by Law, Kim
“No.” Which was annoying. It had been over a week. He’d told Annabelle about his dreams, but his hopes were once again plummeting.
“Hmmm.” She looked around the room, casual-like, but he could sense a purpose for her visit. He just didn’t know what it was.
“You decide on a school yet?” he asked.
“No.”
He narrowed his eyes on her. The girl was way too nonchalant about her education. “Tick tock,” he said. “Time is running out.”
She held up her phone. “I already heard from my mom this morning. She’s on it. You can let it go.”
He laughed. She was such an independent young woman. And though he never meant to, he found that he was a bit of a father when she was around. He worried about her, wanted to help her make decisions, and generally wanted to impart what wisdom he’d picked up over the years.
She wanted to hear none of it.
Every time he tried, she let him know she was fine, and that he didn’t have to try so hard. But he wasn’t trying. It simply came naturally.
“So . . .” She perused his shelves from her seat as if she hadn’t already gone through his books twice this week. “Talked to Cat lately?”
“Oh.” He frowned at her. This was about Cat. “What?”
She shrugged. “What do you mean, what? Just having conversation.”
“Right.”
She grinned. Every time she smiled like that, it made him think of Cat.
“Okay, fine,” she huffed out. “I’ll just say it. I think you’re making a mistake.”
“A mistake about what? I haven’t even talked to her in a week.”
“Exactly.” She shot him a frustrated look. “A mistake. Don’t you love her?”
“I’m not sure where you got that idea.” He had not talked to her about Cat. Other than to hear about their time spent together this week.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not blind. Last week you guys were plastered all over the news.”
“Being together doesn’t mean love.” And why he was talking about love to his eighteen-year-old daughter, he didn’t know. It was strange.
“I know that.” She made a face. “But you guys weren’t just together. I mean, you fell in love a long time ago, right? Before I was born?”
He watched her. Did it matter to her to know that they’d been in love? He had no idea if something like that would mean anything to her or not. But the fact she was asking about it . . .
“Yeah.” He nodded. “We were in love. Before.”
“And you’re in love now,” she pushed.
“Drop it, Annabelle.”
“She’s a good person.”
“I know she’s a good person.” When she wasn’t around her mother.
“She quit her job, did you know that?” His daughter was also persistent. “She won’t even speak to her mother.”
He had not known that. He knew that Emma had gone back to Atlanta, but he’d made no assumptions about anything else.
“She has no idea what she’s going to do with her life now,” Annabelle said. “I think she would even consider moving up here.”
“No, she wouldn’t.”
“Ask her.”
He let out a tiny laugh. “Actually, I did.”
“When?” She sat up with anticipation, leaning forward. “What did she say?”
“It was before you showed up.”
She sighed. “So what did she say?”
“She didn’t. We got interrupted before she could answer.”
“And you never brought it back up?”
“The next time we talked, it was about you.”
“Oh.” The animation left her face.
“Right. So stop. It isn’t happening.”
She crossed her arms over her chest as she once again leaned back in the chair. “You are stubborn,” she observed. “Just like she said.”
“Cat has been talking about me?” The damned jump in his heart rate annoyed him.
“I don’t know.” Annabelle shrugged and went back to studying his books.
“You can be a pain in the butt, did you know that?”
She smiled. “Yeah, I know. But I’m already set in my ways, so don’t worry about trying to change it.”
He could see the hope in her eyes at the thought of him and Cat getting back together, though he didn’t know why it mattered to her. Maybe the romance of thinking her biological parents were meant to be would mean something to her? But he couldn’t do that. Not even for her. So he’d make her understand, instead.
He leaned his elbows on his desk and turned serious. “She lied to me, AnnieB. And she shouldn’t have. Not about you.”
“I get that. But isn’t that the past?”
“Well, you’re here now. That’s pretty present to me.”
“I mean your relationship. Her not telling you about me. Isn’t that the past? You two had gotten back together. Clearly there’s still something there. Even before I knew you were my dad, I saw you two in the news. I could see it was more than casual. You have a storybook romance.”
He knew she hadn’t just called him Dad, but the word had caught him in the chest. It made him hurt more. Because she could have been calling him Dad her whole life. “You’re letting the whole Romeo and Juliet thing go to your head,” he told her. “That was just a headline.”
“And you’re letting mistakes that happened almost nineteen years ago determine the rest of your life.”
God, she was stubborn. She probably would make a good politician.
“I could have raised you.” His voice rose slightly. “It’s that simple. I could have been your dad. Cat didn’t give me the opportunity to choose, and I could have raised you. Especially now that I’ve met you, and I see what I’ve missed. It rips me apart. She didn’t have the right to do that to me.”
“But I love my mom. I’m glad she’s my mom. And there’s no guarantee I would have turned out the same with you.”
“Didn’t you want a dad growing up?” He knew he had.
