The Texan's Secret Daughter

by Jolene Navarro

  “We don’t always get what we deserve. I’ve got everything I need—my girls, a family I can count on, a business I love and God. What else do I need? A man? No, thanks. Anyway, who would I date? All the men around here know my past. Jazmine knows us. She knows you, all of you, and she still believes in you. Think about that. Now, go be with your daughter.”

  He nodded and swung around, jumping up the ladder. His stomach tightened, but he couldn’t focus on the days ahead. Right now he had Rosemarie, and he wanted her to have good memories of her father.

  The kind to let her know he loved her even if he falls.

  His sister was right. Giving her the childhood he never had could happen one day at a time.

  Each morning he could wake up and promise to love them through the day. Day that could make up years.

  Was it too late? Had he pushed Jazmine past the point of forgiving him ever again?

  Chapter Seventeen

  The sun was peeking over the water as he drove to the three-story beach home. To Jazmine. He was not going to let them get on that plane tomorrow without laying his heart on the line like she had done for him. He had been a coward that night.

  Stepping out of his truck, Elijah looked to the top of the three-story beach house. He closed his eyes. Please, God, give me the words and the strength I need to do this work. For the last few days, he had gone back and forth on and circled every word his sister had said.

  Letting Jazmine go had not been for the good of her and their daughter.

  He could give her one day, each day. Together they could watch the sun rise and make a new vow each morning to love one another. The same as he vowed to God each morning to turn his problem over to him.

  He stood at the door, wiping his hands over his jeans. Had he waited too long?

  Before he knocked, the front door opened. “Elijah?”

  Jazmine’s mother stood on the threshold.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She stepped farther out and closed the door behind her. “They’re not here.”

  All the blood drained from his body, and his head went blank. They couldn’t be gone. “No. It’s too early.”

  “She got a call yesterday. There was an emergency at work, and they asked her to come back. They left on the next flight out. Didn’t she call you?”

  “I had a missed call from her and a message she wanted to talk, but...” She hadn’t want to tell him over the phone. “I had Lane cover my charter today and came over to talk.” It seemed she had decided to move on just like he told her. What did he do now?

  He looked Azalea in the eye. “I love her. I love them both.”

  “I know.”

  “You also know I don’t deserve her.” He stood before her with his hat in his hands.

  “My daughter loves you. She never stopped. I don’t want to see her hurt, and I trust you want the same. That’s what I’ve seen this summer, anyway. In God I trust. If you do the same, this will be good for everyone.”

  There was a new lightness in his chest. “I won’t take her for granted. I need to talk with her.”

  “Wait here a moment.” She wasn’t gone long and when she returned, she handed him a box.

  “A ring box?”

  “It’s her great-grandmother’s. It has an incredible love story attached to it. The world didn’t think they belonged together, but they proved everyone wrong by loving each other for over fifty years and filling their days with happiness.” She picked up his hand and wrapped his fingers around the box.

  “You’re giving it to me?” He had no clue how to react, what to say.

  “I’m not saying you should give this to her right now. You probably have a few things to talk about, but I can’t imagine anyone else giving this to her. She asked for it the first time you got married. I didn’t think you were right for her, so I refused to let her have it. Of course, that didn’t stop her from marrying you.”

  Tears gathered in her long eyelashes. His own chest felt as though a vise grip was squeezing his ribs. “We rushed the first time. It was a mistake.”

  “No. The alcohol was the mistake, not the marriage. You told Jazmine it was fear that led you to drinking. That’s the reason you lost her.” Azalea placed her hand on his shoulder. “I’ve had my own recent lesson. Fear is a lie you believe. That lie will mess up your future.”

  “Being an alcoholic is not a lie.”

  “You didn’t beat the odds because of luck, but by faith. Leaning on God, you’ve fought hard to stay sober. The man standing at my door decided he wanted to own the largest fleet of boats in Port Del Mar, and he made it happen.”

  She clasped her hands in front of her and took a moment to search his eyes, her gaze firm and intense. “You wanted a real relationship with your daughter, and despite my best efforts—” a chuckle softened her words “—you’re not just her biological father, you’re the daddy she loves. You even won over a mother-in-law who was letting bitterness blind her. With each goal set, you’ve not only achieved, you’ve exceeded.”

  “I didn’t do it alone.”

  “No. None of us survive this life by going it alone.”

  Elijah looked down. A few more arrows of doubt hit him.

  “She’s seen you at your worst and knows you at your best. She’s willing to put her trust in God that together you’ll make the family she has always wanted.”

  Raising his head, Elijah took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders. “I think God’s been trying to talk to me. And, as usual, I’ve been stubbornly ignoring Him.”

  “God’s good. He won’t give up on you. And I don’t think she will, either.” Sincerity softened Azalea’s dark brown eyes.

  “I’m starting to see that.” God had put so many people in his life who had helped him find the right path. “I keep hearing Jazz, Miguel, my sister, all telling me the same thing. God might be bringing in the big guns to pop me on the back of the head.”

