Blue Ridge Sunrise

by Denise Hunter

  His daughter.

  His lips curled upward at the thought, and he pressed the accelerator a little harder, kicking up dust in the rearview mirror.

  He was going to take her for a burger. Every kid liked burgers, right? Then he’d take her to his house.

  And do what, genius? Watch the Braves? Play poker? He didn’t have so much as a crayon at his place.

  He’d take her to Toy Depot first. She needed some things to keep at his house. He’d let her pick out some toys. Anything she wanted. Good grief, it hadn’t even been one day, and she already had him wrapped around her little finger.

  His legs were shaking a little as he made his way up the porch steps. He couldn’t believe a four-year-old girl had such power over him.

  Zoe opened the door before he even knocked.

  He steeled himself against the fear on her face, the vulnerable look in her eyes. It had been her choice to keep this secret. He wasn’t going to feel sorry for her.

  She pulled the door wide enough to allow him entry, and he made a wide berth around her, his eyes sweeping the room for Gracie.

  “Where is she?”

  “I asked Miss Ruby to stay an extra few minutes. I, um, I thought we might talk first.”

  He faced her. “Have you told her yet?”

  “Not . . . not yet. That’s what I wanted to talk about.”

  He crossed his arms. “I’m telling her tonight.”

  She walked toward the sofa. “Why don’t you have a seat?”

  “I’m telling her tonight, Zoe. I’ve already missed four years of her life. She deserves to know she has a daddy.”

  “I know, I just—I thought it might be better coming from me.”

  “Fine. We’ll do it together.”

  She shifted. Tucked her hair behind her ear. “That’s fair I guess.”

  “You think?”

  A slow flush crawled up her neck. “We have to keep it simple. And we have to be careful. I don’t want her to feel your anger about this. That might confuse her.”

  “I’m not a monster. I’m not going to scare her. I’m angry at you, not her, and I’m mature enough to put that aside for her sake.”

  “Good.” She had the grace to look chagrined. “That’s good.”

  “What have you told her? About her real dad—about me?”

  “Um . . .” She ran a hand over her throat. “Not too much really.”

  Nice. “Glad to see I rank right up there with international terrorism and world hunger.”

  “She hasn’t asked, and I wasn’t going to bring it up until she did. Kyle kind of filled that void, so it really hasn’t been much of . . .”

  He clenched his teeth.

  “. . . an issue.” She bit her lip, her eyes finding the floor. “Sorry. I know this is difficult. I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’m trying to do what’s right here. Will you sit down?”

  He paused a long minute before perching on the edge of an armchair, elbows propped on his knees.

  She shifted on her feet. She must’ve showered since she’d returned home. Her curls were loose around her face. The sunlight streamed in, glinting off her hair like copper sparks. He tried not to notice the way the freckles on her nose stood out against her creamy skin.

  “She knows you’re picking her up . . . She’s excited about that.”

  That was something, he supposed.

  “She’ll want to eat soon.”

  “I can manage that.”

  “So . . . I’ll tell her, you know, and then we’ll just . . . let her respond and ask questions . . . ?”

  “All right.”

  She palmed her neck. “All right, then. I’ll just . . . go get her.”

  He watched Zoe leave the room, wiping his palms down the legs of his jeans. Why was he so nervous? He’d just seen the girl a few hours ago. But everything was different now. Would this be upsetting to her? Did she even want a daddy? Clearly she hadn’t missed having one too bad.

  He didn’t have much time to fret because a moment later his daughter scurried into the room ahead of Zoe.

  Gracie must’ve had a bath too. Her damp hair was held back on the sides with grass-green barrettes, and she wore a matching sundress that exposed delicate freckles on her shoulders.

  “Cwooz!” She dashed right over and flung herself into his arms.

  He was unprepared for the rush of love that swept over him as he curled his arms around her slight frame. His skin flushed with heat. His heart stopped beating.

  “Hey there, Bella.” His voice was raspy with emotion.

  He got a whiff of apples and sunshine before she leaned back and started tugging his hand.

  “Let’s go! Let’s go!”

