Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The diner was bustling with late morning activity when they walked in, hands still intertwined. Chase's stomach rebelled at so many eyes on them, and he knew the rumors would be running through town by this afternoon. Several regulars nodded at Chase, a few giving Jewel curious glances. Dot greeted them with a raised eyebrow but said nothing.
He was trying so hard to be the perfect gentleman, different from the rough-edged young man from before, but he wasn't sure how the town would react to seeing him dating Jewel. Not that he was… yet.
Chase pulled out her chair, a gesture that made Jewel roll her eyes.
"What's that look for?" he asked, sliding into the seat across from her.
"You keep being a perfect gentleman, and it's weird," she said honestly.
His brows rose as he sat across from her, surprised that her thoughts were so aligned with his own. "Why is it weird? You deserve a gentleman waiting on you hand and foot."
She laughed, drawing gazes from other patrons, but he barely noticed. He was captivated by the carefree sound, the way the light caressed her cheek.
"Well, that's a big change from who you were before." She grinned.
He chuckled, a low rumble that joined the soft sounds of the diner. "Prison changes a man. So does losing everything."
Her expression sobered as she glanced at the menu, then she began to bite her lip.
Dot took their orders, but in the back of his mind, he was more nervous than he let on. Between the house, the potential for a family, and Jewel's unexpected serious consideration of his crazy idea to move in together, he was afraid to hope, to go after more in life.
The morning sunlight streamed across the worn wooden table, highlighting dust mites dancing between them.
"What are you thinking?" Chase asked, his voice soft, his gaze captivated by the way the light played with the blond in her hair.
She looked up, vulnerable and cautious. "About Destini. About how we tell her."
They talked through various options and scenarios before Dot arrived with their plates—his a massive platter of scrambled eggs, thick-cut bacon, and homemade sourdough toast. Hers with avocado toast, scrambled eggs, and grilled chicken strips.
"I have no idea how she's going to react. When I saw her, she was just so angry and sullen."
He nodded, understanding the delicate terrain they were navigating.
"We could write her a letter first," Chase suggested. His hands, rough from years of manual labor, fidgeted with his napkin. "Give her space to process before we're... face to face."
Jewel sighed, spreading the avocado on her toast. "She's smart, perceptive. I think she'll understand more than we give her credit for. I certainly hope that if we tell her together, face to face, she'll become more accepting of moving. I'm so, so tired of being away from her." Her fingers fiddled nervously with the straw as she took a bite of toast.
He chuckled and leaned back, pushing his fork to the side on the mostly empty plate as the weight of the conversation settled in his gut like lead. "I wonder how you're going to survive her going off to college in two years."
She rolled her eyes and swallowed. "God, don't remind me."
He grinned and took a sip of his Dr. Pepper, the flavor bursting on his tongue. After a few moments, he asked, "What if she wants nothing to do with me?"
The vulnerability in his voice made Dot pause as she refilled their drinks, her soft hand still stained with paint coming to rest on Chase's shoulder for just a moment, making him realize that she might've heard this entire conversation.
He winced, but didn't really mind it. She was a neighbor of his parents, and in their inner circle. It wasn't Dot he was worried about rejecting him so much as the rest of the town. Either way, by coming to the diner like this—together, hand-in-hand—the truth was now out there, and he wasn't sure how they'd treat him with this new knowledge. Dot's silent gesture of support spoke volumes in this small town where everyone knew everyone's business.
Jewel reached across the table, her hand covering his. "We'll face?—"
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she let go of his hand to pull it out. Her face twisted in a grimace, and she turned the phone so he could see an incoming video chat from Destini. "Looks like we said the word face too much. That or her ears were burning."
He nodded, eager to hear her voice. "Answer it."
He went around the table to sit in the chair beside her as she swiped on the phone, careful to stay out of sight as the image of Destini's bright face came into focus.
"Hey, sweetie, what are you doing? Are you at lunch at school? Are you alright?" Jewel asked.
Destini nodded, turning away to look at something going on beside her, and he got his first in real time look at his daughter. His breath caught in his throat at how beautiful and vibrant she was.
Destini's face flickered with something—annoyance, perhaps, or guardedness—as she turned back to the camera. Her casual tone held an undercurrent of something Chase couldn't quite read. "I'm fine. Just wanted to check in about something."
Chase held his breath, watching her profile. She looked so much like Jewel, but those eyes—those were definitely his.
"What's up?" Jewel asked, her tone deliberately casual.
"I got an email from the lab saying the test results were delivered. Did you get the mail yet?"
Jewel hesitated, her fingers playing with her straw as she slowly nodded and glanced at Chase, her eyes showing her worry. "Yes, I did. I was going to?—"
"Wait, are you with someone? Who's there?" Destini scanned the background of the diner, her gaze sharp and intelligent.