  “Me?” Her eyes twinkled.

  Elijah nodded.

  “I hope you’re listening.”

  “You think I should go to Denver?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Why are you still standing here?”

  With the tip of her finger, Azalea patted the corner of her eye. “Go get her. Love them like they’re the most precious things in your life.”

  “They are.” Certainty pulled every nerve taut. On impulse, he hugged her. “I’ll always protect them, even if it’s from me.”

  She nodded against his shoulder and patted his back. “I know.”

  He was ready to lay it all out there. As he pulled out of the drive, plans started forming in his head. He would do whatever it took to prove to her that he was worth the risk. Would it be groveling or a big gesture? Maybe a little of both.

  Hopefully, she still wanted him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jazmine looked around the decorated ballroom covered in soothing ocean blue. There was that little something extra missing for the fund-raiser, but it could have been much worse. The event had been on the edge of disaster. Her boss had called her when the man who had covered her position left without notice and they discovered he had done next to nothing with the plans she had left him.

  “Ms. Daniels.” One of the interns rushed in with a large box. She was followed by two others carrying the same kind of box.

  The use of her maiden name tugged at her heart, which was ridiculous. Elijah had made it clear he wanted to move on. So three days ago she had returned to Denver, and for her daughter’s sake she was going to have to get over this deep sense of loss. She was not part of the De La Rosa family. But her daughter was. She needed to talk to Rosie about adding Elijah’s name to hers.

  Elijah. She blinked back unwanted tears. They had been playing phone tag, but not actually saying anything in their messages. Irritated with herself, she focused on Cl
aire’s excited face.

  “These were just delivered to you. I think they’re exactly what you were looking for to finish off the tables. I love the wooden starfish. You were holding back on us. There have to be over three hundred.”

  Paul, the newest intern, picked one up. “They each have a tag that reads, ‘One at a time.’”

  “I didn’t order these.” She looked on the box for any clues. They were from a gift shop in Del Port Mar. Oh, no. The stupid tears were trying to escape again. She needed to make herself busy.

  Claire pulled more starfish out of the boxes and arranged them on the table. “These will be perfect gifts to the donors. Let’s scatter them on the tabletops.”

  Not understanding how this was happening, Jazmine lifted one out of the box, a light turquoise starfish. “Do you know the story?”

  Paul shook his head.

  Claire laid a couple on another table. “It’s about the boy walking along the beach?”

  Jazmine nodded. “Yes. He was throwing the stranded starfish back into the ocean to save their lives. When an older man laughed at him and said there were too many for him to make a difference, he gently put another on back into the ocean then smiled and said—”

  Someone cut her off by clearing his throat. She turned expecting her boss but froze in place when she saw Elijah. “He said, ‘I made a difference to that one.’ One at a time.”

  In a well-cut suit, he stood with his hands clasped in front of him. Her mind went blank.

  “Hi, Jazz.” He walked across the room.

  “What are you doing here?” Then it hit her square in the center of her head. “Rosie. I’m sorry about taking off like that I tried calling but—”

  This time he cut her off with his thumb on her bottom lip. “I know.” He glanced over her shoulder.

  “Um. Sorry. Claire, Paul and Monica are interns.” She waved in Elijah’s direction. “This is Elijah De La Rosa. He’s Rosie’s father.”

  There was a chorus of “ohs.” Claire had a starfish in her hand. “Did you send these? There’s a bunch.”

  He grinned. “Yes. Three hundred and sixty-five to be exact.” His gaze found Jazmine again. “One for each day of the year. It’s been pointed out to me by several people that I’ve accomplished some pretty good stuff with my one day at a time philosophy.”

  He had done more than some good stuff, but she couldn’t seem to find any words.

  Leaning in, his lips were so close to her ear that she could feel his breath. “Is there somewhere we can talk?”

  “My office.” She nodded, then gave final instructions to the interns before taking him to her private office. Closing the door, she leaned against it for support. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  One hip on her desk, he crossed his arms. “I messed up, Jazz. You thought we had a future in Port D and I...well, I was stupid and scared.” He stood and stalked toward her. “Tell me what’s going on in that brilliant mind of yours.”

  She couldn’t comprehend this man. Words tried to organize themselves in her head, but before she could get them out into the air between them, he closed in. Taking all her personal space.

  Sharing space with him was something she had always loved. His scent comforted her in ways nothing else ever could.

  He leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers, cutting off any words. The feel, taste and scent of Elijah De La Rosa consumed her.

  At this moment he was the only thing in her world. She liked her world.

  She never wanted to leave this world.

  His hands cupped her face and she leaned deeper into his warmth. But then cool air touched her lips as he pulled back.

  She tried to follow, but he held her in place. With his hands still holding her, he put space between them. Her hands went to his wrists, making sure they kept contact. The word no fought its way up her throat, but she bit it back and waited.

  His fingers gently dug into her hair. “I got ahead of myself. Everything I said about letting you go and moving on was a lie.”

