He’d had no choice. Sasha deserved to know that he had a child. He wasn’t sure how or what kind of part he was going to play in his daughter’s life, but he wasn’t going to turn his back on a kid he’d helped create, even if she’d been unknown to him until the day before.
A kid.He was a father. That thought still managed to suck the breath from his lungs. He’d reached the decision that he wanted to be part of this child’s life mere seconds before he’d told Sasha.
He wasn’t sure how he’d expected her to react to the news though, deep down, he’d probably known it would be badly, but part of him had hoped that after the shock wore off, she’d be open to talking about it and possibly accepting that he had responsibilities.
She hadn’t. She’d made it perfectly clear that she wanted no part in someone else’s child’s life, and she wasn’t about to get tied to a man who was going to put a childhe didn’t even knowbefore her.
He had never been blind to Sasha’s immaturity and self-centredness, but she could be so much more than a spoiled brat, and it was because shecouldbe loving and funny that he’d always tried to make excuses for her. Not this time, though. He couldn’t, in good conscience, bring a child into a relationship with one person so bitter and unyielding.
He could have chosen to ignore the child’s existence, he supposed—like Sasha had given him the ultimatum to do—but the instant repulsion that evoked in him told him everything he needed to know. Hewantedto know his child. Hewantedto be part of her life.
He closed his eyes and let the rain drip down his face. The decision may have cost him everything, but he felt at peace.
He’d made the right decision. He just had no idea what he was going to do next.
‘So, you’ve told him?’ her mother asked after Kenzie filled her in.
‘Yep.’
‘And you haven’t heard back from him?’
‘Not yet. What do you think that means?’ she asked, unable to keep the anxiety that had plagued her ever since she’d told Ewan the truth from her tone.
‘I’m sure he’s just processing everything. It’s only been three days.’
‘I guess.’
‘How do you feel about it?’
‘Honestly? I’m terrified.’
‘That’s understandable,’ her mother said calmly. ‘But maybe don’t start stressing until we have something to stress about.’ Easier said than done. Still, her mother was probably right. No news could mean that he’d simply decided not to get involved.If only it could be that simple.
‘Why don’t you come home for a bit?’
‘I’ve got too much on at the moment.’ But home did have a nice ring to it. Despite the fact Burrumba had never really been her home—it had been her grandparents’ home and was now her mother’s—it still held a special place in her heart. She’d moved down there prior to having Poppy, and lived there for the first six months of Poppy’s life before making the move back up to the Gold Coast. And she could use one of her mother’s hugs and a bit of TLC. ‘Actually, Mum, maybe Poppy and Iwillcome down for a few days.’
‘Good. I think it might do you some good to get away.’
Kenzie said goodbye, then made a few phone calls to rearrange her schedule. A long weekend would be enough to recharge her batteries and get some much-needed perspective. By the time she got back, maybe Ewan would have worked out what he wanted to do moving forward.
Ifhe wanted to move forward.
Eight
‘Are we there yet?’ Poppy asked from the back seat for maybe the eight millionth time since leaving the Gold Coast.
‘Almost,’ Kenzie said, lifting her gaze to the rear-view mirror briefly. Despite her exhaustion from having answered what felt like several thousand questions—everything from why Santa hadn’t brought her arealunicorn last Christmas to how ants poop—Kenzie’s heart swelled, almost painfully, with love for the gorgeous dark-haired munchkin in the back of her car.
Big hazel eyes held hers with a level gaze. ‘That’s what you saidlasttime, and we’restillnot at Nan’s place.’
Okay, so she got me there. ‘But this time, we really are almost there. As soon as we drive through town, we’re on the road where Nan’s house is.’And I can turn off The Wiggles.As much as she loved them, if she heard about Emma’s bloody yellow bow one more time, she was going to scream.
Despite the ten more minutes it took to reach her mother’s driveway, there was still time for another dozen questions, and Kenzie had never in her life been more relieved to see a gate. As she drove down the gravel driveway, she took the road that veered off to the left towards her mother’s new house. The original house, empty at the moment with her grandparents away, sat nestled at the bottom of the drive, filled with happy childhood memories.
The new house was perched on a small hill overlooking the creek below and had panoramic views from the wide verandahs wrapped around it.
She was happy her mum, Sam, had found Jack and remarried only a handful of years earlier. She deserved to be happy. When they were growing up, her mum had always been there for her and Brook, devoting her life to her kids. Then, she’d suddenly made an announcement at the dinner table: she wanted to open a boutique. Kenzie remembered her and Brook getting excited—Brook especially, as she had a love of fashion—but it was her dad’s reaction that had stuck with Kenzie. Or, rather,lackof reaction. He’d been reading a text on his phone, and after her mother’s announcement, he’d glanced up, eyeing her doubtfully. ‘What do you know about running a business? You’ve been a housewife all your life.’
