“Well, that’s not true,” I rush to tell him.
“Wait, Elijah. Let me finish.”
I give him a curt nod, and he pushes off the wall and crouches down in front of me, placing his hands on my thighs.
“As I was saying… Ana is nothing like me. I’m on the shyer side, whereas she’s so flamboyant and outgoing. So fucking funny. And people flock to her. That girl is entertainment galore, hands down. And with the exception of her green eyes, she’s also nothing like Meera. In fact, those two couldn’t be any more opposite.”
Impatiently, I shake my head because… well, just because.
“Tell me about Ana,” he requests, taking me by surprise. I lean back in my chair and clear my throat.
“What do you want to know?” He wheels me in closer, stands, and leans a hip on my desk.
“Well, let’s start with…everything.”
I have nothing. Not one fucking thing.
Not about to let me off the hook, he tilts my chin up and prods. “What are you most proud of, Elijah? Tell me about yourdaughter. Like, what do you see when you look at her? And please… don’t say me.”
“So, we’re going to just forget about the puzzle? The personality thing? Is that it?” I quip.
“For now.” He nods.
I drop my hands in my lap. “Okay. Well…” I can’t help but feel confused, especially after his shouting match with Gabriel. He’s not one to let things go so easily. But if he wants to move forward, then I guess that’s what I’ll do too. I’m sure we’ll circle back to this later. I mean, Gabriel did make a valid point. I think Alex just needs some time to process it.
I begin again. “Well,” I say, clearing my throat. “When I look at Ana, I see sunshine. Bright beautiful sunshine.” A smile tugs at my lips, and a warm feeling moves through my body. “She’s the light of my life. Gabriel’s too. God, Alex. My daughter is…”
Hm? How do I even explain what she is to me without offending him? I mean, technically, she is his daughter. This puts me in a tough spot. And for heaven’s sake, here I go, overthinking this, which bugs me to no end because Ineveroverthink anything. It goes against everything I’ve ever done… everything I’ve ever taught Ana never to do. It’s why she’s so fearless, so self-assured.
It’s why she’s likeme.
Feeling the struggle taking place in my mind, Alex doesn’t allow me to stay silent for long. Instead, he brings his lips to my mouth and goes in search of words. “Finish your sentence, Elijah. Your daughter is…”
Digging deep, I muster up the strength to continue. “My daughter is, well… she’s strong and brave. Very outspoken. Goofy, too, like her father.” I chuckle because she has Gabriel and me in stitches half of the time with her flamboyant personality. In that way, she’s so much like him. Born with a silly bone in their body. “She’s also smart,” I add, growing moreconfident the more I speak of her. “And she loveseveryone. Ana is the most accepting person you will ever meet.” A sense of pride fills my heart, and a tear slides down my cheek. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go unnoticed.
Alex wipes it away, meeting me eye for eye. “She sounds just like her fathers,” he says, and god, he’s so right, and I shiver at his words. “In fact, she sounds a lot like you, Elijah.” His thumbs slide over my trembling lips, and he brings his face closer to mine. “It’s okay to cry, you know? There’s nothing wrong with tears of joy from a proud father—because, Elijah… you haveeveryreason to be proud of her.”
Oh, for heaven’s sake. I try for a smile as he leans away, making sure I can see his face and catch all of his words.
“Ana may have my blood, Meera’s too, but she is one hundred percent your daughter, Elijah. I couldnevertake her away from you and Gabriel. You’re her parents. And when she and I were stuck in that elevator, she made thatveryclear to me. She belongs here, Elijah… with you. All of those wonderful things you just told me about her? They are all because of you and Gabriel. Am I upset with him for keeping her true identity a secret? You bet I am. But here’s the thing… I cannot be upset with him for taking her into his home… into your family… and loving her. And there’s no doubt in my mind that he loves her. That you both do.”
I turn away, but he catches my chin and turns me back. “Ana is an amazing young lady because you and Gabriel made her amazing. I admire your parenting, your strength… the way you’ve held your family together, even when you and Gabriel were no longer together.Thatin itself is true love.” His thumb sweeps over my shivery lips as I try to hold it together. “And Elijah? I want you to know that I loveyoufor lovingher.”
I bite my lip and reach for a tissue.
After everything that’s come to light, Alex is actually the one who’s the most unrattled between the three of us. He smiles, and his dimple pops. I link our fingers together.
“Gabriel and I love her so much,” I say, dropping my eyes to the floor.
He hops off the desk and drops to his knees, scooting himself between my parted thighs. He takes my face between his warm palms.
“I know,” he speaks softly. “Which is why I don’t want you to tell Ana about me. Meera and I are not her real parents, Elijah. Not even close. Because right now, I’m looking at her real parents. And I love what I see.”
“What is it that you see?” I ask, still feeling slightly needy.
“A tree,” he simply says, and I chuckle because it sounds so absurd. But apparently, it’s not. He remains serious, albeit with a tiny smirk across his mouth.
“A family tree, rooted in so much love that those branches are unbreakable. The bond you three share is strong… it’s the strongest tree in the whole damn forest. There’s no way I’m going to saw off a branch and take something that’s not mine. I may have planted the seed, Elijah, but you and Gabriel are the ones who nourished it.Youmade this lovely child bloom into the beautiful young lady she is today. That flower belongs on your tree, in your forest, with your family, Elijah. Not mine.”
