Chapter 12 Gillian #2
“Did he? That’s nice to hear. Unfortunately, I knew a lot of guys like that growing up.”
“I’m grateful you were there to help. He’s been lonely, I think. Even though he never complains or anything. I haven’t seen him smile like he did tonight in a while. Thanks for that.”
Touched, I felt tears spring to my eyes. “Thank you for giving me a chance.”
“Bella will come around. You just have to be patient with her.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“What was my dad like back then? When you two were together.” Peter leaned forward slightly.
“He was very serious about his studies. Yet, he was fun too. We knew back then that our time together had a shelf-life. It made everything even more special, knowing it would soon be gone. Does that make sense?”
“It does, yeah. I got to say some things to my mom I wouldn’t have otherwise—you know, if I hadn’t known I had to say goodbye soon.”
“That’s a blessing. I’d have loved to be able to say some things to my sister,” I said. “She sacrificed a lot for me. I wish I could tell her thank you.”
“You’ve sacrificed a lot too,” Peter said. “Taking Grace into your life like you did.”
I smiled slowly, my gaze drifting up toward the darkening sky, the first stars of the night twinkling at me. “As you know, there’s nothing more important than stepping up when it’s required of you and embracing whatever comes your way with an open heart.”
“Why do you think I know that?” Peter asked.
“It’s obvious to me—how you’ve stepped up to be there for your dad and sister. You take care of both of them.”
He looked at me with a surprised glint in his eyes. “You can see that?”
“Very clearly.”
He smiled, scratching the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed. “I try to be there for them, but sometimes I’m not sure what they need.”
“They just need you to be there. That’s enough.”
Alex returned, bringing a plate of brownies with him. He looked at me, then Peter. “Everything good?”
“Yeah, Dad. All good here. You?”
Alex placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “All good here too.”
Peter stood, taking his plate in hand. “I think I’ll get my swimsuit on and join the girls.” He nodded toward me. “Thanks for the talk. It was nice.”
“I enjoyed it too,” I said.
Once he was inside, Alex drew me to my feet and brushed his lips over mine. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing really. Peter and I were having a little moment,” I said. “He’s special. Soulful.”
Alex grinned. “He sure is.” He drew closer, whispering in my ear. “Let’s go inside and let the kids have the patio. Maybe make out on the couch?”
“Lead the way.”
And so he did.
On the drive home, Grace chattered away about how pretty the house was and Bella’s room was totally sick and the movie room in the basement was to die for and the hot tub was the perfect temperature. When she finally took a breath, I said, “I’m glad you had a good time.”
“Mom, do you think we’d be happy if we were all a family?”
“It’s too soon to think about now,” I said.
“Why?”
“Because we only just started dating.”
“Yeah, but you know each other already,” Grace said. “So that makes everything faster, right?”
“I’m not sure. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Okay?”
“Sure. I can wait. But I know a happy ending’s coming for you.” Grace puffed out a satisfied sounding breath and turned to look out her window. “Stars are extra pretty tonight.”
Was she talking about the sky or the stars in her own eyes?
The next afternoon, I sat on a folding chair between Alex and Delphine on the sideline of the soccer field, watching the beginning of Bella and Annie’s game.
Grace had drifted up to the bleachers with Mia and Tyler.
Our morning fog had burned off early, leaving the sky a hard, bright blue.
Parents in folding chairs lined the touchline with travel mugs and soft coolers at their feet.
A halftime table held orange slices, a box of granola bars with the top flapped back, and a stack of paper cups ready for water.
The game began. Annie and Bella moved across the midfield, working together.
Annie was steady and precise, always where she was supposed to be.
Bella, all legs and fight, darted into an open space and called for the ball.
Annie passed it to her, sharp and clean.
Bella kicked it into the net for the first goal of the game.
Alex was sitting on the edge of his chair, his gaze following his daughter’s every move. Pride flickered across his face as he mumbled under his breath, “That’s it. That’s how it’s done.”
For a moment, I felt a tinge of jealousy. No father figure had ever looked at my Grace that way. No man had ever sat in the front row of her play or dance recital, looking at his daughter as if she hung the moon.
I wanted that for her. I’d not even known it to be true until this very moment. But Alex had his own children. Would there ever be room for Grace in his heart?
Was there room in my own heart for his children?
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a large figure lumbering toward the field.
