“Well, we could work something out. Mrs. Logan said she excels in writing so much it would be a shame for her not to take part in it. I can help you—”
“I don’t,wedon’t need your help,” she clipped as she kept hold of her daughter’s hand. I tilted my head and caught a glimpse of the little girl’s face. She was beautiful: dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail and the greenest eyes I’d ever seen other than my own. I always got teased as a kid for having hulk eyes since the color of my irises looked fake.
Her gaze met mine for a second before it fell to the floor. I took a step around to get a better look at her face and my stomach dropped. My heart thundered in my ears as a math equation raced through my brain. I added in the last time I saw Sara compared to how old this little girl seemed to be, and the almost fake green eyes. But the kicker was how Sara was itching to get away from me and wouldn’t allow me to get a good look at her daughter. I brought my hand to my chest as it tightened, ice pumping through my veins as a realization barreled over me.
“And please don’t call me in here and make me miss two hours of work unless my kid is sick or in trouble. Thank you.” Sara bolted out the door with Victoria struggling to keep up the same swift pace. The little girl dropped a folder out of her hands and broke away from her mother to bend down to pick it up. I crossed the office in two large steps to get to it first.
“Here you go,” I crooned in the softest voice I could muster while I studied her. I never believed in a sixth sense before that moment. My eyes darted from Victoria’s to Sara’s. Fury replaced the minor irritation she came in with. I leveled my gaze at her, as it was all the confirmation I needed. She jerked away, grabbing Victoria’s hand again and pulling her down the hallway.
Reid groaned as he reached for his jacket. “It kills me when parents won’t help their kids. There’s more to helping them grow than just feeding them and sending them to school. You know her?”
“Yeah, I do.” My hand raked down my face as shock filtered through my system. “Is she . . . married?’ She could just be a kid with green eyes; it wasn’t that weird. I prayed for a coincidence, even though I was certain there wasn’t one.
“No.” Reid shook his head. “Single parent, no real support system either. Why do you ask?” He ambled over to the door.
“Because,” I took in a shaky breath. My lungs deflated as if I had the wind knocked out of me. “I think I’m Victoria’s father.”
Reid gaped at me as his eyes went wide. “You thinkwhat?” he bellowed. “How? You haven’t been back for almost ten years. When did you—”
“I came back once, about nine years ago for a day and a half. No one knew but my father and Uncle Billy.” I exhaled a long breath. “Can we please get a beer now?” I needed about ten to take the edge off.
“Hell, yeah.” Reid slapped my shoulder and pushed me out the door. “And you’re going to start at the beginning.”
Josh ~ Past
“HOW ABOUT BUYINGyour uncle a drink?” Uncle Billy settled into a seat next to me at the bar, beckoning the bartender with the crook of his finger. “You’re of age now and all.”
“Sure.” I laughed and dug my wallet out of my back pocket. “I think today is a celebration, right?” The hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach said otherwise. My father had been staying with Uncle Billy for a few months in Boston after our house went on sale. It was a bitch to get him to leave, but even when disability finally kicked in, it wouldn’t be enough to cover the mortgage. Although it killed him to do it, he let his kid brother take him in until he could find his own place.
We finally had a taker and needed to pack the little belongings we had left. I took a weekend leave from the base to help Uncle Billy. Dad had said to throw the shit out and stayed behind, but Uncle Billy and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t discarding anything of personal value. Other than a few old pictures and mementos, we chucked the rest. My uncle decided a drink would do us both some good.
“Depends on how you look at it, I suppose. My nephew can start his new job without worrying about his father, since he spent too much fucking time doing that his whole life.” He dropped a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I will always regret not stepping in sooner. If I’d known what was going on . . .”
I waved him off. “It’s fine. All’s well that ends well, right?” I forced a half-smile as my uncle ordered two beers for us.
“Have you heard from your girl lately?” He asked as he took a sip from the mug.
“I don’t have a girl, Uncle Billy. You must have me confused with another guy on the base.” A sad chuckle fell from my lips.
“The sweet little thing that used to live on your block, Brianna?” Uncle Billy quirked his brow at me.
“Brianna’s better off without me. She’s in college now and having a good time; at least that’s what her last letter said. We’re just friends.” The word felt rancid in my mouth.Friends. I couldn’t ask her to wait for me. Brianna’s friendship was more than I deserved from her, even though I’d always wanted more for us. I’d loved her my entire life, and that wasn’t a habit I’d ever break entirely.
“All right, I better get going. I wish you would have come back to Boston and stayed with us.” He set his mug down and threw a couple of bills on the bar.
“That made no sense. The hotel I’m staying at is right by the airport, and my flight is at six o’clock tomorrow morning. I’ll have one more drink and get a cab.” Uncle Billy was driving everything back, except for one picture of my mother and me that we found in the back of my father’s closet. I wasn’t going to take it, but Uncle Billy insisted. It was hard not to wonder what life would have been like if she’d stuck around, but I didn’t let my mind linger there for too long.
I rose from the stool and slapped his back. “See you at Christmas.”
He pulled me into a hug. “I’m proud of you. You’re a good kid.”
A laugh rumbled in my chest. “First time I’ve ever heard that.”
“Maybe you can work for me after you’re done.” He tilted his head to the side. “The new shop in Charleston should be open by then. I’m done with shoveling snow in Boston every damn winter. Hopefully your dad will come, too. How about it?”
I cocked my head to the side. “If you’re out of Red Sox country, I’ll totally think about it.”
He grinned and shoved my shoulder. “Safe travels, Josh.”
