Chapter 50
"A re you sure you're okay?" Frankie's soft voice penetrated my thoughts. I glanced down at the woman I loved. The woman I almost lost. Her gentle brown eyes gazed up at me, her brow furrowed in concern.
Truthfully? I didn't know if I was okay. My body felt numb; my heart was beating at a rapid pace, and I could honestly throw up any minute now.
I didn't need to be here. Frankie had told me the day and time Carlos and his parents would be over. Full transparency, she'd said. I didn't deserve her consideration. I didn't deserve to even have one foot in her door. But my gorgeous, generous, and forgiving wife was giving me a once-in-a-million chance.
It wouldn't be easy to see Carlos. In my head, he was this imaginary monster who'd taken advantage of my heartbroken wife. I'd buried him deep in the dark corners of my mind, determined never to think of him again.
And now I was ten minutes away from meeting him.
"I'll be fine, babe," I assured her. I hoped my smile would satisfy her worry, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. She'd given me an out. Told me I could meet Carlos when I was ready. But there was no way I wanted Alani to meet a bunch of strangers for the first time without support behind her.
Besides, if it wasn’t today, it would be another day. Carlos seemed to be serious about keeping this date. His parents were chomping at the bit to meet Alani, so the likelihood of him dipping in and out was slim. Why had I called him? Apparently, I was the lightbulb moment he needed to step up. Me and my big mouth.
My gaze caught and held on Alani, who was oblivious to the tense adults around her. Her eye caught mine, and she grinned widely, her arms outstretched. Without hesitation, I bent down and plucked her off the ground. I breathed in her baby scent, and a peace washed over me.
Because of her. Alani was why I called him. For her and Frankie. Seeing my wife devastated over the possibility that Alani would be rejected by her father had tipped the scales in her favor. My ego, hurt, and pain were swiftly forgotten.
"They're here," Dan murmured. He'd pulled the curtain back a bit, his attention planted outside. I heard the slamming of car doors, and my gut clenched.
Show time.
Before I knew it, a knock sounded and Dan had pulled the front door open. Strange voices were heard—-an older woman and the deep rumbling of a man. The grandparents. For a second, I wondered whether Carlos had bailed again, leaving the task to his parents.
But then, the crowd of newcomers strolled into the living room. Their movements were hesitant, their expressions expectant, nervous, and excited. A small woman with a straight black bob and bangs entered first. Next to her was a tall blond man, his arm tight around her shoulders. They both looked to be around their late forties; him probably more. They were total opposites—-he was of European heritage with almost white blond hair, while she had darker features; jet-black hair, with a deep tanned complexion. Frankie told me that Carlos was half Mexican. Something Carlos had told my wife while he was seducing her.
Stop it.
A second later, a new figure stepped through the door.
Carlos.
I received my first proper look at the man who'd torn us apart.
No. That wasn't right.
I was the man who'd ripped us apart. Carlos had neatly slid in, filling a spot Frankie had desperately missed with me.
The fucker was as tall as his dad. In fact, he seemed to inherit all his genes from his father. He was a darker shade of blond, though, with blue eyes. The only thing that clued anyone into his other heritage was the natural tan he wore. He wasn't as solidly built as me, I noted smugly. His body was lean and muscular, like he got his workout from playing sports rather than going to the gym.
I couldn’t deny that the fucker was handsome. And looked every bit the scared twenty-three-year-old I’d pictured.
His eyes were focused on Alani, his attention wide and fascinated. His mom had already started crying softly, wiping at her face while her husband murmured something down at her, his hand rubbing up and down her shoulder,
Frankie gently extracted Alani from my arms. I glanced down at her, smiling reassuringly even though I was dying inside. I love you , she mouthed.
She walked towards the trio, her hands gripping Alani possessively. "This is Alani. Your daughter."
Carlos slowly moved forward until he stood in front of his parents. His hand reached up hesitantly before he gently grasped Alani's tiny hand.
"Hi, Alani," he whispered. I could see a slight glimmer in his eyes. "I-I'm your Dad."
