“I was able to pull a picture of her as well. It’s from several years ago, but here, see for yourself. I took a screenshot.” Rex took out his phone, made a few swipes, and handed it over.
Thirteen years of lies stared him in the face. Cecily had his features, was a mirror-image of his mom at that age. “I don’t understand.”
“We don’t either, but we believe you had a right to know.”
He came close to cursing under his breath. “She knew I wanted that baby. Why would she lie?”
Monica joined them. “I imagine she was scared.”
“That didn’t give her a right to tear my life apart and cheat me out of a life with my child.” His child. He had a daughter.
“No, it doesn’t, but put yourself in her shoes.”
The compassion Monica showed for Serena made him mad, and he bit his tongue before he lashed out with misdirected anger. It wasn’t his sister-in-law’s fault that his world had just fallen apart for the second time in his life.
“I’m going to her house.” He surged to his feet without regard for his surroundings.
Rex grabbed his arm. “Not now.”
“I’ve missed thirteen years of my daughter’s life. I’m not missing another second.” He jerked away, but Rex recovered his grasp.
“You can’t barge in and disrupt Cecily’s life.”
“Why not?”
“Think how it will affect her. She’s innocent in this mess, doesn’t deserve that sudden blow.” Rex locked eyes with him and issued a silent challenge.
Lucas hated to admit it, but his brother was right. He would have a relationship with his daughter, but not this way. He wouldn’t introduce himself in anger and have that as their first memory of each other. “I can go talk to her.”
Loosening his grip, Rex frowned. “You need to calm down before you do anything.”
“I want answers.”
“And you’ll get them, maybe, but not if you go in with guns blazing.” Rex glanced at Monica, as though seeking help.
“What if I talk to her first,” Monica suggested. “I’ll pretend Rex and I want to have a big ceremony down the road to make up for what we had, and during our meeting, I’ll pry out what information I can.”
“No.” He shook his head with force. “I appreciate the offer, but this is my battle, not yours.”
“We’re family.” A slow, bittersweet smile tugged at Monica’s mouth. “We’re in this together.”
He grinned, feeling a moment of respite, and looked at Rex. “I can see why you married her.”
Rex slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. “I’m pretty lucky.”
A cry came from the kitchen, and Beau appeared seconds later with a fussing Emily. “I’m sorry. She was getting fidgety, and I tried to calm her, but I think she’s hungry.”
“Come here, sweet girl.” Monica reached for Emily while Rex dug a bottle from the diaper bag.
“Everything okay now?” Beau darted a glance at Rex and him.
“Not really.”
“I won’t pry, but if you need to talk, you know which room is mine,” he joked, attempting to lighten the mood.”
“It’s not a pretty story.” His head still spun as he worked to sort it out in his mind. “What time is church?”
“Eleven, same as always.”
