“But not your own? Does Sophie know?”
Oh, wow. Jake was creating questions Wade didn’t want answers to yet. “She guessed it last night after seeing Cynthia with the boy. I didn’t think nothing of it until she mentioned that he looked like me. Sophie doesn’t know for sure though. Hell, I just found out today. He’s a cute kid and looks like one of my pictures at that age.”
Jake got up. “Get that test at a lab. Trust me, I’ve been through this.”
“I will,” he muttered, but then he looked up at Jake. “What do you mean?”
“Remember a few years ago, the shit that Paige pulled before…”
“Huh?”
“I’ll tell you about it one day. I’ll call Beth right now and ask if she knows of a lab. She was a big help to me when I needed the info.”
Wade checked the wall opening to see if a ranch hand had lingered in the barn. He’d send in this test, too, just to have a second opinion. “Hey, I don’t want everybody knowing until I know. Tell Beth to be discreet about it.”
“Not to worry. I’ll call her and get back to you.”
“Thanks, Jake.” Wade sat dumbfounded over the whole shebang. He checked his watch. Good, Sophie would be on break. He dialed.
“Hi, baby. Good timing. I’m in the classroom alone.”
“You sitting down?” What was the matter with him, blurting out something like that? Her radar had to blast off the charts over a million scenarios.
“Oh no. What’s wrong? I am sitting now.”
“I talked to Cynthia today…”
The line was quiet for a long few moments, but he waited. Sophie sighed. “I was right?”
“You were right. Maybe. I’m doing a DNA test. Now what?”
“What do you mean, now what? You’re a father.”
“I don’t know if I am or not. She brought a DNA test along when she came over—”
“She came over again?”
He picked up that same edged tone in her voice as last night when they pulled in the driveway with Cynthia there. “I asked her to come. Soph, I had to know.”
In a low voice, she stated, “I understand.”
Did she? “Jake told me to get a certified lab to do the test, and I will. Listen. She’s coming over tonight because I couldn’t ask the questions I wanted to ask with the kid there. I know he wouldn’t understand, but still…it’s going to get loud. Will you be there?”
“Well…what? Are you asking if I had planned on coming or…or suggesting that I do…or don’t?”
“I’m asking if you’ll be there with me when she comes over.” How grownup had that sounded?
“This is something you need to do. It’s your business.”
One day it might be Sophie’s business. “If the test is positive, does this change anything between us?”
“Honey, no. Is that what you’re worried about?”
“Not worried, but curious. Look. You know I didn’t know about him.”
“Of course, you didn’t, but you two need to talk this out alone.”
She was right as usual, but how would he hold his temper. “She’s being deployed again. She wanted me to know about him in case…”
“That makes sense if he’s your child. You should know. Call me after you two talk?”
“I will. I miss you. If you change your mind, come on over. Sophie?”
“What?”
Wade spoke low. “I want you. You ignored my invitation last night.”
“I’m sorry. Even in these halls and classrooms of giggling chaos, I still miss you. Kids are coming in soon, but…”
What now? She missed him but didn’t want him? What bothered her? “Is there something else?”
“Um, do you…” She paused. “Where do you see us going?”
“Huh?” What the hell was she up to now?
“It’s not a hard question. Do you see me and Emmett in your future?”
“Hell, yeah, of course. You know I… Yeah, I want you two in my future. I do know that for certain. Why you asking now?” Again.
“Um, damn. This will be hard to swallow, and don’t get me wrong…”
He waited for her to continue. And waited. “What? Spit it out.”
“That boy and Emmett might be the only kids we’ll ever have, if…if we—”
“How come? Don’t you want more kids?”
“I do want more kids, but after my pregnancy, the doctor said it will be difficult, or almost impossible for me to get pregnant again.”
“Oh. Your pregnancy didn’t go well?”
“Not at the end. Then…it was a risky delivery.”
“I’m sorry, honey.”