  “Wait a minute, honey.” Zoe sat on the end of the sofa closest to him. “We want to talk to you a minute.”

  “But I’m hungwy.”

  “I know, but this won’t take very long. I promise.”

  Gracie faced her mom, still half in his embrace, leaning back against his leg.

  Zoe’s eye flitted to his, then back to Gracie. “I have something very important to tell you, honey. It’s about . . . daddies.”

  Gracie fidgeted with the string ties on her dress, and Cruz wondered if she was even listening.

  “You know how your friend Sophia has a daddy? And how baby Sam has a daddy . . . ?”

  “Uncle Bwady.”

  “Yes, that’s right. Uncle Brady.”

  He appreciated the smile on Zoe’s face. The enthusiasm she injected into her voice. “Well . . . um, you have a daddy too, honey.”

  Gracie’s hands stopped their fidgeting, and her eyes darted to her mom’s. “I do?”

  “Yes, you do. And he’s very excited that you’re his daughter.”

  She bounced on her toes. “Can I meet him?”

  “Well, honey, you actually already know him. It’s, um . . .” She swallowed. “It’s Cruz, honey. Cruz is your daddy.”

  Gracie’s eyes flew to his. Her brown eyes widened.

  Nothing had prepared him to be sized up by a four-year-old child. His lungs felt stuffed with oxygen and somehow incapable of emptying. It was the longest moment of his life. Belatedly he remembered to smile. He didn’t want to scare the poor kid.

  “What do you think about that?” he made himself ask, half afraid to know the answer.

  Gracie blinked, her long lashes fluttering. “You’re my daddy?”

  “That’s right. I’m your daddy. And your mama’s right. I’m so excited that you’re my daughter, and I’d love to spend time with you. Would that be all right?”

  A thoughtful frown puckered her brows, and she looked so much like Zoe in that moment that his heart gave a big squeeze.

  “Where’ve you been?” Gracie asked.

  The back of his eyes burned, and his throat tightened. He glanced at Zoe, at a loss.

  “He, um, he didn’t know you were his daughter, honey. Not until today.”

  Gracie stared at him long and hard. He noticed the amber flecks in the brown depths. Just like his. How had he not seen it before today?

  “Do you know how to play Candy Land?”

  He breathed a laugh. “Well . . . no, but I’m willing to learn. Will you teach me, Gracie?”

  Her eyes lit. “Not Gracie! Bella.”

  He chuckled, the tension slipping from his body. “All right then. Bella it is.”

  Her little bow lips stretched into a wide smile. She wrapped her ropy little arms around his neck, holding on tight. And just like that his heart swelled ten sizes.

  chapter twenty-five

  The phone rang almost the instant Cruz left with Gracie. Zoe had known it was coming. Was surprised Brady had waited this long.

  “I’d be on your doorstep right now if I didn’t have a car I promised would be ready by Monday,” he said by way of greeting.

  “Save your breath. I’ve already been taken to task by Cruz and Hope.”

  “What’d you expect, Zoe? You think you can lie about thi
s for almost five years and have no consequences?”

  She winced. “Lie is a strong word.”

  “And yet, perfectly applicable here.”

  “I was going to tell Cruz back then, Brady. But Kyle got to him first and filled his head with lies. When Cruz jumped all over me, I just saw red.”

  “And you never felt the need to set him straight? He’s the father, Zoe.”

  “I know. I should’ve told him. But I was angry. And hurt.”

  A long, tense silence stretched over the line.

  “Almost five years, Zoe. And you didn’t even tell me. I’m your brother.” A short pause. “Or am I?”

  All the air left her body as guilt pricked hard. She’d unwittingly traipsed on Brady’s deepest vulnerability, and she hated herself for it. Though he’d always been everything a big brother should be, he’d never quite felt like one of the family.

  “Brady, stop it. Of course you’re my brother. I’ve never treated you any other way.”

  “You didn’t tell me the truth. You told Hope, and yet you kept it from me.”

