Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
MONROE
A Few 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, who stands next to me.
“We can leave if you want.” He’s 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 bail her out.
Her stealing from me is expected after everything she’s done.
I’m more upset with how other things turned out.
Even Claire, my agent of so many years, knew about everything that was going on, so she was charged with conspiracy as well.
“I’d be a chicken to leave now.”
I don’t remember my father. I didn’t even know his name until Nina and Draven handed me the positive DNA results a few days ago.
Marcus Riley. He’s forty-seven, a contractor, and remarried ten years ago. No children, though. After what my mother did, I can’t say I’d blame him if he were afraid to.
“What’s her name again?” I can’t seem to focus too much on his wife.
“Allison. She’s a nurse.” He’s said this to me at least five times in the last hour, but the information hasn’t stuck.
Turning to face Shaw, I see him watching me with the same loving expression 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 made it out to be. He received a tetanus shot, a dozen stitches, some antibiotics, and was given a clean bill of health. After a couple of hours, we were on our way back home. It doesn’t stop me from worrying about him, though. Nothing will.
“Darlin’, I’m fine.” He leans down to kiss me sweetly, and that’s when I hear the front door open and laughter from the couple inside.
“Oh God,” I mutter, pulling away. I’m 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 fix on my father, who appears as stunned as I am.
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 introduces me.
“Monroe Kingsley,” my father finishes. His eyes fill with tears as he slowly shuffles forward, astonished.
“This is…” Allison is as genuinely surprised as he is. “Oh my.”
“Hi.” I give a little wave and stop moving forward because I don’t know what else to say. I had this entire encounter planned out in my head, and I can’t recall any of it now. I don’t know what to say, ask, or do. Nothing.
Here is this man who’s been a complete mystery my entire life, and I’ve had hundreds, if not thousands, of questions to ask him. But now, I can’t think of a single one.
His hand reaches up when 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 the locks. “The blonde was dyed, and I always hated it.”
“Helen–” He stops himself with a self-deprecating smile, trying not to hurt my feelings. Little does he know that he can’t when it comes to her.
“I know. Mom hated the dark color.” Awkward silence ensues.
“Well, we were about to go to lunch, but 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,” Shaw replies.
“The flight was short, and Monroe has been filled with nerves all week. Not eating the way she should be.” He scowls down at me over that last bit, and my face flushes.
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 and accommodating; 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 bob my head 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, my father pushes back slightly. “Go sit down, and I’ll be right back.” I nod as he takes the stairs two at a time, turning down the hallway.
“Come here, baby.” I melt into Shaw’s arms as he holds me tight.
We slowly walk into the living room, and I’m even more amazed by all the articles about different pageants I either won or attended. There’s even one framed over the fireplace from winning Miss California.
“I can’t believe they have all of these,” I whisper.
“Marc was always so eager to talk about you. To anyone who would listen. He hated that you were in the spotlight so often but was also grateful because, in a way, he was able to watch you grow up.” Allison’s soft voice brings more tears to my eyes as she sets a tray of coffee on the table.
“When I first met your father, he was so lost in 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.” It’s very clear how much she loves my father, and I’m so grateful he was able to find that.
“I don’t have any memories of him. I was so young when he left.
My mother never spoke about him, and when she did, it was always so nasty.
” I still remember her hatred towards the man I never had a chance to know.
“It took me a long time to realize that what she felt and said were 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. Only one other time have I seen him grin the way he just did when he saw you, and that was the day we married.”
I smile at her kind words as my father walks into the room with a box in his hands and a dreamy look on his face.
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, 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 how my mother ran away from him with me in the middle of the night and made it so he could never claim me as his by leaving his name blank on the birth certificate.
For years, he battled in the courts for any form of custody of me, and each time, the outcome left him distraught. After every attempt, we would move to another state, and he’d try again. Ultimately failing until his health was affected, and he eventually had to stop.
I hold no ill will towards my dad and Allison, and after talking about how difficult things were for him when he lost me, I realize I never did.
Sure, I was constantly curious and upset by his lack of presence, but I knew in my soul that my mother was lying to me all those years.
Now, I’ll only look at this time as a chance to look forward to our futures.
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’d always longed for.