“You should think hard and long about the boy if he is yours. Just saying. I’ll talk to you later. Kids are coming in.” She lowered her voice. “Wade…I want you too. Be on your best behavior tonight. Anything you do from this point on will dictate your future with your, um, probable child. Don’t get angry.” She hung up.
He didn’t know whether to smile or frown. At least he’d heard one answer he’d wanted to hear from her, but on the other hand, what did she think he’d do to Cynthia tonight? He knew what he’d do. Blast her for waiting so long to tell him he had a kid, with or without his hands around her throat. She’d stolen years from him and the child.
But then he thought of the other news Sophie had dropped on him. They’d never have a child together? It sank into his gut like a bellyache after thinking about what Jake had said about him wanting one with Sophie later on. Yeah, he’d want a kid with her. He’d want that special bond knowing they’d created a baby—a tiny little human who shared their DNA.
Wade folded his arms on his desk and laid his head over them. He wouldn’t have expected this news from Cynthia, ever. She must’ve forgotten to take a pill. He damned himself for not being responsible and using his own protection. He slammed his fist down.
They weren’t at her apartment for the last three days they’d been together. Damn her for not saying something. He should’ve stayed home that weekend—the weekend she’d told him good-bye after taking everything… Dammit!
He pictured the boy sitting at his table, and now, he couldn’t deny that child existed, but he’d wait before doing anything rash, like getting attached to the kid.
Jake came in again and handed him a piece of paper. “Here you go. Beth recommends this lab. It’ll all be official that way.”
He lifted his head and sat straight. “I’ll give them a call and make an appointment.”
“Good luck.”
“Jake, I don’t know which option can be considered good luck. I can’t fathom this idea of being a father of a kid his age. Man, we’re supposed to start out with an infant, aren’t we?”
“Some don’t. If he is your kid, he’s your legacy.”
That was a good way to look at it, he supposed. Wade picked up his phone, pausing before dialing. “What’s it like, having a son?”
“He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Hey, when I saw you with Sophie’s kid, you acted normal, like it was a natural part of your life. You got nothing to be afraid of. You’re bigger than him, dude.”
Wade gulped. He had everything to be afraid of. “Where do you start?”
“With that phone call.” Jake headed toward the door but stopped and looked back. “If he’s yours, you can do this.”
Wade nodded and dialed the number. It’d be nice to have the confidence Jake had.
***
On the way home, Wade picked up a carryout at the Golden Nugget Bar and Restaurant and ate part of the burger on the way. Lettuce, pickle, onions, and mayo slopped up his black shirt. Now he knew why he carried extra t-shirts in his truck. It’d be easier to stop eating behind the wheel. At home, after checking a return text from Cynthia, he didn’t have time for a shower. She must’ve been waiting down the road. She’d be here in two minutes.
He opened the door to let her in. “Okay. So, if he’s my kid, that means I’m going to want to see him. Who watc
hes him while you’re deployed?”
“My mother will. I have to sign guardianship over to her while I’m gone.”
“If I’m his father— Which reminds me… You and the boy have to be at the certified lab where I’m having an official test done. Be there tomorrow at eleven.” No way was he backing down from this step.
“All right, but you are his father. You were the only one I was with then.”
They’d soon find out. “While you’re gone, shouldn’t I have guardianship over him or whatever the hell it would be for his father to have him?”
Her mouth fell open in a gasp. “You’d want him?”
Wade pictured the kid. His stomach twisted into knots. He mumbled, “Yeah, I think so. It’s time he gets to know me.”
“You need to do more than think so if I don’t come back.”
Wade flung his hands out from his sides. There it was as he’d suspected. “Come on. Don’t talk that way.”
“I have to, Wade. I have to make a will, and I need to know what to say about you.”
He paced to the sink then whirled. “Does your family know the details?”
“They guessed then I told them.”
Wade bent forward and folded his arms. “He has your last name then?” Where had all these questions come from out of the blue?
“Of course. Whose name would he have?”
