Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Hunter
Riley and I decided to head home late last night.
I need to get back to work before they fire me.
I know it’s going to be a bit awkward with Emma, but I have to face her sooner or later.
I hope it doesn’t ruin our friendship because that would really suck.
It would definitely dampen Friday night bonfires.
I’m holding this beautiful girl in my arms and couldn’t be happier; I don’t want to wake her, but I need to get ready for work.
I’m trying to get out of bed without making too much noise, so I lay her arm on the blanket as I slide out.
When I come back into the bedroom to get dressed after my shower, she’s sitting up in bed, the sheet wrapped around her.
“Hey, beautiful. How did you sleep?” She tries to stifle a yawn as I chuckle.
“Great, until you got out of bed,” she says, sticking out her bottom lip.
I want to walk over and nip that pouty lip, but I know it won’t end there. “Go pick up your clothes today; I want you staying here with me. If your dad gets pissed, I’ll go and talk to him.” Bending down, I kiss the tip of her nose before heading out.
We talked about her moving in with me when we were still at the cottage. She agreed that once we came back, she would bring her things over. I just hope Scott doesn’t go all bullshit on her.
As I pull into my parking spot, I see Connor getting out of his car. “Well, it’s about time; we all missed your pretty face around here.”
“Don’t be jealous that I have the girl and you don’t, Connor.” I can’t help but smile as I see him frown.
“I’ll have you know that now that you’re off the market, I’m next in line for the gorgeous girl on my arm.” He winks, and I can’t help but laugh my ass off.
“Keep dreaming, bro. I have the only one worth a damn, and she’s all mine.” The words get caught in my throat as I look up to see Emma standing there.
She looks sad as I try to take my foot out of my mouth. “Emma, I didn’t mean…”
“Don’t apologize; it’s nice to see you happy. So are we still having a bonfire on Friday night?”
I walk over to my friend and hug her. “That will never change, unless we get so old we can’t maneuver our wheelchairs in the sand.” She laughs, smacking my arm.
We all walk toward our stations, talking and laughing as if nothing ever happened. Everything feels right with the world in this moment. Until I get back home and it all crashes down around me once again.
When I walk in, Riley’s sitting at the island sobbing uncontrollably. Immediately, I think Scott gave her a hard time until I approach her. When she sees me, she jumps off the stool, causing it to crash to the floor. She crumples a piece of paper that’s clutched in her hand.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” I try to reach out for her, but she jerks back like a skittish cat.
Her eyes open wide as tears stream down her face. I can’t help but feel a sinking sensation in my stomach as I watch her fall apart right before my eyes. When she sinks to the floor, I do the same, wrapping her up in my arms.
“Hunter, let me go.” She repeatedly pushes against my chest until I loosen my hold on her.
“Talk to me, Riley. I can’t help you until you let me know what’s wrong.” I comb my fingers through my hair in frustration.
She opens my hand and places the crumpled paper in my palm. “This changes everything, and I wish I had never opened it. I’m so sorry, Hunter... so, so sorry.” She bends her knees and hugs them to her chest, burying her face in her arms as the tears keep coming.
Reaching out with my other hand, I stroke her hair, bend down to kiss the top of her head, before smoothing out the paper in my hands. It’s not just a piece of paper; it’s a letter, and when I scan the bottom signature, I realize it’s from her mom. Fuck.
Dear Riley,
You’ve been gone for several weeks now, so I guess my question to you is: do you know the truth yet?
Did your father have the courage to tell you, or was he going to keep pretending that everything was my fault?
Did he tell you the real reason that he left?
Well, I guess if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, so here I go.
We were only seventeen when we found out I was pregnant, and our lives changed completely.
Scott was determined to finish law school and take care of you, so we did our best. I don’t know if you remember, but when you were three, you became very sick.
You were diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease.
The doctors caught it in time, so you have no lasting heart damage.
However, a DNA sample was taken from both of us because the disease might be genetically linked.
That was the day he found out that you’re not his biological daughter.
Now, the truth is out, so to speak. Oops.
Many years later, he met someone at a conference, and they started having an affair—or maybe, looking back, that was just his excuse to be with her.
He discovered he had a son with the woman he was cheating on.
Because that was his biological child, he decided to leave us for his son.
The only thing I know is that the kid’s name is Brady Davis.
Now you know the truth, and the truth shall set you free,
Kathy Miller
Scott’s not Riley’s dad, but Brady’s his biological son. I can’t wrap my head around this right now; it’s so messed up. Once I quickly do the math, I realize it could be true—Brady would have turned eleven on December 18th. Riley just turned eighteen in June. This can’t be happening now.
All the questions I have can only be answered by Scott or my mother.
So, for now, I need to focus on the woman I love and try to convince her that nothing has changed between us.
When I scoop her up in my arms, she clenches my shirt with her trembling hands.
She doesn’t fight me as I place her in my lap while I sit on the couch.
Her head’s tucked under my chin, hands gripping my shirt.
Her body’s trembling against mine, which irritates me because she’s in shock.
It takes all my willpower not to call her mother right now and tell her exactly what I think of her—a spiteful, vindictive bitch.
If she can’t be happy, then her daughter won’t be either.
My thoughts drift to Brady, and I wonder if he inherited his personality from Scott. He definitely didn’t get it from my mother. His smile, positive attitude, and willingness to help others are traits he got from his biological father. I see that now.
I want nothing more than to comfort her right now, but I’m at a loss for words. What do I say to someone who just found out that the father she wants to get to know might be an imposter? That’s when she looks up at me, and it feels like a punch to the gut.
“When did you get that letter, baby?” My thumb gently brushes her teary cheek.
