Sneak peek at Grayline Book 2 #2
She smiles back.
"Good evening."
"I'm Raymond Barlow."
She shifts the portfolio into one arm and shakes the hand I offer. "Kay Sentry."
"It's nice to meet you."
"You as well."
I lean lightly against the doorframe. "So..." I smile. "What can I help you with, ma'am?"
Kay's expression softens just a fraction. "Mr. Barlow, would it be possible to speak with you privately?"
Before I can answer, Rachel speaks. "I'm sorry, but who exactly are you?"
Kay reaches into her portfolio and removes an identification badge.
"My name is Kay Sentry." Rachel accepts the badge, studying it carefully.
Matt quietly steps up behind her—not taking over, just close enough that I know he's paying attention now.
Rachel hands the badge back. "And why are you here to see Raymond?"
Kay's eyes move to me. "I'd really prefer to discuss that with him."
Rachel starts to respond, but I gently touch her arm. "It's okay."
She looks at me. "You sure?"
I nod. Then I glance back at the living room. Matt. Bullet. Skee. Maeve. Sloane.
My family.
I look back at Kay. "Whatever it is...you can say it here."
Kay's eyes move past me, taking in everyone standing behind me. When she looks back at me, something in her expression softens.
"These people are your family?"
I don't even think about it. "Yeah."
She nods once. "Then I'll respect your decision."
She takes a slow breath. "Mr. Barlow...I'm here regarding a five-year-old little girl named Millie."
I frown. "I'm sorry?"
"Her name is Millie."
I shake my head. "I don't know a Millie."
"I understand." Her voice is calm. Gentle.
"The reason I'm here is because Millie's mother passed away three days ago."
The words settle over the room like a weight. Nobody moves. Nobody speaks. My smile fades.
"I'm...I'm sorry to hear that."
Kay nods. "So are we."
She opens the portfolio tucked beneath her arm and removes a single file. "Before her mother passed away, she identified you as Millie's biological father."
The world stops. I stare at her. The words reach my ears. My brain just refuses to make sense of them.
"I'm sorry..." A small laugh escapes me. It's confused more than anything. "I think you've got the wrong Raymond Barlow."
"We've looked into that possibility."
"There has to be another one."
"There isn't."
I shake my head again. "No." The word comes out automatically. "I don't have a daughter."
Kay doesn't argue. She doesn't correct me. She simply watches me for a moment.
"I believe this is just as much a surprise to you as it is to everyone standing here."
I blink. "You...believe me?"
"I do."
That throws me more than anything else. She isn't looking at me like I'm a deadbeat. She isn't angry. She looks...heartbroken.
I swallow hard. "I don't understand."
"The information we have identifies you as Millie's biological father. At this point, we can't legally confirm that without a DNA test."
The sentence hangs in the air.
"So..." I rub the back of my neck. "You're saying..."
"We're asking if you'll voluntarily submit a DNA sample." My mind races. Faces. Names. Years. I replay every relationship I've ever had. Every woman. Every goodbye. Nothing. Nothing makes sense.
"There has to be a mistake."
"There may be." Kay nods toward the file in her hands. "That's exactly what we're here to determine." Silence stretches between us. "If the test shows you aren't her father, we'll continue searching."
"And if it says I am?" The question barely sounds like my own voice.
Kay hesitates. "Then you'll become Millie's legal next of kin."
Next of kin. The words hit me square in the chest.
Rachel steps up beside me. "So where is she?"
Kay turns toward her. "Excuse me?"
"Millie." Rachel's voice is steady. "Where is she?"
Kay's shoulders relax just a fraction. "She's currently with a licensed emergency foster family."
"For how long?"
"Until we locate a suitable permanent placement."
Rachel's jaw tightens. "So she's with strangers."
Kay doesn't sugarcoat it. "Yes."
Maeve quietly covers her mouth. Skee slips his hand into hers without taking his eyes off Kay. Bullet's gaze drops to the floor. Matt stands perfectly still beside Rachel, but I know that look. He's already thinking five steps ahead. I can't think at all.
Five years. If she's mine... Five birthdays. Five Christmas mornings. Five years of scraped knees, nightmares, bedtime stories...Five years...and I don't even know what she looks like.
"I would've known." The words leave me before I can stop them. Kay looks at me. "I would've known."
"You may not have been given the opportunity."
I shake my head. "No." I don't know if I'm arguing with her...or with myself. "I would've been there."
The room is completely silent. No one tries to reassure me. No one tells me it's going to be okay. Because nobody knows if it is.
Kay takes one careful step toward me. "I know this is overwhelming."
I don't answer. I can't. Everything around me feels distant. Like I'm standing in the middle of the room while everyone else slowly fades away. My fingers loosen around my truck keys.
I don't even realize they're slipping until they hit Matt's hardwood floor. The sharp crack echoes through the house.
I stare at them. At the familiar black key fob. The Grayline challenge coin hanging from the ring. My truck. My house. My life. Everything I understand. Everything that makes sense. Because none of it...None of it...Makes sense anymore.
A daughter.