“Then don’t. It’s time to move forward.”
“And I do that by reading that letter?” Laikyn glanced down at it.
“I think that’s a good start, don’t you?”
She sighed and stepped back. “Yeah. I guess it is.”
“I’ll leave you to it. When you’re done, we’ll figure out dinner.”
Laikyn nodded. As I was walking out the door, I heard her sigh.
I wouldn’t hover, but I would be close. In case she needed me.
And I could honestly say I hoped she did. I’d never wanted anyone to need me because I wasn’t reliable. Or so I’d thought. Jinx had proven I was wrong about that. About pretty much everything. I’d needed him from the beginning, and we’d come to rely on each other.
Now we had Laikyn, and for the first time in my life, I finally felt complete.
* * *
Laikyn
When Rule left, I used his encouragementas strength and grabbed the letter off the table. I carried it over to my desk and hopped up on it, curious and terrified about what awaited me from beyond the grave.
Inside were two sheets of paper, folded and tucked in separately. One had MYDEARESTDAUGHTERwritten in bold, black letters on it, so I set the other one aside.
I unfolded the paper. It was only one page, hand-printed and signed at the bottom.
“Here goes nothing,” I whispered before looking at the first line.
My dearest Laikyn,
As I sit here writing this, I’m not sure whether I address it to the adorable two-year-old I’ve gotten glimpses of on the television or the beautiful young woman I know you’ll turn out to be. I figure both deserve to know how much I love you. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was not fight to have you in my life. I want to. God knows I want to. But your mother has asked me to stay away. She says it’s best for both of you, and I have to trust she knows better than me.
Your mother … although she’s not the most affectionate person I’ve ever met, she has a good heart. She’s young and ambitious, and I respect that. More so because she has her entire life in front of her, and I don’t have the heart to force her to share that life or the spotlight she’s seeking with anyone else. And she would have to. I wasn’t exactly forthcoming with Monica when I met her. She didn’t realize I was not single or available—at least not in the way she needed—and I didn’t correct the misunderstanding. I was captivated by her beauty and charm and more than a little flattered that she could look at me the way she did.
Our love affair was brief. For a short time after, I thought about her with a smile. Then came the phone call that changed my life. She was pregnant and wanted me to know, but she was adamantly refusing support for herself or you. Not unless I was willing to walk away from the life I’d built for myself. She wanted to present a perfect image to the world, and she insisted the only way to do that would be for me to forsake my family. I couldn’t. I could never do that to Knox. He’s my whole world, and I know if I had just a little time with you, I would feel the same about you.
So I’ve done what your mother asked of me. I’ve kept my distance. I’ve watched you from the sidelines, thankful for every slight glance I’ve had. My health is deteriorating, so I know that by the time you read this, I’ll no longer be here, but I want you to know that you’ll forever be in my heart.
I hope one day you’ll be united with your brother, and you can have the family I fear neither of you has now. I won’t pretend I’m the best judge of character when it comes to the ladies I’ve shared my bed with. Too much information, I’m sure. Unfortunately for me, I usually learn my lesson the hard way, and in this case, my penance is that I don’t get to see you grow up. But please know I love you with all that I am, and the regrets are all mine.
Love,
Your father, Jeremiah
P.S. I’ve set up a trust for you so you can have the life I wished I could’ve given you. Do me a favor, Laikyn. Remember that money buys material things. It doesn’t buy what’s important. If it were possible to put a price tag on love, it would be worth far more than any amount of money.
Jinx
I understood that Rule wanted to giveLaikyn space while she read the letter Knox had given her, but I couldn’t be as accommodating.
As soon as he told me what she was doing, I headed for her studio and stood outside the door. I wanted to be there for her if she needed me. She wouldn’t. Laikyn was a strong, independent woman who would deal with whatever was in that letter as she’d dealt with every hand life had dealt her. With fierce determination and an abundance of courage.
I heard a couple of sniffles, but I resisted the urge to go in there, respecting her privacy as much as possible. I paced. Back and forth, wondering if I should go back to the house. I didn’t want her to think I was hovering, but I was definitely hovering.
There was a heavy sigh from inside, and I stopped moving.
A second later, “Oh. My.Gawd!”