“I’m sorry, Hunter, I shouldn’t have...” Pressing my finger to her lips, I stop her from apologizing again for something that she didn’t do. She needs to know, especially right now, that nothing could ever change the way I feel about her.
Leaning my head against hers, I say, “Before we take your mom’s word for anything, we have to talk to Scott and find out the truth. It’s possible it could all be a lie, and she’s trying to hurt you more now because you’re living with him.”
“What if it’s true? What if Brady was his son?” She cares more about my feelings than her own. So selfless… it just makes me love her more.
“Nothing in that letter could change anything between you and me. Do you understand that?” She nods, “If Brady were his son and not my dad’s, that’s something between the three of them. Whenever you decide to talk to Scott, I’m coming with you. We’re in this together, okay?”
* * *
Riley
I decide there’s no time like the present.
If I don’t confront him now, I might lose my nerve.
So I fold up the crumpled letter and shove it into my pocket.
With Hunter’s firm, reassuring hand in mine, we head over to my dad’s.
I say a silent prayer, hoping with all my heart that my mom’s lying.
I don’t know if I can handle another betrayal.
As I walk through the kitchen door, Hunter gives my hand a gentle squeeze; it’s his way of comforting me. When I see my dad coming out of his office, Hunter lifts my hand to his lips and presses a tender kiss to each knuckle. Instead of calming me down, it makes my heart race.
“Hi, you two, I didn’t expect you back so soon.” When Dad smiles, all I see is Brady smiling back at me. Looking up, I see Hunter’s jaw clenched tightly.
“Dad, I need to talk to you. Can we go into your office?” I feel like I’m going to be sick.
“Sure, is everything okay?” He frowns as his eyes immediately drop to my stomach. He thinks I’m pregnant.
It’s only when we walk into his office and Hunter closes the door behind him that I say, “No Dad; I’m not pregnant if that’s what you’re thinking.”
He sighs with relief as he leans against his desk, with his hands gripping the edge of his desk. “I must admit, it’s crossed my mind a time or two. Now that the worst-case scenario is out of the way, tell me what’s on your mind.”
Hunter and I are sitting on the leather couch—his arm draped around my shoulder as he pulls me close. His other hand is clenched in his lap. I reach over and weave my fingers through his, and he smiles.
“It hurts me when you say being pregnant with Hunter’s baby would be the worst thing that could happen to me.
Nothing would make me happier than to have his child because he would make an amazing father.
You even said yourself how much he loved Brady and how committed he was to him, right Dad?
” When I stand up suddenly, Hunter tugs my shirt, trying to stop me.
“Riley, you're taking what I said out of context. You’re both too young for that kind of responsibility; that’s all I meant by that. Obviously, something’s bothering you —just tell me. I’m not a mind reader.”
Hunter releases my shirt, and in a few strides, I pull the letter out of my pocket and leave it folded as I hand it to him.
When I walk back to Hunter, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and staring at the floor.
He looks so uncomfortable, like he’s praying the floor will open up and swallow him whole.
When I sit beside him, he looks up at me. “No matter what happens today, we’re in this together.”
Dad clears his throat, but I can’t look at him because I know deep down all of it’s true.
“Hunter, I’d like to talk about the part that affects you first. I did have an affair with your mother, but I swear on my life that I didn't know until I read this letter that Brady was my son.” When I hear my dad choke back a sob, I look over at him.
“Scott, I think it’s best if we wait to talk to my mother first before trusting anything Kathy says.
Based on what Riley’s told me about her mother, she has a lot of emotional issues.
So why don’t we focus on the part that affects Riley—she’s what matters most.” I should have known he would put me first.
“You’re right, Hunter; I can’t even imagine what you must think of me right now, and I just want you to know how sorry I am. Riley, I’d like this conversation to be between you and me. Hunter can wait outside.” He looks at me pleadingly.
In a matter of seconds, Hunter leans over the desk, his face just inches from Scott’s. “You can talk to her in front of me. Do you understand?” He jabs his finger into my dad’s chest for emphasis.
“I know how protective you are of her, but I need to….” He doesn’t get a chance to finish before Hunter grabs him by his shirt and pulls him to his feet.
“Scott, it’s taking every ounce of self-control I have not to fucking punch you, so whatever you need to say, say it now!” he screams, releasing my dad as he slumps into his chair.
Hunter stalks back to me, nostrils flaring.
His fingers tangle in his hair, every muscle as tight as a drum.
When he sits down, I thread his fingers through mine; the tension running through him feels like electricity.
I rub my hand up and down his arm, hoping this calms him; he’s making me nervous.
“For three years, I raised you as if you were my own daughter. So, when I found out you were sick and that you weren’t my biological child, I was devastated.
But you have to believe me when I say I never stopped loving you.
You were still my little girl. Your mom swore to me she never knew she was pregnant when we met, so I believed her.
We tried for three more years to make things work until she found out I was having an affair with Erin, Hunter’s mom.
That’s when she told me about how many men she’d slept with over the last six years.
” He buries his face in his hands, reliving every painful memory.
I’m numb and weightless, like I might float away at any moment.
I was never close to my dad, well, Scott.
Is that why I don’t feel sad, hurt, or angry?
You’d think I’d be upset to find out I don’t know who my real father is, but I’m not.
None of it matters because the most important person in my life is sitting next to me, and he said we’re in this together.
I’ve had enough; I don’t want to hear any more of his bullshit.
“For twelve years, I lived in hell with a woman who resented me because I wasn’t your daughter.
Now it all makes sense. If you had just been honest with me from the beginning about your infrequent visits, you could have saved me a lot of heartache.
I would have known why she hated me so much, and I wouldn’t have spent all this time blaming myself.
I can’t stay here and listen to anything else you have to say.
I’m leaving.” With Hunter’s hand in mine, we leave Scott sitting there, his mouth wide open.