“Yeah. And I often wondered who he—you—were. But I wouldn’t change my life if given the opportunity. At all. I’m sorry if that hurts you.”
“I should have had the choice.”
“Sure,” she agreed. “And Cat shouldn’t have been manipulated by her own mother. She should have been able to trust her. Depend on her to help her do the right thing. But she was manipulated, and you didn’t get the choice. Cat also thought I was dead.”
Her last words were harsh. And Brody agreed with her point. Now that he knew about Annabelle, he understood how rough it must have been for Cat, thinking she had died. But it did not change the facts.
“You don’t get it, Annabelle. You’re too young. You don’t understand.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “Sure. But I’m two years older than you were when I was born, and you think you were old enough to raise me.” She shot him a look. “If you were old enough for that, why can’t I be old enough to understand love?”
Damn, she was smart, too. “You’re a bit of a smart-ass, you know that?”
She shrugged unapologetically. “I know. It sucks for other people.”
He chuckled. She was so amazing. And she was right. There was no guarantee she would have turned out the same if she’d been raised by him. In fact, the guarantee was probably that she would not. But that didn’t lessen his anger. Or his confusion.
Because she was right. He loved Cat.
He hadn’t seen or talked to her in over a week, and it was killing him. Seriously, he thought pieces of his heart might be breaking off and dying. He loved her. He had wanted to be with her forever.
He did want to be with her forever.
But he didn’t know what to do anymore. He was sick without her, yet he couldn’t figure out how
to forgive her.
Cat stood off to the side of the crowd as she watched Brody step onstage at the end of the play. The applause he received was deafening. The entire community had come out for the opening of the park, and most of them had stuck around for the play.
Clyde had just introduced him and shared the phone call Brody had gotten earlier that day. The play had been sold. It was going to Broadway. Cat’s heart was overjoyed for him. She hoped she got the opportunity to tell him face-to-face.
And she had reason to believe that she would.
For the first time since their argument, he’d contacted her today. Sort of. She’d received a brown-paper-wrapped package that morning, addressed to her, Becca, and Tyler. Inside she’d found three huge boxes of crayons, along with three coloring books. The one for her had been entitled Outside the Lines. Attached to it had been a handwritten note.
Can we talk tonight?
Yes. They could talk. She very much wanted to talk.
She didn’t know what the gift or the talking meant, but she couldn’t help but be hopeful. Because without hope, she feared she’d fall apart.
The crowd cheered again as Brody finished talking, and Cat couldn’t help but picture her life with him. That’s what she wanted. Though she and the kids would be getting on the plane with JP and Vega in the morning, she didn’t want to go home. Ever.
She might still be in the Davenport family—and her mother had been right about that to one extent. She couldn’t walk away from her name. That would mean turning her back on her brothers, and she wouldn’t do that to them or to herself. And there was still the whole issue with Bennett’s paternity. She would be there to support him when he learned the truth. But she would live exactly the way she wanted to from now on.
Which meant, with Brody or not, she would be coming back to Dyersport to house hunt. Annabelle had told her that morning that she planned to attend St. Mary’s. She was hopeful she’d get accepted as a late applicant for the fall term.
Cat looked across the lawn at her daughter then. At all of her kids. They were standing with Annabelle’s mother, Brody’s mother, JP, and Vega. And Tank—Stone. The man had become a fixture in Annabelle Hollister’s life. Cat suspected that wouldn’t be changing anytime soon. She’d talked to both of them earlier in the day, and the guy had a serious crush. Annabelle was eating it up.
“You still in love with the guy?” a male voice said from directly behind her.
Cat whirled. “Bennett!” she shouted.
He stood tall and proud, his posture showcasing his many years in the army, though he’d long ago lost his buzz cut.
She threw herself into his arms. “I’ve missed you, you big lug.”
“I’ve missed you too, Squirt.”
He may not have been around a lot over the years, but he’d never changed. He was a bit distant, he was his own man, and he was also her brother.
After finally turning him loose, she leaned back and peered up at him. Geez, he was tall. She’d forgotten how much.
“So?” he asked.
“So what?”
He nodded toward the stage where Brody remained, talking individually with people who’d come up to congratulate him. “Love?” he asked. “It still there?”
She looked at Brody. “What makes you think I love him?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Making goo-goo faces at each other in the tabloids. Having a kid with the guy.”
“Ohmygod, Bennett. You have to meet Annabelle, she’s the best.”
“I will. I promise. But first I need to know about Hollister.”
She wasn’t sure why, but he seemed intent on talking about Brody. So, fine. She’d talk. She crossed her arms over herself and shook her head. “I don’t know if what I feel matters that much. I messed up. A lot.”
“Yeah, I picked up on that. Good to know you aren’t perfect. Dad always acted as though you could do no wrong.”
Her expression dropped. He’d just brought up what she had to tell him about their dad. She slipped her arm through his and edged them both farther away from the crowd.
“There’s something you should know,” she began.
