Chapter 12
Monroe
Three Weeks Later
Wringing my hands roughly, I stare at the cute Tudor house with its bright white fence and perfectly placed tulips.
“I don’t think I can do this,” I mutter to Shaw, standing next to me.
“We can leave if you want.” He is always so supportive. Sometimes too much so.
I need to do this. Confront my past in order to move on with my future.
That's how things played out in Los Angeles last week. My mother was arrested in conspiracy with Alton, and because she spent all the money I earned throughout my lifetime, she can’t even beg me to help her make bail.
I’m not upset about what she stole from me, I’m wearier over how things turned out.
“I’d be a chicken to leave.” I don’t remember my father. Until Nina and Draven handed the positive DNA results to me a few days ago, I didn’t even know his name.
Marcus Riley. He’s forty-seven, a contractor, and he remarried ten years ago. No children, though. After what my mother did, I can’t say I’d blame him if he was afraid to.
“What’s her name again?” I can’t seem to focus too much on his wife.
“Allison, she’s a nurse.” I’m positive he’s said this five times in the last hour, but the information simply isn’t sticking the way I’d like it to.
Turning to face Shaw, he’s watching me with the same loving expression on his face he always has for me.
“You sure you're up for this?” I ask. The bullet wound wasn’t nearly as bad as my brain was making it out to be.
He received a tetanus shot, a dozen stitches, and some antibiotics.
He was given a clean bill of health, and after a couple hours, we were on our way back home.
It won’t stop me from worrying about him, though. Nothing will.
“Baby, I’m fine.” He leans down to kiss me sweetly, and that’s when I hear the sound of the front door opening and laughter from the couple inside.
“Oh God,” I mutter, pulling away. I am not ready yet. I need a few more minutes to internalize my irrationality.
“Hello!” The woman—Allison, my stepmother—greets us with a big smile and a friendly wave. “Can we help you?” Even though she’s the one talking, my eyes are glued to my father, who appears to be as stunned as me.
Shaw places a hand on my back and guides me forward towards the couple. “Hi there, I’m Shaw Remington, and this is–” He’s interrupted before he can finish.
“Monroe Kingsley,” my father finishes. His eyes fill with tears as he slowly strides forward. Astonishment in his gaze.
“This is…” Allison is as genuinely surprised as him. “Oh my.”
“Hi.” I give a little wave as I stop walking because I don’t know what else to say. I had this entire encounter planned out in my head, and I can’t think of any of it now. I don’t know what to say, ask, do. Nothing.
Here is this man who has been a complete mystery to me my entire life, and I’ve had hundreds, if not thousands, of questions I’ve wanted to ask him. But now, I can’t think of a single one.
His hand reaches up as he stops in front of me, but he halts further movement as he says, “You changed your hair.”
Feeling self-conscious, I smooth my hand down my hair. “The blonde was dyed, and I always hated it.”
“Helen–” He stops with a self-deprecating smile, trying not to hurt my feelings. Little does he realize, when it comes to her, he can’t.
“I know. Mom hated the dark color.” Silence ensues, and it’s awkward.
“Well, we were about to go to lunch, but I’d say eating in might be better suited. Are either of you hungry?” Allison asks as she grabs Marcus’ hand in both of hers.
“That would be nice, thank you. The flight was short, and Monroe has been filled with nerves all week. Not eating the way she should be.” Shaw scowls down at me over that last bit, and I can feel my face flush. I missed my period last week, and he’s positive I’m pregnant. I think it’s the stress.
“Well, come on in then. I’ll get some coffee started and throw one of my frozen lasagnas in the oven.” Allison is so welcoming, accommodating, that I can’t help but feel wanted. A first for me in so many years.
Reaching out for my hand, Allison pulls me along beside her, chattering about the weather, but as soon as we enter their home, I’m stopped short by a photo hanging on the wall at the stairs.
It’s of me.
When I won my first Little Miss pageant.
At a time when I truly enjoyed strutting across the stage, showing off my ballet skills, and smiling until my cheeks hurt.
A strong hand pulls me from the image. I turn my head to see my father standing next to me, tears in his eyes, emotion written plain as day across his face. My own sob breaks free as I throw myself into his arms.
“Ssshh, Monroe, it’s alright now. I’m here, and God willing, I’m not going anywhere.” I nod against his chest because my throat is too tight to utter any words.
“It might help,” I hear Shaw say, “if you could explain to her what happened.” Lord, I love this man. He knows I’ve spent my whole life wondering why I wasn’t good enough. I need to find out why my father left me with that evil wench.
“Of course!” Placing his hands on my shoulders, he pushes back slightly. “Go sit down, and I’ll be right back.” I nod as he takes the stairs two at a time and turns down the hallway.
“Come here, baby.” I melt into Shaw’s arms as he holds me tight. Slowly walking into the living room, I’m even more amazed at all the articles from different pageants I either won or attended. There’s even one framed over the fireplace from when I won Miss California.
“I can’t believe they have all of these,” I whisper.
“Marc was always so eager to talk about you. To anyone that would listen. He hated that you were in the spotlight so often, but he was also grateful because, in a way, he was able to watch you grow up.” Allison’s soft voice as she puts a tray of coffee on the table has new tears blocking my vision.
“When I first met your father, he was so lost in his grief over losing you, he didn’t realize that not only could he still have a life, but one day, the two of you could find your way back to each other.
” I can nearly feel the love she has for my father, and I’m so grateful that he was able to find that.
“I don’t have any memories of him. I was so young when he left.
My mother would never speak about him, and when she did, it was always so nasty.
” I still remember her hatred towards the man I never knew.
“It took me a long time before I realized what she felt and said was because of her own resentments.”
Sitting next to me, Allison grips my hands in hers.
“Hear him out. Let him tell you his version of events. He loves you so much, Monroe. I’ve only ever seen him smile the way he just did when he saw you one other time in our life, and that was the day we married.
” I nod as my father walks into the room, a dreamy look on his face as he carries a box.
Blowing out a deep breath, he sits in a recliner and places the box at his feet.
“I’ve heard on the news some of what’s happened to you in the past few months, and I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there to protect you.
I’ve wanted to be, but I had no idea how.
I also didn’t want to cause more problems for you.
I know your mother has betrayed you in some of the worst ways I’ve ever seen, and had I known it was so bad, I would have fought harder to get you back. ”
“What do you mean?” I listen with a breaking heart as he explains about my mother running away from him with me in the middle of the night and making it so he could never claim me as his by leaving his name blank on the birth certificate.
For years, he battled the courts for some sort of custody of me, and each time, he would be distraught with the outcome. After every battle, we would move to another state, and he’d try again. Ultimately failing until it was to the point it was affecting his health, and he had to eventually stop.
I hold no ill will towards my dad and Allison, and after talking about how hard things were for him when he lost me, I realize I never did.
I was always curious and upset about his lack of presence, but I knew my mother was lying to me for all those years, and frankly, I only look at this time now as if we have our futures to look forward to.
We can embrace our new relationship with open hearts and arms and heal together. In a way, I’m glad my mother betrayed me. She brought me to my cowboy bodyguard, who, in turn, gave me the family I had always longed for.