She slid the paper across the booth’s table. The diner near Marshall smelled of grilled burgers. Her stomach rumbled as she watched her birth father closely.
They’d gotten together a week after their first meeting for a mouth swab, and it had taken two weeks to receive the test results. She’d checked the results online right away, palms sweating, heart racing. She’d known deep down he was her father. But a niggle of fear had washed over her as she clicked open the results.
Craig frowned at the paper. “What am I looking at?”
“It’s our paternity test. I received the results today.”
He offered her a wobbly smile and patted her hand. “Oh, honey, I didn’t even need this. I knew the second you told me who you were.”
She placed her finger on the last line where the results showed that the probability of Craig being her father was over 99 percent. “Well, now we have the test to back it up.”
“That cleft and your expressive eyes were all it took to convince me. So much like your grandma. I wish you could’ve met her.”
“I wish that too. But meeting you has been everything I’d hoped.”
He leaned forward, his gaze focusing on her. “Honey, you are without a doubt the happiest surprise I’ve ever gotten.”
Charlotte’s mind spun with everything that had happened this summer. As the blazing heat of August melted into September, providing cooler nighttime temperatures, she marveled at the changes.
With the growth of the training program, she’d become worried about finding a suitable replacement for Gunner. Finding a ranch hand was one thing. A good trainer was harder to come by. Gunner had put her mind at ease a couple of weeks ago. “It’ll save money if you do the training yourself. You’ve got good instincts and you’re a fast learner. You can always hire a ranch hand to care for the horses.” So they made time in the schedule for training lessons.
She was also getting to know her father better. They’d met up twice in the past month and discovered they shared some similar interests. They both liked watching true-crime shows, shootingpool, and listening to country music. They both hated algebra in school and agreed that kale in any form was inedible. Their outings had become less awkward as they’d become better acquainted.
Charlotte had told Emerson about him soon after she’d met him that first time, but her sister’s reaction had been anticlimactic. She hadn’t gotten upset, but she didn’t warm to the subject either. And when Charlotte had suggested she meet Craig, her response was clear.
“What for? He’s not my dad.”
Emerson had thrown herself into her job at the bakery this month. But she’d also met her obligations on the ranch. Charlotte hated the distance between them, but what could she do? She hoped Emerson would come around eventually. That she’d come to see that Charlotte having Craig in her life didn’t mean she loved her sister or their dad any less.
Despite Craig’s assurances that Charlotte could tell Gavin and Cooper who she was, she refrained from doing so. He’d even offered to tell them himself, but she could see what it would cost him. It wasn’t asking too much to wait a bit, was it?
Even so, she felt a prickle of guilt each time Gavin showed up for Emma’s lessons or Cooper brought Quinn by to see the hossies. But she shoved the guilt aside. Craig had a lot more at stake than she did.
Besides, for men who hadn’t had much of a father, Cooper and Gavin had turned out amazingly well. They were great dads and loyal, loving husbands. It was probably true that Jeff Robinson had more to do with that than Craig did. But how much of a grudge could they carry when everything had turned out so well for them?
On the first Saturday in September, she entered Milly’s Mugand Bean and smiled at Brianna, who worked the front counter. She was working so many hours these days to help pay for her grandma’s care that Charlotte had begun to come in and chat on her breaks.
Once Charlotte ordered her drink, Brianna brought it over and flopped into the seat across from her. She looked as beautiful as usual, even if a little tired around the eyes. “You came at a great time. We’ve had a line out the door all morning.”
“I have good timing like that. How’s your granny doing?”
“About the same, I guess. Some days are better than others.” Brianna didn’t like talking about her grandma much lately. It was a depressing subject.
Charlotte sipped her latte. “Mmm. Just the way I like it.”
“I take care of my girl. Even if I rarely see her these days.” Brianna’s eyes teased.
“Don’t blame it on me. You’re the one with the eighty-hour workweek.” And a grandma to care for, but Charlotte didn’t want to bring that up again.
“I’m not the one with a thriving ranch and a boyfriend to keep up with.”
“Kyle’s not my boyfriend. We’re just... talking.”
“For over two months? Girl. Glaciers have been known to move faster.”
Charlotte chuckled. “He’s just being respectful. He’s a very nice man. We have a good time when we go out.”
“RespectfulI can get on board with.Nice?Good? Those aren’t words that thrill me, and I’m guessing they don’t thrill you either.”
