Page 34 of The Addendum

“What is she to you?” I asked. “How serious are you about her?”

“She’s my future.”

“So pretty serious, then.”

“Yep. And I’ll stand by her. We talked this morning before she left. She’s already headed back to Toronto, and she’ll wait to hear from you.” He paused. “We came in separate cars, and she had to leave this morning for work,” he added.

“I want a DNA test, and then we’ll talk.”

“She assumed so. Get Halton to contact her. I explained the relationship, so she understands you don’t just keep a lawyer hanging around in case.”

“She thinks very little of me.”

“Do you blame her? She was told all her life you didn’t want her. Then suddenly, she comes face-to-face with you without warning. This has thrown her. Same as it has thrown you. She didn’t mean to march in here last night and blow your world apart. She wanted to talk to you in private, but as I said, she got emotional. And you told her to talk in front of everyone.”

I scrubbed my face. “I thought I’d inadvertently insulted her at some event where we’d met. Or run over her cat and she had my license plate number. ‘You’re my father, and I hate you,’ were the last words I expected her to say.”

“You let her take the floor, Richard. But I hope once the test comes back positive—which I’m sure it will—that the two of you can work out some sort of relationship.”

“Why are you so certain?”

“Because I have eyes. She has so many of your mannerisms. Your eyes. The flip in your hair. She resembles Heather. I saw it all last night when they were standing side by side.”

He was right, but I wasn’t completely ready to admit it.

“Power of suggestion,” I argued, although my words sounded feeble. “That’s what I do. I craft a campaign that makes you think you need something, want something. If she hadn’t said anything, put that idea in your head, you wouldn’t have even been looking.”

“But I was,” he replied softly. “And I saw it.” Then he stood, shaking his head. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”

And he walked out.

* * *

I left the Hub, my steps heavy, my body suddenly feeling older than its years. Katy wasn’t in the house, and I walked to the beach, spying her sitting on the rocks. She loved the water and found the waves and movement soothing. She often sat close to it to think or reflect. The fact that she was reflecting on my past and our future didn’t sit well with me. I walked closer, pausing a few feet away. She tilted her head, shading her eyes and studying me.

“This feels like déjà vu,” she said quietly. “The day you found me on the beach at the cottage.”

“You’d run from me,” I replied. “Are you running now, Katy?”

“No, I’m thinking.”

“I suppose I don’t have to ask about what.”

“Last night, yes. But other things as well. Heather looked so happy yesterday. It was a lovely day.”

I walked over and sat across from her. “Yeah, it was. She and Reed are good together. He’ll look after her.”

“Gavin looks well. Happy.”

I sighed. “All our kids are. Even your baby, Matthew, looks just fine, despite his lack of wife or life outside the hospital. He’s content with his place right now, although you worry about him.”

She nodded. “I know. But it’s my right to worry about them. I want them all to be happy, to have—” she swallowed “—to have what we’ve had.”

“Had?” I repeated. “Our good life is in the past now?”

“No. We’ll get through this, Richard. But I’m saying I want them settled and content.” She sighed. “It’s a mother thing, I think.”

“I want that for them too. And they are. All of them. Everyone has to live their own life, Katy. Matthew is happy. When he’s ready to settle down, he will.”