“Let me go first. I might have an even bigger surprise in store than you do.”
“I doubt it.” But then she thought about what he was implying. She narrowed her eyes on him. “Are you saying you know what I want to tell you?”
“That your father isn’t my father?” he asked. At her gasp, he nodded. “Yeah. I knew that.”
“How?”
“Right before I turned eighteen, Dad let it slip. We were arguing. He was pissed off because—” He abruptly cut off his words, and his eyes darted briefly away. When they returned, he shook his head before continuing. “We didn’t see eye-to-eye on a couple of things.”
She studied him, wishing he would tell her more, but knowing he wouldn’t. He’d made a lifetime of keeping his distance. “So he just told you?” she asked.
“He just told me. He acted like it came out accidentally, but it didn’t. He wanted me to know. He hated me for that.”
She couldn’t imagine getting such a shock, especially as a kid. Maybe she’d had blinders on toward her dad her whole life, too. But then, he had gotten a teenage girl pregnant. Clearly she hadn’t seen all that he was.
“Does that play into why you don’t come home much?” she asked.
He eyed her before answering. “You know it does.”
She nodded. How could it not? “What’s your secret, then?”
He looked over her head for a moment, as if looking for the quickest path out of there. But he didn’t leave. He once again brought his gaze back to hers. His eyes weren’t like hers and JP’s. They’d gotten the blue that had been passed down through generations of Davenports. That should have given it away years ago. Bennett’s were a sea-green.
“I know who my father is,” he said.
Her eyes went wide.
Then he nodded toward the stage. Toward Brody.
“You know how he didn’t want anyone to know he’s a Harrison?”
Cat turned toward Brody. It was as if the world slowed down. “Yes,” she said carefully.
“Neither do I.”
Oh. Fuck.
She turned back to Bennett. “Your father is—”
“Arthur Harrison.” He gave a little nod with the words. “I personally think you should marry Hollister. Keep it all in the family.”
“Oh, my God,” she whispered. What was wrong with her family?
Bennett smiled then, and suddenly she saw it. He had Brody’s eyes. Annabelle’s eyes.
She shook her head in disbelief. “He and Mom?” She swallowed. “Arthur Harrison and our mother?”
“That’s the story I hear. She cheated on our father right before they got married and didn’t tell him she was pregnant until after the I dos.”
“She slept with his family’s biggest enemy?” Cat stood in amazement at yet one more secret her mother had closely guarded. “No wonder she and Dad hated the name so much.”
“Makes sense. Dad did not sound like a fan when he told me.” He nodded behind her. “Here comes your guy. I’m going to go say hi to the others. Meet this long-lost daughter of yours.” He glanced over her shoulder once again, then winked at her. “Good luck.”
He left, and Cat slowly turned to find Brody. He looked so good. And he was her brother’s . . . oh, God.
“I’m glad you came,” Brody said. Hearing his voice calmed her instantly.
“I sort of had to be here,” she said. “It’s my project.”
He stared at her as if drinking her in. “That the only reason you’re here?”
“I don’t know. I also heard there was this Broadway play being performed tonight. Wanted to see what that was all about.” She lost the ability to act unconcerned and broke
loose in a wide smile. “Congratulations, Brody.” She did not hug him like she wanted to do. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks.” He glanced away from her then, looking toward her family—who stood with his family and Patricia.
“How’s your week been?” she asked. She wanted to hear him talk, if nothing else. “Annabelle says she’s had a great time with you.”
“It’s been good.” He looked back at her. “I have a kid. That’s mind-blowing.”
“She looks so much like you.”
“And you. She’s gorgeous.”
Cat nodded. Her nerves had ratcheted up and she’d noticed that her hands were now shaking. She shoved them behind her back. “And Thomas?” she asked. “How’s that going?”
She knew Thomas had left town, but she wasn’t aware of the circumstances. Other than that his cover had been blown. He’d tried to fake his way beyond it, but no one had bought it. Brody gave her a look now, as if to say that she should know how it was going.
“He’s gone for good. And between him and your mom, I’m not sure if anyone in your great state of Georgia would elect either one of them.”
“I know. I think the governor is scrounging around, trying to line up a replacement in case the voters try to get Mom out before election day. It’s my understanding she’s not having an easy time of it lately.”
“You’re really not talking to her?”
“Haven’t since JP kicked her out of the house. I found out about”—she nodded toward their families—“Annabelle, and my brother made her leave before I could.”
They both grew silent then as they stood together and watched the others. Everyone was animatedly talking except his mother. She stood slightly apart from the others, in front of Stone, her shoulder leaned back into his chest. It was a comfortable kind of stance.
“You do know I quit paying him a week ago, right?”
Brody turned his head to her. “No,” he said slowly. “I did not know that.”
“Apparently he’s taking some time off this week.”
“But he’s here.”
Cat nodded. “With your mother.”
“He’s been staying out at her house.” The horrified expression on his face was hilarious.
