Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
Robin
I’m not used to sleeping late on a Saturday, but with last night’s eventful first shift at my new job, after weeks of nothing but rest and recouperation, I think I earned a little bit of a lie in.
I resist the urge to scold myself for being lazy as I sit up, my gaze still on the clock by the side of the bed. Eleven a.m. It could have been worse.
My arms ache a little as I stretch, a reminder that I was using them.
When I get out of bed, my legs muscles protest, too.
Laying around in a hospital bed for weeks did this to me.
It was necessary, I guess, but it’s kind of a pain.
I know I’ll get used to working again soon enough, so I go shower and get dressed for the day.
It crosses my mind to ask Lana if I can work through the weekend.
I’d rather be kept busy than linger around my suite all day, bored out of my mind.
The only thing that stops me from asking is the thought of disturbing her.
This could be her day off. The people here have those. Katie mentioned it last night.
It’s something I’m going to have to learn to adjust to, so I guess I should start now.
Cleaning the suite keeps me busy for a while.
Watching a movie on my old TV set in the bedroom passes a little more time.
By the time I’m done with lunch, I’m at a loose end.
I get up, ready to go for a walk around the gardens.
That’s when the suite’s phone starts to ring.
Rushing to the side of the bed, I pick up the receiver. “Hello?”
“Robin, how are you doing today?” Lana’s voice is warm and friendly, as usual.
I get a burst of excitement when I realize I could ask her to let me work tonight.
“I’m good,” I start, ready to add that I could be better.
“That’s great,” she says quickly. “I have some news. Your father is here. He consented to a blood test, and it was a match. He’s asking to see you.
You don’t have to agree. I just had to ask.
He said he’ll wait around if you need time to think about it, and he can come back later if you need more time. ”
“He’s confirmed as my father?” I ask, a little shocked at that admission, despite how obvious it seemed looking at his picture. “You were able to do that?”
“Dr. Clarke checked his sample against yours. It’s a match. He’s your father, there’s no doubt about that now.”
I swallow hard as I think about what she’s asking.
The man who got my mother pregnant wants to see me.
As soon as I found out my mother was stolen and sold to the man who held her captive at the place I used to think of as my home, I knew what that meant.
It hurts to think about what my mother must have gone through.
It’s difficult to reconcile that painful truth with the story this man told Lana about my conception. At the same time, it doesn’t make sense that he’d come looking for me if my birth was the result of a crime.
I don’t have anything he might want, and I’m not even special like my mother. I’m just a Beta.
“Did he say if there’s a reason why he wants to see me?”
“He said he just wants the chance to get to know his daughter.” Lana sounds apologetic as she goes on, “I can ask him to come back another time, or I can tell him you’re not interested. All you need to do is say the word.”
“I don’t know,” I admit, torn between wanting to hear about my mother from someone who knew her, even briefly, and the fear of finding out my father is as awful as I first suspected.
I already lost my mom before I could get the chance to know her.
I’m not sure I’m ready to lose my dad, too.
But if I don’t meet him at all, I’ll never know if he was someone I could have had a relationship with.
“I can tell him you’ll ask me to contact …”
“I think I want to meet him,” I blurt.
I don’t know if it’s a smart move.
I only know I’ll regret it if I let the chance slip through my fingers.
“Are you sure?” Lana asks.
I take a deep breath. “I’m sure.”