His eyes filled with tears again. "I’ve learned life issacred, April. You can’t know how deeply I regret my weak moments. But you gotta understand I was terrified. I didn't know how to be a father because my old man was a dirty bastard. I panicked, andI did things I didn't mean." He shook his head. "But I've spent years wondering if you had the baby. Thinking about the child I've never met, if you did. Was it a boy or a little girl? Did he look like me? Did she look like you? Were the two of you okay, or out there lost somewhere?” He wiped away tears April was sure had more in common with a crocodile than with any true sorrow. “When I got out and started looking for you, I was also looking for our child. Our little Kevin."
That did it. "You shouldn't have looked. You shouldn’t be here. Now get out. Out of Riversong, out of Lyons, out of Colorado. Like the song says, we are never ever getting back together."
Vince’s tears dried up like someone turned off a faucet. His eyes turned hard.
"He's my son, April. He should have a father and I have a right to know him."
"You have no rights. You gave those up when you told me to—" She cut herself off, aware of how her voice was rising. She took a breath and lowered it. "When you tried to get rid of him. And Kevindoeshave a father—more of a father than you could ever hope to be."
Vince was quiet for a moment. Then, "Yeah, I heard you're with someone. A Navy guy? Some kinda Special Forces?"
April's blood went cold. "How do you?—"
"Told you, internet." He shrugged and grinned. "Is it serious?"
She thought of Shane. Of the way he looked at her like she was the answer to every question he'd ever had. Of Kevin calling him Dad. Of the life they were building together.
"Yes," she said. "It's serious."
"Can't be too serious." Vince's smile turned sharp. "He hasn't put a ring on it."
The words landed like a slap. April felt her face heat.
"That's none of your business."
"Sure it is. If my son is being raised by some guy?—"
"By hisfatherin the truest sense of the word."
Vince crossed his arms. "No, April. As much as you wanna deny it, I'm his actual father. And I want to be part of his life." Vince leaned back again, all casual confidence. "I'm not trying to cause trouble here. I just want a chance. To meet him. To be adad."
"Never," she hissed, her voice pure, cold steel.
"You can't keep him from me forever."
"Watch me."
"He's my kid too, April."
"He's nothing to you. Your name isn't even on the birth certificate."
Vince's smile never wavered. "DNA test can fix that. Courts are pretty good about a father's rights these days."
“Not when he’s been to prison. Not when he tried to induce an abortion. Not when he’s in his forties and washing dishes for a living. I’m the co-owner of Riversong, which, just look around, is a very successful business, thank you very much. I’ve been providing for him all his life and that’s not gonna change.”
Vince sighed, like she was being unreasonable. "Youlook around, baby. This place—" He gestured at Riversong, at the walls covered in local art and Wren’s landscape photos for sale, at the customers laughing over coffee. "Sure this is nice. Quaint. But it's not exactly the penthouse suite, is it?"
April's hands curled into fists under the table.
"You used to have class. Style," Vince continued. " Remember Vegas? Designer clothes, champagne, that Louis Vuitton Murakami Speedy Thirty purse you loved so much?"
She blinked in surprise. “I can’t believe you actually paid enough attention let alone remembered my purse.”
“Of course I did, April. That was your lucky purse you used to carry everywhere. I remember everything like it was yesterday. We had it good. So good. We hit the jackpot, you and me.” His eyes raked over her, assessing and apparently finding her wanting, judging by his sneer. "Now you're what? Slinging shitty coffee in your parents' shop? Looking like you shop at a thrift store?"
The fury that rose in her was white-hot and righteous. "First of all, there is absolutely nothing wrong with shopping in a thrift store. But more important, I left because you were a criminal and an abuser."
He looked affronted. "I was never convicted of abuse. You never pressed charges."
