There were two sections on the paper. One with my name and Aleesa’s below it, and another with Rafael’s name and Aleesa’s below it.
Probability of paternity for Rafael Acosta: 99.99%
Probability of paternity for Javier Valdez: 0.00%
The truth was right there ... and I swear I had not felt this much pain since Eloise died. It felt just like that again, like my heart had been ripped right out of my chest and then shoved down my throat.
My wife had been taken away from me ... and now the same could happen with my daughter.
It was a good thing Aleesa and Octavia were not home. If they’d been here, they would have witnessed my true anger—the raw, primal, blazing part of me that I did not like to reveal.
With the numbness fading and my anger seizing me, I picked up one of the barstools and slammed it on the ground, breaking it to pieces.
Thirty-Five
Octavia
“All right, you got it?” I watched as Aleesa picked up her miniature pink purse.
“Yep. I got it.” She grinned at me, holding the purse close to her chest. It was her latest obsession, bought by her auntie. It was also covered in dirt now. I’d tried cleaning it with a wipe, but dirt still clung to the threaded edges and even near the straps.
I held Aleesa’s hand and headed for the front door of Javier’s house. I pushed my key into the lock and gave it a twist, let her in first, then shut and locked the door behind us.
It was now that I realized how quiet the house was. It was a little too quiet, honestly. No TV running. No music playing. No commotion in the kitchen from Paola, who loved cooking just as much as I did. It was dead silent.
Aleesa ran through the foyer, Crocs slapping on the floor, and disappeared around the corner, yelling, “Abuela!”
Well, that was good. Paola was still hanging around.
I placed my satchel and keys down on the foyer table, then walked along the marble floors. Just around the corner and seated in the living room were Catalina and Paola. The TV was off, and their smiles were strained as they watched Aleesa take out a collection of rocks from her purse.
I swept my gaze around, from the kitchen to the dining area. Then I took a few steps back, peeking around one of the corners to where the deck was. Javier was nowhere to be found.
Catalina noticed me first and turned her head. She tried her best to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Everything okay?” I asked, stepping closer.
“Not quite” was all she said.
“Where’s Javier?”
“Sitting by the pool.”
Paola glanced at me with damp red eyes. “Maybe if you join him with Aleesa, Octavia, he will feel a little better.”
A heaviness wrapped around me. There was no spite in Paola’s voice. No mild hostility. This couldn’t be good. “The results came in, didn’t they?”
Both women nodded in unison.
Fuck.
“I’ll check on him. Leesa, wanna help me find your daddy?”
“Yes!” She trotted toward me with the purse, taking hold of my hand. “I show Daddy my rocks.”
I walked through the hallway that led to the door for the pool area. When we stepped outside, I noticed Javier sitting on the edge of the pool, with his feet in the water and his head down.
“Daddy!” Aleesa hurried to him, causing him to pick his head up and find her. When he saw her, the biggest smile swept across his face.
