He rubs the back of his neck, looking slightly uncomfortable, but he still answers me. “Part of the stipulations of my family’s business and fortune was always that I came back to Dublin to work here. When I was with your mother, she took priority as well as you and your brother. I didn’t care about money so long as I was making enough to support you all. However, when your mom and I called it quits, it was around that time that I lost my job in the states due to corporate downsizing. I needed to figure out a way to support all of you, even if your mother and I weren’t together, so decided to come back.”
Swallowing, I nod. “Oh… I see. I suppose that makes sense.”
“I know it doesn’t make up for anything,” he quickly says. “I knew leaving would hurt your mother because I wouldn’t be able to really co-parent, so I offered to provide all you three would ever need financially. Your mother turned my offer down for herself, but not for you kids. I was able to pay your college tuition and such, and I also created a little nest egg for you. I want you to know how excited I am to have you here and how proud I am of you and all you’ve accomplished. I’ve been waiting to share this with you in person, and now seems like the right time.”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a piece of paper and hands it across the table to me. Frowning but curious, I unfold the paper and see that it’s information about a trust fund in my name… and the amount inside it is staggering.
“Holy shit, Dad,” I gasp. “This isn’t a little nest egg. This is too much… ”
He shakes his head. “Nope, it’s all yours. I can’t even touch it.”
This is a life changing amount of money. Like, this is a “I could quit my job and live comfortably for a long time” level of money.
I gaze up at my dad, shaken to my core. “Thank you, Dad. This is amazing.”
He smiles, looking almost relieved. “What’s amazing is having you here with me after all this time. I’ve really missed you.”
Looking back at him, I can say with total honesty, “I’ve missed you too.”
After Dad and I finish our meal, we drive to the house. It’s a beautiful property with a dark pointed roof and large wrap around front porch. We make our way up the stone pathway from the car to the door and it swings open before we reach it.
A young girl with dark red hair comes rushing out of the house with an excited squeal.
“Oh, my God! I’m so excited to meet you, Rylee!”
She catches me in a tight hug before I can react and I look at my dad with wide, uncertain eyes.
He chuckles. “Come on now, Keira, don’t overwhelm your sister.”
She pulls back and looks down at me from her slightly taller height, her gaze as bright and green as mine.
“Hey,” I say, a little breathless. “It’s really nice to meet you too.”
Grabbing my hand, Keira pulls me into the house. It’s cozy inside, with dark wood trim along plastered walls, and wooden floors that are shiny and worn from years and years of use. There are framed photos on the walls of Keira, and to my shock, I find pictures of myself and Aiden on display as well. Not just pictures from when we were kids either - more current ones that I assume my mom has sent.
There are also framed copies of pictures I’ve taken over the years. I gaze around, stunned as I feel tears fill my eyes.
Dad comes up beside me and wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Welcome, sweetheart. I hope you can think of this as your home away from home.”
I smile up at him. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Mom!” Keira calls out. “Come say hello to Rylee!”
A moment later, a beautiful older woman with red hair like Keira’s hesitantly steps out from a side door. She gives me a tentative smile.
“Hello, Rylee,” she says. “I’m Brigid.”
My stepmother. I stare at her for several seconds, soaking in the sight of her. I really expected to hate this woman whenever I met her - I’d built her up as some sort of evil Disney villain in my head for years now.
However, standing in front of her now, I don’t feel that way. I’m not angry at her, or feel any kind of animosity toward her, at all.
Closing the distance between us, I wrap my arms around her and hug her.
“It’s nice to meet you, Brigid,” I murmur.
She lets out a shaky breath and hugs me back, and I feel a sense of peace wash over me, and all the nerves I’ve been feeling about being here just melt away.
Later, after spending some time with Dad, Brigid, and Keira, they show me to my room to let me relax and get settled before bed. It’s a cute room with lacy curtains over the paneled window, a full size bed with a brightly colored quilt, and a dresser with a vanity mirror on top of it.
