Was what Mrs. Greenberg said true?
I counted backwards, my fingers trembling as I followed the weeksback back back. To the last time we’d been together.
It was possible. . .just barely. . .
But if I went in with guns blazing, wanting to know the truth. . . Jillian might hate me forever.
“Thank you,” I said. “Thank you so much for being here. For being willing to hear me out.”
Jillian only made a dismissive gesture and brushed by.
“I’m just here for the food.”
“I want to apologize again for what I did,” I said. “I went to meet Christabelle and I let things go too far, because I was stupid and immature and liked her adoration. It’s stupid and embarrassing, but it’s true.”
“You’re right,” Jillian said as she boarded the boat. “What you didwasembarrassing. And the fact that you haven’t let it go.”
“I believed her when she said we had a great love, that I was the sun shining out of everyone’s damn ass. I was an idiot and I’m sorry. It wasn’t real. I was chasing that hit of power and flattery, and it cost me everything. I’m so sorry. But no matter how big of an idiot I was, I have always loved you and you will always be the most important thing to me.”
“Thanks. Thanks for that, Frankie.”
I didn’t see any sign of relenting in her cool gray eyes.
My heart constricted and I felt jittery as we met my parents on the deck and their Michelin starred private chef gestured to the appetizers already on the table.
Should I say something about what Mrs. Greenberg had hinted at? Was Blue mine? What was the right thing to do?
But how could I stress Jillian out? This whole thing was my fault, and even if it was true, how could I blow up poor Blue’s life like that?
If the heavens opened and Jillian ever forgave me, it wouldn’t matter to me. I was not going to press a DNA test on her. Either way, it didn’t matter to me. My wife had sex with both Cash and I. Either of us could be the father.
But I’d love Blue like she was my own. Either way.
She gurgled and held out chubby arms for Mom.
Bluedidhave the most beautiful green eyes.
Did anyone else see what I saw?
My skin turned to ice and the regret clawed at me.
I had missed every milestone.Cashwas the one who had been in her life. I had no right to barge in and demand tests and rights.
But how many green eyes were there in the world? Especially with that golden lowlight? Not many.
I planned to wait until after dinner to really dig into the situation in Ramshackle Bay, see if there was any way they couldhelp fight what Cash was planning. Maybe they knew those developers? Could persuade them to back out?
Dinner was going well. Not only did Blue have her own mashed bananas in a little golden bowl, but we had escargot, duck confit, apple tart, champagne sorbet. As always with my parents, it was nothing but the best.
My dad had always told me, “Don’t mistake an interest in your money, for you,” but I’d never believed that could be true.
Of course everyone lovedmeforme.Right?
Wrong. And the mistake and my fat head had cost me everything.
After dinner, Blue was zonked out asleep on my dad’s shoulder and as they were lying her down for a nap in a little side room, I asked Jillian if she wanted to take a walk around the yacht.
“Sure,” she said, and at this one single word, I felt so joyful that I couldn’t resist a tiny click of my heels.
