“He asked me who the father was, and he got angrier and angrier when I wouldn’t tell him.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Her jaw twitched. “He would have run your name through the mud until you couldn’t ever come home again.”
“I could have handled him. You should have given me that chance.” His throat went dry, and he drank his entire soda in one long gulp.
“I was afraid for you. In his fury he said he’d kill whoever did this to me.”
“He wouldn’t have.”
“I know that now, but thirteen years ago I was a scared teenager.”
He digested all he’d told her and believed she told the truth. Mr. Adams was a horrid man and his misdirected religious zeal made him many enemies. “Why did you move to Texas?”
“One Sunday, Daddy stood behind the pulpit and told the entire congregation what a sinner I was. They voted to ex-communicate me from the church, and I had nowhere else to go. I didn’t have any close friends to turn to because Daddy never let me go anywhere. It’s a wonder you and I were able to sneak out as often as we did.”
The hard shell he’d erected began to crack as he got pieces of the big picture. “Why Texas?”
“After Daddy kicked me out, I went to Pawpaw’s for a few days. He would have let me stay, but I didn’t want to burden him. I did some research and found a home for unwed moms near Houston.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “They were a lifeline. I was able to stay there until Cecily was a year old. By then, I was taking classes at the community college and working at a bridal store part-time.”
“I’m glad you had help.” Even if it hadn’t been him. Having known her dad, he was willing to accept her explanation, despite the grossly unfair position it had put him in. But one thing bothered him, still. “Why didn’t you come to me after your dad died?”
“By that time, Cecily and I were settled into a routine, and you’d established your career in the army. I didn’t see the point of upsetting all of our lives.”
He stared pointedly at her hand on her elbow again. “Try again.”
“That is the truth—partially.”
“And the other part?”
An unreadable emotion sparked in her eyes. “I was scared of you, okay?”
“When did I ever give you a reason to be afraid of me?” He furrowed his brows. “Who was there to hold you and comfort you after one of your dad’s fits of rage? Who stood up to the kids who teased you because you were different?”
She swallowed and her facial muscles tensed. “The last thing you told me before walking out of my life was that I was dead to you. What was I supposed to think?”
The breath swooshed from his lungs. He forced his memories back to that fateful day and the ugly words he’d said. “I’m sorry, Serena. I was angry and hurt, but I would have been there for you. I know I would have.”
“Maybe, but I can’t change the past.” Her shoulders slumped, but she met his gaze. “Don’t you think I’ve spent countless nights doubting my decisions? I did my best with the cards I had, and I’m sorry. You’ll probably never believe me, but I am.”
The crazy thing was, he did believe her.
Their conversation paused when their pizza was delivered. He served them each a slice, and they ate in silence. When he finished the first, he grabbed a second.
She took another slice and picked off the sausage. “Her middle name is Lucia. It’s the closest I could get to giving her a piece of you.”
Though he already knew about the middle name, her admission reached a place deep inside of him. “What’s she like?”
Serena’s first smile of the afternoon appeared. “As close to perfect as a near teenager can be. She’s like you in many ways. When she gets her mind set on a goal, there’s no deterring her. She looks out for the underdog, and she’s always there for her friends. Her heart is as beautiful as her appearance.”
He rested his forearms on the table and folded his hands, leaned forward. “I want to meet her.”
“I…” She trailed off and lowered her gaze.
“Please.” He reached over the table and crooked a finger under her chin so she had to look at him. “I only have three more weeks of leave, and then I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back. Let me have this.”
“Can I have a day to process this?” A heavy sigh emanated from her. “I don’t know how this will affect her.”
