“Jenna was the turning point we needed,” I confirm. “She had a personal story, but she also had evidence of his mob connections. We were able to link him to several murders and other perversions of justice. Things did a complete one-eighty after we joined forces. Then law firms couldn’t wait to take our case. They were practically beating our door down. Everyone wanted to go after him and one of the biggest criminal organizations in the US. Everything fell into place after that.”
“I’m glad he’s locked up with no chance of parole. I’m only sorry it took this long.”
“Don’t be sad.” I run my fingers back and forth across his hand. “Things happen for a reason, and maybe this needed to happen for you to achieve your dreams.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“I do. We knew we’d face roadblocks like we have in every lifetime. I put my trust in destiny. I might have lost faith a few times, but ultimately I believe we are here now because this is the way it had to be.” I bite down on my lip while trying to pluck up the courage to direct this conversation where it needs to go. “I’ve been dreaming of you. Reliving the memories of our past in my dreams, and that gave me the strength to go on when things seemed impossible.”
“Me too.”
“I recognized all of your paintings, Vander. I was seeing those visions too.”
“I had planned to visit you tomorrow. I was going to give you a private showing. I wanted you to see how inexplicably woven you are in my life and how you have always been with me, even when we were separated.”
“Still such a poet.” I reach out and touch his hair because I have been dying to all night. “And your talent is awe-inspiring, Vander. You are truly gifted.” His smile matches the dreamy quality in his eyes as I skim my fingers through his hair. “I have the picture you painted of me framed and hanging in the closet at my new house.” Although I’m incredibly proud of that drawing, I won’t put it on full display because children should never see their mother like that. It was also one of the most intimate, erotic moments of my life, and I don’t wish to share that with anyone but Vander. “And the painting you left for me at Jimmy’s, the one with the lines and the hidden faces, occupies a proud space in my living room. Whenever Ridge brings dates home, he likes to brag we have a Vander Henley original on our walls.”
Vander chuckles. “How is Ridge? I’m guessing he’s about eighteen now?”
“He is almost eighteen and in his senior year of high school.”
“And what about Stella? How’s she doing?”
“Stella is a nurse, and she’s been in a relationship with Amanda for the past two years.”
“Okay, wow, didn’t see that coming.”
I shrug. “She came out as pansexual her freshman year of college. She’s dated men and women over the years, but Amanda seems to be the one. They have a great relationship, and I’ve never seen Stella so happy. Amanda is cool. You’d like her. She’s a tattooist by day, and she sings vocals for a rock band at night.”
“What about Stella’s daughter?” he asks, and my heart almost stops in my chest.
I was hoping we could go back to his place and talk about this in private, but I’m not going to lie to him. I swore to myself I will never lie to Vander again. Swallowing my nerves, I lift my chin and stare him straight in the eyes. “Stella doesn’t have a daughter, Vander.”
His brow puckers. “But I’ve seen a couple of pictures of them online?”
I’m going to kill Stella. This is the very reason I put a social media ban on sharing pics of Iris.
“They look so alike. She has Stella’s long dark hair and big blue eyes.”
I wet my dry lips as blood rushes to my head. I don’t want to have this conversation here. “Can we go somewhere more private to talk about this?”
Vander stares at me, his eyes penetrating mine in that piercing way of his, and I know he’s searching for the truth. His chest heaves as he retracts his hands. He grabs his wineglass and knocks half of it back in one go, and I notice how badly his hand is shaking. When he sets it back down, he levels me with a serious look. “We’re talking about this now, Kendall.” His Adam’s apple jumps in his throat. “Who is the little girl? If she’s not Stella’s daughter, whose daughter is she?”
I can tell he already knows. He has worked it out, but he needs me to confirm it. “Iris isn’t Stella’s daughter, Vander. She’s yours. Yours and mine.”
52
VANDER
“She’s mine?” I croak as all manner of thoughts and emotions ping-pong through my head.
Kendall nods with silent tears streaming down her face. “I discovered I was pregnant a few weeks after I moved to Portland. My first instinct was to tell you, but how could I?”
“This changed everything, Kendall.”
“I know,” she whispers.
“Do you?” I hate seeing her cry, but damn it, she should have told me. I should’ve been the first person she told. I know there were risks. I know my father didn’t make idle threats. But we could have figured something out together. It’s all such a mess. Propping my elbows on the table, I bury my head in my hands. I don’t want to get mad at her, but fucking hell!
