ironic because she didn’t trust perfect. Yet she’d started to trust him and her heart hadn’t stood a chance.

  “I’m fine, Ella.”

  “Okay.” The woman’s tone said she wasn’t buying that. “But if you need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

  “Thanks.” She pushed the chair away from her desk and stood. “I’ll go see what Bob wants.”

  “Right.”

  Annie could tell by her coworker’s expression that she was hurt and just wanted to help. It was much appreciated, but she was on the emotional edge and desperately clinging to her professionalism at work. And just before a meeting with her boss was not a good time to air out her personal problems.

  She walked to his office. The door was open and he was at his desk. “You wanted to see me?”

  “Annie. Yes.” He took off his glasses and tossed them on the desk. “Come in. Would you close the door, please?”

  She did as requested then sat in the chair on the other side of his desk. “Are you firing me? Should I be worried?”

  “No.” He smiled. “Just the opposite.”

  “The opposite would be not firing me.”

  “I’m making the announcement in the morning to the staff, but I wanted to tell you first.”

  “About?”

  “I’m putting you in charge of the campaign for our newest client.” Bob’s face grew rounder when he smiled broadly.

  “We got the account.”

  “Yes. In no small part because of your talent and hard work.”

  “It was a team effort,” she said.

  “A team that you organized and led.” He nodded at her. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.”

  This was a real “how do you like me now” moment to everyone who ever bullied, teased and belittled her. To anyone who’d called her stupid. This was what she’d worked her butt off for. Against the odds and while raising two infants, she’d managed to come up with creative concepts and execute them, enough to impress a major company and get them to trust C&J Graphic Design with their business.

  Now she would be in charge of that account. How she wished Jessica could see her now. She should be doing the dance of joy, except none of it meant anything to her because she’d lost Mason and the family they had made together.

  To her horror and humiliation, Annie burst into tears. She buried her face in her hands for several moments then pulled herself together with an effort to look at her boss. “Sorry. That wasn’t weird at all.”

  “Not quite the reaction I expected,” he admitted.

  “Tears of joy. Honestly.” She tried to smile but knew it was wobbly at best.

  “You should be proud, Annie. It was a lot of pressure and you’ve handled it with grace, intelligence and enthusiasm.”

  “Thank you.” She brushed away tears that just kept leaking out of her eyes for no reason.

  “I think you should take the rest of the day off. You deserve it. Go home. Let off some steam. Be with your beautiful family.”

  That nearly sent her into another meltdown because that family was gone. But she managed to maintain her composure long enough to thank him again and walk out of his office.

  Family. The idea of it got to her every time. It was the opposite of her superpower. It was her vulnerability. For a pathetically short period of time she’d had everything. The babies, a husband and father, in-laws she loved. It was idyllic. Then a lab error had torn her perfect world apart.

  She grabbed her purse from her cubicle and managed to sneak out without seeing anyone. She found her car in the parking lot and put the key in the ignition. But where was she going? Mason wasn’t working today and had the twins. He’d insisted, but that was probably all about guilt.

  He was clear on the fact that he had a legal responsibility to the babies but insisted he wasn’t allowed to have an emotional one. With her promotion, she would probably have to spend more time in the office and that meant hiring someone to watch her children. She couldn’t count on him. Not anymore.

  As badly as she wanted to see Sarah and Charlie, to hold them, she couldn’t face Mason in this raw state. So she backed the car out of the space and drove out of the lot. Instea
d of taking the turn to go to his house, she went in the opposite direction.

  For a long time she just kept driving as thoughts tumbled through her mind. She was operating on autopilot, but her subconscious took over. That was the only explanation for how she eventually ended up at Florence Blackburne’s house and saw the woman’s car parked in the driveway.

  Annie made a spontaneous decision to stop. She parked in front, walked up to the door then rang the bell. Flo answered almost right away. She was holding Sarah. In the background Charlie was crying.

  “Boy am I glad to see you.” The other woman acted as if nothing had changed. “These two are both hungry. I know they can hold their own bottles now, but I prefer to hold them.”

  “Me, too. But sometimes you can’t.”

  “The downside of being a twin is having to share because there aren’t enough adults around to help.”

  “This isn’t one of those times. I’ll go get him,” Annie said.

  Working together, they warmed bottles and settled on the sofa in the family room. Each of them had a baby to feed.

  Annie couldn’t get the bottle into Charlie’s mouth fast enough. But when she did, there was silence as he sucked the formula down. “Where did Mason go? Did the hospital call him in?”

  “No. He said he had to see someone and was going to Patrick’s Place.”

  Annie felt a knot in her stomach. “Another woman?”

  “If so, I don’t think he’d have mentioned that to me,” Flo said. Then her expression changed from teasing to concern. “What’s going on with you two? He told us about the lab error, Annie. But I’m not sure why your first thought would be about him meeting another woman.”

  Annie sighed. Her subconscious had brought her there for a reason. Talking to Mason’s mother certainly couldn’t make things worse than they already were. “He all but told me he only married me because he thought he was the babies’ father.”

  The other woman took the bottle away from Sarah then lifted her up for a burp, and she produced a very unladylike one. Flo rubbed her back and met Annie’s gaze. “The truth of finding out he’s not their father threw him. Mason is solid and steady, unflappable. But he was rocked by this. And he’s a doctor. He relies on lab tests being correct so that he can treat his patients accordingly.”