Heat crawled up Charlotte’s neck. Shame bloomed inside, making her feel all squishy and awful.
Mom changed the subject again, but Charlotte couldn’t forget the hurt look on Dad’s face. Not for weeks. And she didn’t know how to make it right. He had never brought it up again, so neither did she.
Things soon returned to normal, and though Charlotte was still curious about her biological father, she would never risk hurting her dad that way again.
Three
The robust aroma of java hit Charlotte as she entered Milly’s Mug and Bean. She knew her friend would be working this morning because she’d begged Charlotte to take her nursery class at church for the late service.
Charlotte checked her watch. She only had twenty minutes to enjoy her morning brew. She took her spot in line and minutes later she was at the front.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Brianna said.
“Morning.”
“Your usual?”
“Yes, please.”
Brianna wore her black spiral curls slicked back into a ponytail. Her bronzed skin and sculpted cheekbones weren’t compliments of Maybelline and artistry. If she ever got tired of managing the coffee shop, Brianna could definitely model. But she didn’t have time for makeup, much less a modeling career.
Brianna finished out the transaction, prompting Charlotte to say, “Oh no you don’t. I insist on paying this time.”
“Not a chance.”
“Why did you give me that gift card for my birthday if you’re gonna comp all my drinks?”
“You know, you really shouldn’t complain about free lattes.”
Brianna had a point. Charlotte’s argument died on her tongue. “Thank you.”
The bell over the door jangled. Charlotte glanced over her shoulder. She stiffened as Jeff Robinson entered with his son Cooper. The younger man wore his sheriff’s uniform this morning.
She hadn’t seen either of them since she’d found that manila envelope in Mom’s safety-deposit box back in March. It was labeledCharlotte’s familyand contained articles about the Robinson kids, an old blurry photo of her mom with a man, and a war medal of some kind.
Boisterous laughter drew her attention to Cooper. The last time she’d seen him was last year when he pulled her over for speeding. Not her finest moment. Her face warmed at the memory.
Charlotte shot her head straight forward, latching onto Brianna’s gaze.
Everything in her longed to turn back and stare, to find something familiar in each of their faces. But she had to play it cool.
Brianna was the queen of cool. “Breathe. You go sit down. I’ll bring your drink and take a break.”
“Thank you.” Charlotte scuttled off before the pair approached and chose the only available two-top in the busy shop. She took the seat that allowed her to observe the father and son.
Jeff Robinson, who appeared to be near sixty, was handsome for his age, tall, and fit-looking. He wore a blue button-down shirt with khakis. He was just the sort of man she’d always envisioned as her father, minus the superhero cape. Except since Charlotte was the youngest sibling, that meant he’d been married to Lisa when he and Charlotte’s mom had conceived her. That scandalous detail flew in the face of Charlotte’s childhood hopes and Jeff’s stellar reputation in the community. But it also explained why he might have abandoned his fatherly duties to Charlotte—and why her mom might not have wanted Charlotte to know about him.
The affair definitely complicated matters, then and now.
The father and son chatted as they waited for their order. They seemed to share an easy relationship. She didn’t detect any tension between them.
The bell jingled and Lisa Robinson entered. She looked a bit younger than her husband. Her blonde hair was swept up in a messy bun, revealing kind eyes and a dimple that hollowed as she hugged her son. The three stood talking, Jeff’s arm wrapping around his wife’s waist as they chatted.
Charlotte watched them, feeling more like an outsider than she’d ever felt in her life. They seemed so at ease together. The perfect family. How could she ever approach Jeff and tell him who she was?
Her heart shrank two sizes at the thought she’d tried to stuff down each time it emerged. He’d never even spoken to her that she remembered. She might’ve seen him a dozen or so times in her life. She didn’t have any reason to go into his hiking supply store, and he’d never had reason to visit the ranch. They didn’t attend the same church. Though his children frequented theTrailhead Bar and Grill, she rarely saw him or Lisa there. Or maybe Charlotte just hadn’t noticed them. Why would she?
“Get that look off your face.” Brianna appeared in the seat across from her and slid her latte across the table. “It’s killing me.”
