27
Wyatt
2018
Adaughter. I have a daughter. I can’t stop the tears. Hayley and I have a child together, and I’m the last one to find out about it. It angers me. It makes me feel like smashing my fists through something. She could have come to me; told me she was pregnant. Instead, she shacked up with that asshole Logan and pretended the kid was his. I would have been there for her and for London. I would have—. She’s a bitch, that is what she is. She kept my child from me for seven fucking years, and now she shows up and makes it like I am the one to blame. I came back. I was there, for her, to tell her that I loved her and if she was willing to have me, I wanted her. But she’d moved on with the ex, or was he even her ex? Could I believe anything she said?
“You okay?” Thomas takes a seat next to me and hands me a beer.
“Not really, I just found out I’m a father.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
“I’m not! My daughter is seven years old.”
“Oh.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, son.”
We open our cans. “Congratulations to me,” I say sarcastically.
“Is that why the pretty blondie was here earlier?”
“Yeah, Hayley. She and I have a history.”
“You could say that. History and a kid.”
I stand and start to pace. “How could she keep it from me for so long? She says she couldn’t get hold of me, that I slipped off the radar. She could have tried harder, told my mom, something, right? She’s lied to me all these years.”
“Women are odd creatures, and I am not justifying what she did, but don’t you think you two still have a lot to talk about? There is a kid in the picture, and if you want to be in your daughter’s life, you gotta find some middle ground.”
“Another man has been raising my kid.”
“Well, that complicates things.”
“As far as I know, they’re not together, but even my mother thinks that London is his daughter.”
“Blended families are everywhere, Wyatt. Heck, I married Sally when she had two kids from another man. The asshole isn’t around, he wasn’t the daddy type, but we made it work. Those kids are my world, and if I’d had to share them with Sally’s ex, I’d have done it in a heartbeat.”
“You always make everything sound so uncomplicated, Tom.” I plop down next to him.
“Because it is, son. Now go talk to the girl.”
It was easier said than done. Hayley’s a force, and I’m not sure I can survive her impact.
* * *
“Hayley!”I demand as I knock on her door.
“What the—?” She swings the door open, and I storm inside.
“I came back. I came back, and you’d moved on. You and Logan were playing happy family with my daughter!” I glare at her.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“I came back. I needed to see Erin. She was the fiancé of a friend of mine. I wanted to take you with me. I found Logan here, and well, he didn’t need to say much. That wall spoke for itself.” I stare at the offensive pictures that caused me to I storm out.
“He never told me.” Her voice is small.
“I told him not to.” I run my hands through my hair. “I didn't think it would matter.”
