Chapter 20
“It’s all my fault,” Pam said, swiping at the tears on her cheeks.
“From the minute I laid eyes on her, I had this feeling. I was just too shocked to say anything.” It was the next day and Tanner had just told his family about Violet.
They were sitting in the solarium, just him, his parents, and Faith, while April watched over Violet and Sienna having breakfast in the dining room.
“No, it was mine,” Peter said. “I should’ve believed her when she told us who she was and what our boy had done. My God, Violet is the spitting image of Faith back when she was that age.”
“I thought I was the only one who noticed something about her last night,” Faith said. “But we just never thought that back then-”
“Stop,” Tanner said. “If I wanted to sit around and lay blame, I could. But I don’t.”
“We had no idea,” Pam said.
“We’re so sorry,” Tanner,” Faith added.
“Guys, stop. I get it. I remember that week like it was yesterday. I was gone for most of it for that training seminar, and then I came back exhausted and started pulling double shifts because two officers had been injured and another one had left for early retirement. I just wish you would’ve said something.
If I had known, I would’ve dropped everything to find her.
I would’ve made sure that she and the baby were taken care of.
” That regret would forever live inside him.
He should’ve known. Should’ve been more careful.
But then Violet wouldn’t be here, and he couldn’t bring himself to regret anything that made his beautiful daughter a reality in his life.
“We just didn’t take her seriously,” Peter said sadly. “If I would’ve thought for one second that girl was carrying our grandchild, we would’ve never let her leave without talking knowing how to get ahold of you.”
“Violet would’ve never known all the horrors she’s been through,” Pam said.
Tanner was overwhelmed. Both by his family’s grief and regret, and by his own irresponsible actions at the time. “We can’t change the past. Mom, Dad, Faith, all we can do is make sure she never goes back there again.”
“That’s something I’ll definitely make sure of.
If I have to spend every dime invested in this ranch and put up every penny of equity from all my business ventures that I’ve accumulated over the years, my granddaughter will know nothing but love for all the rest of her days.
Starting right now.” Peter stood and left the room, like he couldn’t take another second of even thinking about what his actions all those years ago had caused.
Tanner felt awful. He hadn’t set out to upset his family, but that was exactly what he’d done.
“This was never about me placing blame. This is on me as much as on you. I should’ve been more responsible.
I should’ve made sure to follow up with her.
Somehow.” He really hadn’t gotten more than her name, and even that had apparently been a nickname.
“We already love Violet so much,” Pam said. “Can you imagine if she’d grown up here. With you and Faith, and Sienna. Her life would’ve been so different.”
Tanner’s chest squeezed at the thought. He’d give anything to change the way Violet was raised.
She deserved so much better. All he could do was make it up to her every day for the rest of his life.
“It still can be. And it will be. I’m going to need your help though.
I might be Sienna’s favorite uncle, but I don’t know anything about being a dad. ”
Faith smiled. “Tanner, you’re her only uncle, and you’re the best uncle a little girl could ask for. As for being a dad, Violet won the dad lottery. And I think she knows it.”
Tanner hoped his sister was right. But he knew better than anyone that he was way out of his league on this.
If it hadn’t been for his mom and Faith, Violet would’ve been sleeping in a messy room with boxes and a set of free weights in the corner.
Instead, they’d somehow figured out a way to transform that room into a magical getaway fit for a princess in less time than it had taken him to drive them from Garrett’s and have dinner with his family.
He might be Violet’s dad, but he needed all of them to make sure she got to live the kind of life he wanted her to have.
“She’s ours now, big brother,” Faith said.
“They’ll have to deal with all of us before coming anywhere near her,” Pam added.
Tanner smiled. His family wasn’t perfect, but he loved them with everything he had.
Knowing that his daughter was now going to be a part of this incredible tribe they’d built over the years made him happier than he could ever remember.
“Thanks. I haven’t told the twins yet, but they’ve been so busy lately, maybe we should hold off a little telling the rest of the family. At least until things settle down?”
“I agree,” Pam said. “Besides, Josie is going to be at sea for the next few weeks, and your grandparents are cruising the Mediterranean this month. We can tell them everything once all this business with Ned is taken care of. No need to worry everyone now, especially since there isn’t much they can do. ”
“Can we go join the girls and Dad in the dining room for breakfast now? I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving, and mom’s French toast is getting cold,” Faith said.