Chase looked at Jewel and nodded, despite the emotions rolling in his stomach. He reached for his drink, taking a fortifying sip as Jewel turned the camera slightly so they were both in frame.
"This is Chase… your father," Jewel said softly.
Destini's face froze, her eyes darting between Jewel and Chase. The background noise of the school cafeteria faded into a distant hum as silence stretched between them.
"My... father?" she said, each word careful and measured. Her fingers gripped her phone so tightly her knuckles went white.
Chase felt his heart hammering against his ribs. He wanted to say something profound, something that would bridge the years of absence, but words seemed inadequate.
"Destini, I am your father," he managed, his voice rough with emotion but the faint tone of Darth Vader still echoed faintly.
Destini's eyes widened. "Was that a Star Wars reference?"
His cheeks flamed as his body overheated. "Yeah, wasn't sure if you'd catch that. You're pretty sharp, aren't you?"
Destini arched a brow. "Top of my class."
Her gaze narrowed, studying him with an intensity that made him feel simultaneously exposed and judged. "You look different from the photos online."
Jewel's hand found Chase's under the table, squeezing it, a silent signal of support.
"I—don't know what photos are online, but I've changed a lot," Chase said simply.
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Chase could hear the faint sounds of cafeteria chatter, a distant laugh, the scrape of chairs. Dot, still nearby, pretended to wipe down the counter but was clearly listening.
"When… when were you going to tell me?" Destini's question was directed at Jewel, her tone a mix of accusation and hurt.
Chase cleared his throat, stepping in to say, "We were just eating brunch to plan our trip to see you this weekend, but I didn't want to just show up on your doorstep with no time to prepare."
Destini looked at him, calculating and watchful. "This weekend?"
"If that works for you," Chase said carefully. His fingers drummed a staccato rhythm against his leg—another telltale sign of nerves. "I'd really love to meet you, and I've lost so much time with you already…"
Destini's eyes narrowed even as she blinked rapidly. "You mean, like… you want to get to know me? You'd both come down here together?"
Chase's throat tried to close, so he took another drink before replying. "Yeah, I want to know everything about you."
The silence was heavy between them, and Destini glanced to the side at something in the cafeteria. The cafeteria background noise seemed to fade, leaving only the electric tension of this unexpected conversation.
"I have debate club on Friday after school," Destini said finally, looking back at them both. "But Saturday is free."
Chase and Jewel exchanged a quick glance. Just like that. Simple. Direct.
"We can do Saturday," Jewel confirmed.
Destini's gaze flickered between them, and she opened her mouth just as the bell rang at school. She sighed, and looked at Chase once more, her gaze curious and guarded. "I—I'll see you both Saturday morning?"
Chase nodded, unable to say anything else as Destini looked at Jewel and said, "I gotta go. Love you, Mom. Bye."
She hung up before waiting for a response, her words rushed as if vulnerable from the conversation but still wanting to cling to her mom.
Jewel set the phone down, her hand trembling slightly. Chase watched her, seeing the mix of emotions playing across her face: relief, anxiety, hope.
"She said love you," Jewel whispered, almost to herself. "Even after that conversation."
Dot appeared with fresh drinks, her hand resting momentarily on Jewel's shoulder this time in a gesture of silent understanding.
"Well," Chase said, trying to sound casual and recover a normal voice instead of one shaking with emotion. "That went better than I expected."
Jewel laughed, a sharp sound that was half-sob. "Don't jinx it. You haven't actually met her in person yet."
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her head to his chest, his other hand coming up to cup the back of her neck. She breathed in deeply, tickling his neck, but he just held her.
"Yeah, but she didn't hang up or run screaming. Let's count it as a win."
Jewel pulled back and sighed as she rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Small victories, I guess."
The morning sunlight continued to stream across their table, dust dancing between them like tiny, fragile possibilities. Outside the diner's window, Main Street hummed with its usual quiet activity, completely unaware of the momentous morning. He'd finally met his daughter, sort of. He just hoped the first in-person meeting went just as well.
A few days later, they pulled up to a townhome on the outskirts of Houston in Jewel's truck. Chase hopped out and stretched, his nerves running rampant. He had gotten no studying for his CFA test done the past few days, instead choosing to pour himself into manual labor on the ranch—all while avoiding his parents. He simply couldn't face them, knowing they'd have questions on how he and Jewel had made Destini.
He shut the truck door and faced his future.
Potted plants lined the walkway, and two bicycles leaned against the garage. Chase's hands shook slightly as he smoothed his pearl-snap shirt, acutely aware that everything hinged on the next few moments.
Jewel came around the truck, her hand finding his and squeezing. "Breathe," she whispered. "Just be yourself."
Easier said than done. Being himself had gotten him into trouble most of his life.