  “Cruz was your best friend! I wanted to tell you a hundred times, but I knew what you’d say. You’d insist on telling him, and I was afraid he’d only take me back because of the baby. And I didn’t want to be with someone who had no faith in me. It felt too much like the way Daddy treated me.”

  “You’re right, I would’ve insisted. And Dad cares about you in his own weird way. He wouldn’t try so hard to lead your life if he didn’t.”

  “Easy for you to say. He wasn’t constantly on your case.”

  Brady huffed. “Yeah, he didn’t give a flying fig what I did because I’m not his real son.”

  “Brady, that’s not true.” But even as she gave lip service to the thought she wondered if he was right.

  “Yes, it is. And that’s fine. I’ve come to terms with it. I got a sister out of the deal, so I’m good.”

  Her heart squeezed. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you all these years.”

  There was a long pause. “I wish you’d felt you could tell me about Gracie.”

  “I’d already caused a rift between you and Cruz. I didn’t want to put you in the middle. It wouldn’t have been fair.”

  “Well, to be honest, it doesn’t seem fair that you kept this from me or Cruz.”

  She palmed her eye. “I’m sorry, Brady. You’re right. I should’ve told you. I should’ve stayed, and I should’ve told Cruz about the baby. But I was young and scared, and I ran. If it makes you feel any better, I suffered for my choices.”

  “Of course it doesn’t make me feel any better, you little brat. I want the best for you.”

  Her heart twisted. “I know you do. I really am sorry for hurting you. Now can we go back to our regularly scheduled sibling rivalry?”

  “Cruz is pretty ticked, you know.”

  “I know.”

  “It’s going to take him a while to get over this.”

  “I know that too.” She closed her eyes. Brady was right. And she had it coming. She just hadn’t known it was going to feel this awful.

  “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m betting there’s a little four-year-old charmer who’ll bring him around eventually.”

  She remembered the look in Cruz’s eyes when her daughter had wrapped her little arms around him.

  “I hope you’re right.”

  ZOE PUT HER book down for the dozenth time. She walked into the kitchen and refilled her glass of tea. Carried it into the living room and sat down again.

  Maybe she could watch TV. Find a program she could focus on. She fetched the remote from the other side of the room.

  Two minutes into a crime-drama her mind was off and running again. What were they doing? Had he fed Gracie? Was he letting her eat a bunch of sugar? What did he even know about taking care of a child?

  She checked her watch. Seven thirty. He’d promised to have her home in half an hour.

  Fed up with her nervous jitters, she flipped off the TV and dialed Hope.

  “Is she home yet?” Hope said by way of greeting. There was noise in the background.

  “No. Sounds like you’re out.”

  “At the Rusty Nail.” A moment later the background noise grew quieter. “Okay, I can talk now. How was it?”

  “We told Gracie.”

  “Wow, that was fast. How’d she respond?”

  “Really well.” The memory of her daughter’s face lighting up was like a dart to the center of her chest. She shook the thought away.

  “You sound real happy about that.”

  Zoe scrubbed a hand over her face. “I am. Really, I am. But I’m scared too. What if he wants custody, Hope? What if he takes her away from me?”

  “Whoa, slow down there, Sparky. First of all, Cruz would never do that. Second of all, this is only day one. He’s just getting to know her. He deserves that. And Gracie deserves a loving father.”

  “I know, I know.” She was a terrible mother. She wanted Gracie to have her daddy. Of course she did. But fear was making her panic. She was used to having her daughter all to herself.

  “This will be good for her. You’ll see. Before you know it you’ll be relieved to have an evening alone. We can have a girls’ night out whenever we want, and you can remember you’re only twenty-four years old and deserve a little down time now and again.”

  “You’re right. This is all just . . . new. I’m used to making all the decisions where she’s concerned.”

  “Cruz will be a far better role model than you-know-who.”

  “That’s true.”

  Cruz was a good man. Honest and hardworking. Gracie could do a lot worse for a father. Zoe’s motherhood had never felt threatened with Kyle. After all, he had no legal claim on Gracie. And Kyle, while he was pretty good with her daughter, hadn’t been head over heels for her. His eyes hadn’t filled with love when Gracie hugged him the way Cruz’s had tonight.