“His dad’s. If that’s my kid, I want him to have my last name. Make that happen before you leave. Let me have him while you’re gone.”
Cynthia frowned and dropped to the chair. “He’s not a piece of property I can hand back and forth.”
Wade slammed his fist into his other palm. “For fucking crissakes, get real. You keep telling me I’m his father.”
“No, I’m not too sure about the name change. I’m not just handing him over to you until I know what kind of father you are.”
“You should’ve thought about that when you missed your birth control pills without telling me, woman!” Cynthia jerked her gaze away from him, and he wanted to jerk it right back to stare her down. Damn bitch. “I want to get to know him while you’re gone. Sophie has a son almost nine. She’s going to be a part of my life, so he needs to get to know her. He already knows the guy in your life.”
“He’s my fiancé. Of course, he knows him.”
“Well, she might be mine one day. Aren’t we going to be one happy family?” he spat out sarcastically. He mumbled under his breath, “Will you be dumping your fiancé before deployment like you did me?”
Cynthia glared at him with hurt in her eyes. “He’s on deployment. We can all be happy if we do this right. I’ll get the military and official paperwork set up specifying you as the father.”
“When I get the DNA results back.”
“If that makes you feel better, but that little boy is yours.”
“If that boy is mine, then I’m going to be his father. Get used to it.” His temper began to get the best of him, and his voice got louder with each sentence. He leaned his hands against the table edge and moved forward to be at her eye level. “Blame yourself for this. I should’ve been in his life.”
Cynthia stood and picked up her purse. “Is that all?”
“No! He’ll be taking my last name if I have to do it in court. You decide, if you’re so adamant about him being mine.” Wade turned away to let out a breath then faced her. “Make sure your mother knows I’ll be seeing him.”
“All right. If I don’t come back—”
“Well, I hope you do, but if you don’t, the boy will live with me. You’ll never have to worry about him or his care.”
“Bye, Wade.”
With the way she acted, the boy had to be his no matter what. A DNA test would help him prove it if the need arose. “Bring Noah over often before you leave so we can get to know each other. I don’t care if you have to rent a place here until send off. I can’t just burst in one day and have him accept me. You should’ve told me, Cynthia. I missed too much time with him already. Damn you for doing that.”
“I’m sorry.”
He didn’t want to hear one more damn sorry. Wade could’ve had steam coming from his ears for all he knew. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why?”
“To be honest—”
“Yeah, finally…”
“I wasn’t sure I’d keep him, but I couldn’t accept getting rid of him, either. I had to dig down deep to make a decision. I didn’t think you’d want anything to do with him.”
“You thought enough to screw without protection, but not enough to tell me I had a child? That was my decision to make, not yours, dammit. Sonofabitch.” Wade fisted his hands, rolled his eyes, and looked away before he put his fist through a wall. “Bring him over Saturday morning. I’ll skip work. You’ll have to leave him here without you so he gets used to being here with me. We can make it on a day Sophie’s here with her boy. That might make it easier on Noah. Does he have a middle name?
“Yeah.”
Wade pointed his finger into her upper arm. “Hey? Did you hear me?”
“I heard you. His middle name is Alan. Settle down.”
“You have no right to tell me to settle down.” An electric current couldn’t have taken him down more than that shock of hearing Noah’s middle name. “Wow.” Alan was his middle name. He’d already come to accept that the kid was his. A part of him he didn’t know took over now. He wanted to be a dad to this kid. To Noah, but—
“I’ll bring him over Saturday morning. Having your girlfriend here will be fine.”
“That’s my choice, not yours.”
“Of course.”
“When will you tell Noah? Will he understand?”
“I’m not sure he’ll understand the words. We can tell him together…if you are okay with that. I guess the rest is up to you to show him what it’s like to have a father. He knows the kids in daycare have dads. It’s going to be a slow go, but as he gets older—”
“Again, you should’ve told me.” Sweat beaded on his forehead and down his back. “That was unfair, Cynthia.”