Those words pierced my soul. I couldn't let Frankie see me like this, so I stepped back slowly before moving away from the group to the kitchen. When Frankie passed Alani over to Carlos, I glanced away, unable to watch them bond. And they would bond. You couldn't help but be won over by Alani.
I busied myself making coffee and stealing a few pastries that Frankie had left out for everyone. I tried to tune out the conversation but I kept hearing his voice cooing at my daug–at Alani. From all accounts, he was making all the right noises and movements. Luckily, I didn't have to kick his ass for scaring her.
"You're a bigger man than me."
I whirled around at Dan's voice. He'd kept a distance from the group, only introducing himself. He wanted to give them space to meet Alani without her seeking out familiar faces. My relationship with Dan was improving. I no longer saw the disappointment in his gaze when he looked at me. His responses to me weren't strained or cold. He was almost friendly. But he still looked at me sometimes with a questioning look, as if he were waiting for me to throw in the towel and bail. Or do something else to hurt Frankie.
"Yeah?" I took a sip of my now cold coffee.
"I'm proud of you, son. Anyone else would've tucked tail and run off by now. You fucked up majorly when it came to my daughter, but even I wouldn't blame you if you found all this," he gestured behind him. "too hard.
His praise warmed me, especially when he referred to me as the name I’d heard for years…before I hurt his daughter. Son. Dan had been like a father to me, so to lose his support and friendship had been a hard blow.
"Not gonna lie, I don't know whether to punch Carlos or throw up." Most likely, the former.
He gave a deep sigh and nodded understandably. He reached out and grasped my shoulder, squeezing hard. "You're a good man, Andrew."
Emotion clogged my throat, but before I could respond, Frankie strolled into the kitchen. Ximena, Craig, and Carlos followed behind her. My eyes immediately clocked on Alani, sitting comfortably like the princess she was in Carlos' arms. I glanced away.
Frankie's smile was gentle, but I could spy the fear in her eyes. She was worried that this was too much for me; that I wanted to leave. I couldn't let her think that way. When she reached me, I pulled her close and planted a kiss on her head. I felt her body melt into me, her tense shoulders relaxing. When I glanced up, the trio of adults were staring at me; two of their expressions were openly curious. Carlos was more guarded, his shoulders hunched.
"Ximena, Craig, Carlos," Frankie started. "I want you to meet Drew." I felt a slight hitch in her breath. "My husband."
Craig's eyebrows flew up while his wife’s furrowed in confusion. Her eyes bounced between me and Alani, a clear question in them.
I felt the tremble in my wife's body. She’d told me earlier that she was second-guessing letting his parents come, worried they would judge her.
I cleared my throat. "It's nice to meet you all." My eyes finally met Carlos' before sliding away. "I can see the curiosity and completely understand. Frankie and I were separated when…when Alani was conceived. Please don't judge her; the separation was completely my fault."
Understanding dawned in Ximena's eyes as she glanced at Frankie with a softened expression. I could only imagine what she was thinking. But I didn't care. It was no one's business. She only needed to know that I was here for the long haul, no matter how difficult.
"Frankie and I have recently reconciled," I continued. "I'm determined to fix our marriage. A marriage that now includes Alani."
At the mention of her name, Alani turned around and babbled loudly. I could see her body wiggling in Carlos' arms. She wanted me. I fought my body’s natural urge to go to her.
"I want you to know that I fully accept Alani. I love her as if she were my own. I also accept that she has a bio dad, someone that I hope will be a part of her life forever." My steely gaze met Carlos', the warning clear. He bounced Alani up and down as she twisted her body around to find me. His mouth hitched up slightly, and he gave me a subtle nod. He walked around his parents and strolled up to me. Frankie's hand tightened on my waist as we watched him approach.
"I think she wants you," he murmured.
He barely lifted his arms before Alani launched herself onto me. My arms immediately banded around her, my heart melting as I felt her little body relax against me.
"Thank you," he told me, his fascinated gaze still planted on Alani as she laid her head on my shoulder. His eyes seared mine as a sheen of happiness gleamed in them. "You were right. I would regret this for the rest of my life."