  “You know, Zoe . . . I wonder if your relationship with your dad is weighing in on your feelings a bit. Cruz isn’t going to be the kind of father your dad is. A girl needs her daddy, and Cruz will be great for Gracie.”

  Was that why she was so afraid of sharing her with him? Hope was right. He was nothing like her dad. Kyle had been a lot more like him, and look how that had turned out.

  “Did I speak out of turn?” Hope said. “You know how I run off at the mouth.”

  “No, I’m just processing. You know, he’s permanently tied to me for the rest of my life, Hope.”

  “That doesn’t exactly sound like cruel and unusual punishment.” Her friend’s voice carried a heavy dose of amusement.

  Then why on earth did the thought of it make Zoe’s chest so tight? Why did dread sit like a peach pit at the bottom of her stomach? She pressed her palm to her pounding heart.

  “Listen,” Hope said. “Many people share custody peacefully. The kid gets to have a relationship with both parents, and everybody wins.”

  But Zoe couldn’t make the trapped feeling go away. Whether or not the orchard survived the bad year, she was now stuck in Copper Creek. Cruz would never let her take Gracie away, and she would never leave Gracie behind.

  “I can hear your panic attack from here. Need me to come over and sit with you?”

  “No. No, they’ll be back soon.” She fiddled with the remote. “He’s really angry with me.”

  “You can’t blame him for that.”

  She’d tried to justify her decision all these years. Before Gracie was born it just hadn’t seemed quite real. And after she was born it seemed like it was too late.

  “Brady’s mad at me too,” Zoe said. “He called earlier. This is such a mess.”

  “It’s going to take time,” Hope said. “But Brady’ll come around and so will Cruz. You’ll see.”

  “You’re right. I’m sure you’re right.”

  Needing a distraction, Zoe steered the conversation to Hope’s job, and they chatted away the time until she h
eard a car pull into the drive.

  She got off the phone and met Gracie at the door. Her daughter carried a big bulging bag, and Cruz carried two more. It looked like he’d bought out half of Toy Depot. He eased the door shut behind him and set the bags down by the coat rack.

  “Mama, look! Look! I got a Pwincess Bawbie! And a new doll baby! Can I play with them? Please?”

  “It’s pajama time, honey. Did you have fun?” Her eyes shot to Cruz, narrowing briefly.

  “But I wanna play!”

  “You can play tomorrow. I’ll read two books tonight if you go get in your pajamas without arguing.”

  Gracie pursed her lips for a long, thoughtful moment. “Amelia Bedelia?”

  “All right. Go pick out two.”

  “Yay!” Gracie kicked off her sandals and started toward the stairs.

  “Wait, little miss,” Zoe said. “Don’t you have something to say to Cruz?”

  Gracie turned back. A smile lit her eyes as she darted back toward him.

  He squatted down just in time to catch her, and Zoe’s heart snagged as his strong arms wrapped around their daughter.

  “Thank you, Daddy.”

  Cruz’s eyes shot to Zoe’s, filling with wonder. He blinked rapidly, his arms tightening around Gracie. “You’re welcome, Bella.”

  Zoe’s eyes stung as they fell to Gracie’s bare toes, which sported new purple nail polish. Cruz must’ve painted them. Her heart rolled over in her chest.

  “Night,” Gracie called as she darted toward the steps.

  “See you at church tomorrow,” he called.

  Zoe watched Cruz watch their daughter until she disappeared at the top of the steps. The corners of his eyes were tightened with emotion. His lips slightly tipped at the corners.

  Oh, boy. He was a goner.

  Zoe forced her eyes to the bags at his feet and steeled herself for the conversation she had to have.

  “So it went all right?” she asked.

  His gaze cut to hers, and just like that all the wonder and joy fell from his face.

  What an inconvenient time for her to notice his familiar woodsy smell and the way his black T-shirt hugged his chest.

  “It went great,” he said finally, then turned to go.

  She touched his arm. “Wait.”