“That’s all she said.” Sam shrugged and dropped his arms.
“I thought you explained about that coin.” His dad’s brow was furrowed. “Didn’t you go back?”
The pain on Paige’s face was killing him. She didn’t need to be hearing all this. But he answered his father. “I did. She wouldn’t listen.” He flicked his eyes toward his father. “You remember?”
John touched his nose. “Of course.”
“Well, if that’s all it took for her to keep this from you, then it is just as well she left.” His mother gathered her things, seemingly satisfied. She turned to Paige and smiled, almost triumphant. “She was never right for him the way you are, dear.”
“What coin?” Paige repeated herself.
“It was Arj—my brother’s. He had this old coin he used to toss around. He gave it to me the day he—he gave it to me. Turned out to be a two-headed coin.” Sam glanced at his dad, avoiding his mother’s eyes. “I used it a few times, for...things, and she got pissed. She didn’t know it was two-headed.”
“Can I see it?”
“I...uh, I don’t have it.” Sam could feel his father’s surprise and avoided his gaze.
“So, now what?” John asked.
“So, now you have a grandchild.” Sam’s laugh was weak.
His dad’s eyes lit up, even as he shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t...” He stopped and swallowed and Sam noticed tears in his father’s baby blues. “That’s fabulous!”
His mom went pale. “What do you mean?”
“I mean Samantha’s my daughter, so she’s your granddaughter. And she’s pretty amazing.”
“But she’s also Maya’s.”
“So?” Sam narrowed his eyes at his mother.
“So, do you think I’m going to accept Maya’s daughter after what she did to you? After she broke your heart like that?”
“Yes, I do.” Sam was firm. “She’s not just Maya’s daughter, she’s mine, as well. So I expect you to accept her.”
“We’ll see about that.” His mother stormed to the door. “Come, John. It’s time to go.”
John turned to Sam, a silent, don’t-worry-she’ll-come-around look in his eye. He hugged his son tight, an almost giddy look on his face as he whispered, “A granddaughter!” He waved to Paige and they left.
Sam went to his fiancée. “Finally.”
Paige nodded.
“I’m really sorry. I should have told you from the beginning, but honestly, I could barely get my head around it...”
She walked toward their bedroom without speaking.
“Paige, talk to me.”
She turned before she opened the door. “I know you’re sorry, and ultimately, I’ll understand that you needed a few days to ‘process.’”
“So then why do feel like I’m sleeping on the sofa tonight?”
“Because when it came down to it, you went after your daughter withher, and leftmestanding there.” She walked into the bedroom and shut the door.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
MAYA