  “What do you want from me? You told me to return to Denver, and I did. You send me hundreds of starfish after you gave me a hundred reasons why I shouldn’t stay in Port Del Mar. You come in here and kiss me like you have a right to. You’re in a suit. And I don’t—”

  One corner of his mouth curled up.

  She frowned at him. “What’s so funny?”

  “You get really wordy when you’re nervous.” He moved in again, pressing his forehead to hers. “Are you done?”

  “I don’t know.”

  He chuckled. “While you’re thinking of other things to tell me, I have something I need to say to you.”

  His face was so close she could see all the beautiful colors that made up his eyes. The ring around his irises was an indigo blue. That was new.

  He cleared his throat. “I went to your parents’ place to tell you something I should have said at our house the other night when you offered me everything I ever dreamed of. Things I didn’t think I deserved. This morning, Romans 11:29 was a part of my morning devotionals. Do you know what it says?”

  With a shake of her head, she waited.

  “‘For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.’”

  The intensity of his eyes anchored her to him. “For the first time ever, I really understood what people meant by having an epiphany. It was like parts of my brain opened and God’s words filled it. I might’ve gotten off His path, but God kept righting me.”

  His eyes glowed with excitement. “I had been given the most precious gift, and then it was multiplied. God’s been working on me even if I didn’t trust Him the way I should.”

  He sighed. “You’re a gift that can’t be revoked or replaced. By turning you away, I was being a coward. Telling God I didn’t trust His word.”

  With her thumb she wiped the single tear that had fallen from his eye.

  He caught her hand and held it there. “Five years ago, I committed my life to serving Christ. When you came back with Rosie, I was overwhelmed and dealing with new emotions. I have a hard enough time dealing with the old ones. I didn’t know what to do, so I waited for something bad to happen instead of accepting the gift and treasuring it like I should have. I failed you again.”

  She needed space to process all his beautiful words. Breaking contact, she went to her desk.

  He joined her. Not getting too close, he held out his hand. She didn’t hesitate. One hand in his, she picked up a ceramic starfish painted with the exuberance of a three-year-old who loved purple. It had been a Christmas gift from Rosie.

  Squeezing Elijah’s hand, she looked him in the eye. “One starfish at a time or one day at a time. We can make a difference. I want to make a difference in Port Del Mar. With you. I wanted to honor—”

  He crushed her to him, holding her so close it was difficult for air to get in her lungs.

  His lips pressed against her ear. “I love you so much. I love you. I should have told you that sooner, but I’m saying it now and I want to say it every day. I can move to Denver if you want.” His hold on her relaxed. He moved his lips to the corner of her forehead. “But, honestly, I want you and Rosie to come back to Port Del Mar. Come home and let us figure out our future.” Hands slid down her arms, fingers entwining with hers, then flexing. “Please, don’t let go of me.”

  She wrapped her arms around him. “You’re mine. I’m not giving you back. I love you, Elijah De La Rosa. I always have, and I always will.”

  They might have messed up the first time, but it had shaped them into the people they were now. With God’s grace they would figure out the future, of that she had no doubt.

  Epilogue

  Elijah adjusted the red scarf and flipped the bead-covered dreadlocks over his shoulder. Lane needed a raise for wearing this for every pirate trip. The boat swayed.

 
For the hundredth time, his hand went to his pocket. The ring was still there. This time he was asking with her parents’ blessing. They would be here with his family and all the families in Rosie’s first grade class.

  He had to get this right. But he was having major doubts about the plan. He’d been dragging his feet, wanting it to be perfect, but the need to tuck Rosemarie into her bedroom at his house, their home, was driving him crazy.

  “Daddy!” The reason he was wearing this ridiculous get-up wrapped her arms around his neck. Zoe, the doll he had given her on their first meeting, had a red bandanna wrapped around her black curly hair. “I knew you were a real pirate.” She giggled and climbed into his lap and started playing with the colorful beads in the wig.

  “Where’s your mom?”

  “She and GiGi are doing last-minute stuff. Papa brought me, so I can help you.”

  He chuckled. Jazmine had always been good at managing people without them even knowing.

  “So, do I get a sword?” Judge Daniels joined them.

  “Yes!” She slid down and pulled two plastic swords from a barrel. “This is going to be the best day ever.” She jumped in place. “Daddy! You’re doing it, right? For my birthday.”

  “Doing what?” her grandfather asked, as he pretended to be stabbed.

  Elijah sighed and eyed his daughter. “For her birthday she only wants one thing from me.”

  Rosie twirled. “I want Daddy to marry Mommy for my birthday. I always wanted a sister, but that takes more time if you don’t order ahead.”

  The Judge laughed, and some of the tension drained from Elijah’s shoulders.

  Standing, he picked up his daughter. “Crazy idea, right?”

  “Asking Jazmine to marry you?” The older man crossed his arms and leaned on the edge of the faux ship. “Or proposing at a six-year-old’s pirate party?”

  His father-in-law sat down and propped his deck shoes on a short barrel. “This is going to be a great show. You can’t back out now, boy. Lea told me she gave you my mother’s ring. You got it?”