“I know, and I have to live with it.”
“So does Noah…and me.”
Cynthia nodded and stepped closer to him. She wrapped one arm around his shoulder and brought him into a hug, then stepped back. “We’ll see you at eleven in the morning. Text me the address to the lab.”
She left and Wade dropped to the chair in the dining room. That was that. His family name would be carried on after all. Noah Alan would one day have his last name. If he was truly his child.
Once he’d half-ass calmed down, Wade called Sophie, but before she answered, her phone rang outside, and she knocked. He opened the door and brought her into his arms. “I’m glad you’re here. Come on in.”
“Hmm, I smell her perfume.”
“Sophie, don’t do that. Your perfume is the only one I want to smell.” He pulled her into a tighter embrace. Anything to get her close enough to sink into him. “Where’s Emmett.”
“He’s in the truck. I wasn’t sure what I’d find when I came in. You’re shaking.”
“Bring him in. I hooked up the video game upstairs.”
“He has homework, but he’s nearly finished. He promised he’d do it here if I brought him. Please don’t mention the video games yet.”
“All right.” He waited at the door until she returned with Emmett. He mussed the boy’s hair. “Hey, you’ve grown since the last time I saw you. Mom says you have homework.”
He slung his backpack across the floor. “Have you been working on your car?”
“Pick up that backpack, young man.”
“Aw, Mom, nothing can break.”
Wade chuckled. “Nope, I’m afraid I haven’t touched the car. You can sit at the table and do your homework. Maybe you’d like to help me work on my car one day? Want an apple?”
“I’ll have an apple. Can I work with Wade on his car, Mom? Please. Can I?”
“I don’t see why not. You’ve helped Grandpa
and your dad before.”
“I know how to change a tire,” he told Wade. Emmett ran to the table and took a book out of his backpack and grabbed an apple from the counter. “I’m almost done.”
“Okay, good.” Wade turned to Sophie. “Want something to drink?”
“No thanks.”
“I do.” Emmett turned and smiled.
At that moment, Wade knew he could be a dad to Noah and to Emmett. “Get something out of the fridge, bud. Whatever your mom lets you have.”
“It’s too late for soda, Emmett.”
“I know.” Emmett opened the refrigerator. “Milk? Do you have chocolate?”
Wade laughed. “I have chocolate syrup. It’s in the cupboard. Glasses are over there.” Wade pointed to a cupboard above the dishwasher. “Can he make it himself,” he asked Sophie.
“We’ll find out.” She laughed for the first time tonight, but there was an opposite underlying tone. “Be careful, Emmett.”
“I’m not a baby, Mother.”
Wade widened his eyes at Sophie to see what she’d say. She rolled hers. After Emmett made his chocolate milk and got back to his homework, he and Sophie padded into the great room. He immediately brought her into his arms and planted a long kiss on her lips, which left him breathless when she pulled back too soon. “Wow, that was good. Why’d you take it away?”
“That wasn’t the kind of kiss you give when a kid can walk in any minute.”
“Why? Let him get used to it.”
She smiled. “So how did it go? What’s the boy’s name?”
“Noah Alan,” he said proudly. “Alan is my middle name.”
Sophie sat on the couch. “It sounds like you’re convinced he’s yours.”
“Well, she insists I am, but I…I kind of, well, I’ve almost accepted that he is, but I’m holding back until I know for sure. I’m so damn pissed.”
“She gave him your middle name. She wouldn’t have done that if you weren’t.”
You never know. She was aware of his inheritance. “I’m ninety-nine percent sure that I am. That’s about how sure the paternity test will be, right?”
“I don’t know. I guess.”
Wade took a seat beside her and put his arm around her shoulder. Having her this close brought his body and senses to life. “I want you. I don’t mean sex,” he said, whispering. “I mean I want you and Emmett in my future today and every day.”
Hooked By Sundown (Canyon Junction: Hearts In Love Book 3) Page 17
