“He does. He was actually there when I found out.”
My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. This is the part where I have to say Jake’s name out loud to my dad. Where I have to connect the dots he hasn’t connected yet. I brace myself.
“It’s Jake.”
My dad blinks. “Jake. Jake Reyes?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t even know you knew Jake. You didn’t mention it when you met in the office?”
“We kind of run in the same circles. Entertainment industry people, mutual friends.” My throat feels tight. I swallow. “We sort of hung out at his Fourth of July party.”
He processes this, his lawyer brain working through the timeline. I can almost see him counting backward, putting pieces together. “And you just found out?” he asks.
“It was a complete surprise for both of us,” I say. My hands twist together in my lap.
I watch his face carefully, waiting for anger or disappointment or something worse. But all I see is him processing, thinking, trying to understand. He walks to the other side of the kitchen and braces his hands on the counter. I watch his shoulders tense, waiting for whatever is coming next.
When he turns around, his voice is gentle. “How’s Jake handling this?”
“Really well, actually. He wants to be involved. He’s been supportive.”
My dad nods slowly. “Good. That’s important.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Mad?” He looks genuinely surprised. “Natalie, you’rean adult.” He moves back toward me, his voice catching. “I missed the first ten years of your life. I wasn’t there when your mom was pregnant with you. I missed your first steps, your first words, all of it.” He squeezes my shoulder. “If Jake wants to be there for you and this baby, I’m grateful. I know what it feels like to miss that.”
My throat tightens. “What about work? Will this make things complicated between you two?”
“Not on my part. Although that explains why he was acting so strange yesterday.” His mouth twitches. “Jake’s one of my best attorneys. I trust him.”
He pulls me into a hug, and I press my face against his hoodie. “You’re going to be an amazing mom, Nat.”
The tears come before I can stop them and I did not realize how tightly I had been holding myself together until that moment. Hearing him say “amazing mom” cracks something open. I have spent days braced for judgment, for someone to tell me I ruined everything I have worked for, that I should have been more careful. Relief hits so hard it almost hurts.
When we pull apart, we are both wiping our eyes.
“Okay.” He clears his throat. “Now that we’ve settled all that. You hungry? Feels like we should make some pancakes now, too.”
“That sounds perfect.”
We spend the next hour cooking and eating breakfast together, talking about the show and his work and Rachel’s new obsession with pickleball. Normal things. Easy things. When it’s time to go, he walks me to the door.
“Come to dinner this week. I’ll ask Rachel to make that curry you love.”
“I will. Promise.”
He hugs me one more time. “I am proud of you, kiddo. And I am here for whatever you need.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
I am still wiping my eyes when I get to my car. My phone buzzes.
Stella
Porto’s at 2? We need to celebrate!!!