Pam and Faith both stood from the sofa where they’d been sitting. “After you,” Pam said.
“Wait, one more thing. About April -” Tanner started to say, but Pam and Faith both smiled, and Faith smacked his arm.
“We’ll let you figure that one out on your own,” Pam said.
“Don’t worry, big brother, I don’t think she’s going anywhere. But that’s just my opinion.”
Tanner shook his head and followed them into the kitchen, sure there wasn’t anything in the world that could wipe the huge smile off his face now.
***
“Can we have French toast every day?” Violet asked as she dipped another piece into the syrup and stuffed it into her mouth.
She’d taken the news about Tanner being her dad extremely well.
In fact, the little girl seemed overjoyed by the idea of having a “real daddy,” as she’d called Tanner from the moment April told her this morning.
April laughed as she helped herself to some cut up fruit. “Don’t you think you’d want to try other things, too?”
Violet thought about it for a second. “Maybe, but I love French toast.”
Tanner smiled and April didn’t miss how he hadn’t taken his eyes off his daughter all morning, except for the quick family meeting to tell his parents and sister about Violet.
From the moment Violet woke up and April had gotten her cleaned up and dressed for the day, he’d been at her side, showing her around the property, playing in the playroom with her, helping her cut up her French toast, and even showing her how he made his coffee, simply because she’d asked.
His parents watched Violet with eyes full of love and affection, and Sienna cheered when Tanner first came into the kitchen and told her that Violet was her cousin, then proceeded to explain what a cousin was.
“Uncle Tanner, can we ride horses today?” Sienna asked, pushing her empty plate aside.
“I don’t see why not.” He turned to Violet. “Do you know how to ride a horse?”
Violet looked up at him and shook her head. “I’ve always wanted to. Can you teach me?”
Tanner beamed as he looked down at her. “It would be my honor. In fact, I think there’s a horse out there with your name on it.”
“My name?” She asked.
“That just means it would be the perfect horse for you to ride,” April explained. “Are you done with your breakfast?”
“Yes, I’m done.” Violet looked over at Pam who was on her second cup of coffee. “Thank you for making us French toast.”
Pam set her mug down and put both hands over her chest. “Awe, Sweetheart, you’re very welcome. Peter is already out there, so if you girls want to head out to the barn, I’m sure he’ll see you. Maybe you two can help give the horses a special treat.”
“Yay! Come on, Violet,” Sienna called, already halfway out the door. “Peepaw is waiting for us.”
Violet slipped out of her chair and rushed after Sienna, but stopped short in the doorway and turned back to look at April. “Are you coming, Aunt April?”
April stood and went over to Violet. Kneeling to be eye level with her, she admired the two French braids she’d put in her hair this morning, and hoped they would hold while she played outside.
“I was going to stay here with Tanner, and meet Caden when he comes over. Do you think you can have fun for a little while with Sienna and your grandpa?” April and Tanner had explained to Violet earlier that Pam and Peter were her grandparents.
Without really understanding what that meant, she’d just accepted it as fact.
April couldn’t wait for Violet to build a real relationship with them.
Violet thought about her question for a long moment, then turned to Tanner. “You won’t let Ned come and take her away, right?”
Tanner stood from the table and crossed to Violet. “You have my word, no one is taking April away from you.” He extended his hand to her. “Should we shake on it?”
Violet smiled and took his hand.
Sienna had patiently waited for her new best friend, but by the way she was doing her little dance, April could tell the little girl’s patience was waning. “Violet, let’s go.”
“I’m coming.” Violet hugged April tight, then turned to Sienna. “Wait, before we go, I want to give you something.”
“What?” Sienna asked, curious and excited in equal measure.
Violet slipped off the pink friendship bracelet and handed it to Sienna. “I want you to have this. You’re my new best friend and my cousin. You should have this friendship bracelet.”
Sienna’s eyes widened and she held out her hand to Violet. “I get to keep it?”
Violet nodded as she slipped it on. “Yep. Forever and ever. I was going to give it to Aunt April, but she has a lot of them. Right Aunt April,” Violet asked, turning to her.