I turned, dread pooling in my stomach. Darren.
And that greasy friend of his. They were here, at Bella’s game.
Both looked as if they hadn’t had a shower in weeks, and their jeans were stained with dirt and probably spilled beer.
Darren lifted his phone toward the game. My heartbeat dropped into my stomach. Was he recording Bella on the field?
“Alex,” I said, keeping my voice low. I tipped my chin toward Darren.
Alex followed my gaze. His whole body went still. I felt heat radiating from him. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Delphine tracked our looks, then the line of my finger. “Oh no. Is that him?”
“Yes. That’s Darren. Why is he here?” I asked, as if either of them knew the answer.
“He’s recording her,” Alex muttered. “I’m going to kill him.”
On the field, play shifted. The ball spun out to Bella’s wing. She cut inside, head up, scanning. Then his voice rolled across the grass.
“That’s my baby girl out there,” Darren shouted, turning toward the crowd. “You see her? My Bella.” He rotated back to address Bella directly. “Daddy’s here.”
Heads turned along the line of chairs. Murmurs rose. Bella stopped, then turned toward the direction of Darren’s voice. For a second she stood very still, like someone had doused her in icy water and the shock had taken her breath.
The coach cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting directions at Bella. “Get your head in the game, Garcia.”
But her head was definitely not in the game.
Darren had fully captured her attention.
The ball skittered across her feet and away, an easy touch gone wrong.
An opposing player swept in, body meeting body.
Bella tangled, went down hard on one knee, palms skidding. Gasps erupted up and down the sideline.
Alex leapt to his feet. The coach called for a time out. A ref’s whistle cut the air. Play stopped.
Bella popped up, clearly embarrassed, chin tipped high. She brushed at her knee, then at her eyes, quick motions to dispel the tears running down her cheeks. Annie ran to Bella’s side, putting her arm around her shoulders.
Darren, perhaps sensing the crowd’s attention, upped his game, jogging toward Alex.
“Can you all hear me?” He tossed his phone to his greasy friend, who pointed it at Darren.
“Do you see this man? Bella’s my child, and he’s kept her from me for fourteen years.
He thinks he can get away with it because he’s rich. ”
A couple of parents frowned at him. One woman said, “Sir, this is a kids’ game.
Take your drama somewhere else.” Another man shook his head.
“Dude, what do you think you’re doing? You’re upsetting the girls.
” Others slid sideways glances at Alex, curious and hungry for gossip.
Someone whispered, “Isn’t that the tech guy? ” Another, “Billionaire.”
But Alex seemed unaware of anything but Darren. He started toward him, each step measured but at the same time threatening. Delphine clutched my arm.
When Alex reached his foe, he stopped with two feet of air between them. “You need to leave. Now.”
Darren grinned into his camera like he’d been waiting for his cue.
“Hear that, folks? The man who stole my daughter is telling me to leave.” He turned back toward Bella.
“It’s all right, baby girl,” Darren called out in a sugar voice that made my skin crawl.
“Daddy’s here now. Daddy’s going to make this right. ”
“Go home, Darren,” Alex said through gritted teeth. “No one wants you here.”
Darren laughed, a bright, ugly sound. “You can’t control me, Garcia. No amount of money can keep me quiet. I’m going to fight for custody of these kids and get it.”
Alex’s jaw flexed, face flushed, his fists clenched at his sides. He looked at the phone, then at Darren, then past both of them to the place where Bella stood frozen. “I’ll call the sheriff unless you leave. Right now.”
On the field, the coach was talking to the ref, both of them gesturing toward the sideline. Parents had stopped pretending not to watch. It was a scene now, and even folks with the best of intentions couldn’t look away.
“I don’t think I want to go just yet.” Darren spread his arms like a showman.
His T-shirt was wrinkled and two sizes too big, a streak of something dark across the hem.
“You don’t get to decide where a father can watch his own child.
No restraining order, no court paperwork—nothing.
You’ve got nothing.” He leaned closer to Alex.
“Unless you want to try to make me leave.” He lifted his brows and then, almost sweetly, added for the camera, “Go on. Hit me.”
Greasy chuckled and swung in tight on Alex’s face. I stepped forward without thinking, putting myself on a diagonal line that cut the frame. “Stop the camera,” I said, more firmly than I felt. “It’s illegal to film children.”