Before they could walk to the door, it opened. Destini stood framed in the doorway, looking exactly like their video call but more solid, more real. She wore black jeans and a NASA hoodie, her hair pulled back in a practical ponytail, a riot of blond curls. Her eyes—those were definitely Chase's eyes—scanned them both with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
"Hi," she said, her tone neutral. "You're early."
Chase swallowed and shoved his hands in his pockets so he wouldn't ask for a hug. "I wanted to spend as much time with you as possible."
Jewel pulled Destini in a hug with a grin. "He made us get a hotel nearby last night, so we wouldn't have to drive early this morning."
Destini glanced from him to her mom as the hug broke, her gaze calculating as her lips pursed. Two kids screamed and chased each other down the stairs inside, bursting through the door and running toward the bikes. The three of them barely stepped out of the way to avoid being run over.
A dark-haired woman stepped from behind the front door, a wide smile wreathing her face as she held it open. "Come in, come in. Sorry about the kids. They're ready to enjoy this beautiful fall weather. I'm Liz, Joe's wife. It's nice to meet you."
She held her hand out, and Chase shook it before following the three women inside. Jewel had explained how helpful her cousin Joe and his family had been over the years and how moving away from them was the hardest part of her decision to move to Crimson Creek.
Destini led them through the house, her movements precise and deliberate. The home was warm, cluttered with family photos, children's artwork, and the kind of lived-in comfort that spoke of years of love and shared memories. Chase studied every surface, looking for traces of Destini in the space.
"Joe ran to the store to get stuff to grill a celebratory dinner tonight." Liz disappeared into the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, "Can I get y'all something to drink? Water? Coffee?"
"Water's fine," Jewel answered, her hand still unconsciously finding Chase's as they followed Destini into the living room. He took comfort from her hand, and his nerves settled as he drew a deep breath.
Destini noticed the gesture, her eyes tracking their joined hands with an unreadable expression. She gestured to a sectional sofa, sitting in an armchair that faced them rather than joining them on the couch.
"So," she said, her tone flat but curious, "you're my biological father. There is no escape."
Chase felt like he was being examined under a microscope, but his spine straightened as he sat, the reference piquing his curiosity, the hidden defiance left hanging between them.
"You don't yet understand your importance," he said softly. "You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and I will complete your training."
Destini's lips quirked as Jewel turned to frown at him, muttering, "What in the world?"
Destini grinned and crossed her arms as Liz brought water. "I'll never join you."
Jewel frowned and scolded, "Destini, you have to move to Crimson Creek with us. You promised, remember? After the semester?—"
"I know, Mom," Destini said, her voice hard and her smile falling as she kept staring at him. "It was a joke about Star Wars ."
He licked his lips. "Jewel tells me you applied for a NASA internship. Still no word back on it?"
Destini shook her head silently, and Liz and Jewel shared a look.
"Well, why don't y'all go spend the day making memories? Destini would probably love to show you NASA," Liz suggested.
"That's a great idea," Jewel added.
Destini brightened, her face lighting up before she carefully schooled her features and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess I can."
His chest grew tight, remembering when he'd tried to keep up with his older brothers in middle and then high school, tried to be one of the cool kids by shrugging aside the things he was passionate about.
"I'd love that. I've never been there," he said.
Destini's eyes widened. "Never? Oh my God, you're so missing out. Let me go get ready, and we can go." The excitement in her voice was genuine, and Chase caught Jewel's eye. They shared a moment of silent communication, hope flickering between them like a fragile flame.
She jumped up and ran out of the room, and he breathed a sigh of relief as Jewel's shoulders dipped.
Liz leaned in once Destini was out of earshot. "She's excited, even if she doesn't want to show it. She's been talking about this visit for days, though she'd never admit it."
Jewel nodded, sipping her water. "Why is it so awkward between us now?"
Liz smiled gently. "It's only natural, Jewel, since y'all have spent so much time apart the past few months. But you're both the same people, if a little older and wiser. You'll both be fine. All three of you."
Chase smiled at her gratefully, then glanced at Jewel. "She looks just like you. Even has your curiosity and passion," Chase said, watching the hallway where Destini had disappeared.
"And apparently your dramatic flair for movie quotes." Jewel snorted.
"God help us," he muttered.
Minutes later, Destini reappeared wearing a vintage Apollo mission t-shirt, her curly hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She carried a messenger bag slung across her body. She looked both precisely curated as a science-focused person and completely casual—a teenager's careful art of seeming effortless.
"Ready?" she asked, her tone a mixture of excitement and carefully maintained coolness.
The drive to NASA was filled with Destini's rapid-fire explanations about various space missions, her hands gesturing animatedly. Chase listened, entranced by her passion, amazed that he was spending the day with the woman he loved and the daughter he'd never known.