Setting aside his thoughts, he said, “This is how things will go.One.For now, I will continue to support your daughter, but my eyes still work, and we both know what they told me was accurate.Two.Despite all of this, youwilldo a DNA test, which I will pay to have done.”He swallowed hard and slowed his breathing because this was the critical part of what he had to say.“What you tell Natanya is up to you.Your actions haven’t changed my feelings about her.I suppose you’ll eventually let her know that man from the park is her father.”
She didn’t answer, but he understood her silence.If she said anything, she’d be admitting what they both knew to be true—or lying to save face.
“I’ll call you when I make the appointment for the test,” he continued.
She nodded and went past him to pick up her purse.At the doorway, she asked, “So, this is it then?”
“We were over the moment I found out you scammed me.You have some nerve to ask that, especially since you were seeing two of us at the same time.Haven’t you hurt me enough?”
After opening and closing her mouth several times without releasing a sound, she walked through the door.
The moment she left, he collapsed on the sofa.When he didn’t hear an engine, he wondered how Christy made it to the house without transportation.Mother and Chelle had been slick, because if he’d seen the SUV, he’d have turned around and left.
He didn’t know how long he crashed there before they came in and sat together on the large sofa.Ready to tag-team him, he thought.They said nothing, and the moment he finally connected with them, his irritation melted.
Mother’s brows were furrowed, and her lips turned down at the corners.For the first time in years, Shomari believed she gave a whit about him.Chelle peered at him as though afraid he’d snap at her if she uttered a word.Eventually, she said, “I’m sorry, but I didn’t know what else to do.You’re my favorite brother, so I had no choice.”
That pulled a half-hearted smile from him.She’d always teased him with that silly phrase.The fact that she cared meant everything, but he was still upset that she’d shared his business with their mother.
“I’m sorry, too.”
Mother’s voice startled him, and he stared into her eyes.“What?”
“You heard me.”She pressed her lips together and fiddled with the ring on her finger.“Rochelle made me understand some facts.”
Shomari’s gaze shot to his sister, who raised both hands.“I didn’t say anything you wouldn’t want me to.”
“Right.I don’t know how you can say that when twice now, you’ve let me down.”
“Actually.”Mother shifted forward to the edge of the seat.“Chelle made me face a few truths I’ve refused to acknowledge.One of those things is that I’ve been extremely hard on you.”
He blinked and angled his ear toward her, certain he’d heard wrong.
“That’s because I didn’t want you to end up like your father.”
“And what’s wrong with him?He put his life back together.Married again.He has nothing to be ashamed of, but you made it seem as if his misfortunes made him less of a man.Something to be thrown on the garbage heap because he didn’t measure up to your expectations.”
She closed her eyes and flinched, as if he’d struck her.“I didn’t realize you felt that way.”
The emotions he’d suppressed left him in a tide of bitter words.“How could I not when you put all of your disappointment and that pressure on my shoulders?When things with you and Dad went sideways, it’s as if you turned against me.”
Mother folded trembling hands together on her thighs and cleared her throat.“I won’t ask you to forgive me because I know it will take time, but I want you to know I’m proud of you.”
He raised both eyebrows and leaned back.His gaze shot to Chelle, whom he wanted to ask what she’d done with their mother.His sister shrugged and held in a smile.
Mother gave him one of the approving nods she’d reserved for Chelle over the years, and topped it off with a tentative smile.“You’ve achieved all you have without my help, and I know you’ll be okay despite what happened with that … Christy.”
He thanked her and stood.This turnaround was sudden and should have made him feel better, but he needed to clear his head, and he couldn’t do it around them.He scanned the crystal angels and the other decorations around the living room.This would be one weird Christmas.
With Lizette in the picture, he’d gained something, then lost it again because he couldn’t move any further with her while dealing with his family issues.The parts of him that needed fixing were another urgent matter.Lizette was definitely off his radar until he could present himself as a man she deserved.How long that would take, he didn’t know.
Chapter 19
Zackknockedtwiceonthe half-open door and stepped inside.He and Elijah settled into Lizette’s visitors’ chairs, looking pleased with themselves.
“Shomari could have fixed what was wrong.”Zack pointed behind him.
She laid aside the file she’d been browsing.“But he didn’t.Well, the internet stopped working just after he left.”
