As I sat beside Eli on the couch, I opened the Netflix app on the television. “What do you want to watch? And pick a comedy.” I needed something to take my mind off my big decision.
Rapping threaded through the apartment.
“Are you expecting a package?” Eli twisted on the couch, glancing toward the door.
“No.” Fuck, could it be another FedEx guy or someone trying to serve me court papers for the trust? I leapt off the sofa and jogged to the door.
The rapping sounded again. “Wren? Open up. It’s Dad.”
“What?” My heart beat in a wild rhythm. Holy fuck, how did he know where I lived? Oh. He’d sent me the FedEx package, so obviously he knew my address.
Eli stood and tugged his team hoodie over his joggers. “Let him in. I’ll play moderator tonight.”
I had Eli with me, thank God. I flung the door open and stared at my father.
Dad stood in the entry, his short hair disheveled and dark bags under his puffy eyes. “We need to talk.” He strode into the room as if he owned the place, perusing it. “Where’s the trust paperwork I sent you?”
“Uh…” I glanced at my backpack, resting on the dinette. I’d hidden it in there for now. Was he here to make me sign it? “Dad, I-I?—”
“You haven’t signed it yet, have you?” His gaze snapped to mine, and he grabbed my arm, stomping close to me and fisting his free hand. “Have you?”
My heart raced into my throat. “N-no, I haven’t. I had a lawyer review it.”
“Darren, he needed some time to decide how to handle this, and he didn’t want it marring his Christmas holiday. You need to give him more time.” Swelling his chest, Eli towered over Dad.
Dad’s hard stare flicked between me and Eli. “So, you didn’t sign it, right?” His gaze softened. “You didn’t?” His shoulders drooped as he rubbed his forehead.
“No, I…” What the hell? “Why?” I peered at him. He looked distraught, not angry.
“Thank God.” Expelling a quick breath, he fell onto the end of my couch. “Sit down. I need to talk to you.”
Eli grabbed two chairs from the dinette and set them down across from him. “Talk to us, Darren.” He dropped into one chair while I took the other.
With his gaze darting across the coffee table between us, he said, “I found, uh, some text messages on Karen’s phone from the contractor we used to fix up the house in California. Turns out they were having an affair.” As his gaze rose to mine, his eyes grew glossy.
My mouth dropped. Oh my God, I knew where this was going. “Dad, how did you?—”
“It doesn’t matter how I found out. But I did, and I ordered a paternity test for the baby and…” He scoffed and, in a sneer, he said, “Stuart is not my son. He’s not your brother.”
“Karen allowed you to do a paternity test on him?” I couldn’t believe this. Dad hadn’t trusted her all along? I glanced at Eli, staring at Dad.
Even Eli was too stunned to speak.
“She didn’t. You can order them online, and I did the test while she was out shopping.” Hanging his head, he said, “The baby doesn’t look like me at all, and I’ve had a nagging feeling about her and our contractor.”
“S-so, you were checking her phone?” Eli lifted his brows.
“Yes, I was checking her phone. I watched her enter her password, and that’s all I needed.” He scrubbed his face. “I’m divorcing her.” His gaze locked on mine. “Do not sign that paperwork. It’ll only lead to more legal hassles for me.”
“Did she admit it after you showed her the results?” I didn’t know how the hell to feel. All this time, I’d built walls around my heart for my father, same as I’d done with Eli. But now? Fuck, I was supposed to learn forgiveness. What mattered was my reaction to those around me. He wasmy father,and he was in obvious pain.
“She did. She’s still insisting on a court-ordered test, but it’llshow the same thing.” He frowned. “I started to love that boy.” With a sniffle, he swiped at his eyes. “So much that I was willing to do whatever she asked.”
“She made you change the trust so she would have control of it after you and Nadine pass on.” Eli furrowed his brows. “How did you gain your sister’s approval?”
He focused on Eli. “I begged her. I told her with Stuart in our lives, it made sense. It took a lot of cajoling, but she gave in.” He freed a ragged breath, propping his elbows on his thighs and wringing his hands. “I’ve been a fool, and I am so, so sorry, Wren.”
“Dad…” I stood and fell in beside him. He was hurting and had finally seen the light. Could it help us reconnect? “Is this why you’ve been distant?”
