Chapter 8
His steps faltered and became rooted to the floor as he stared at the two of them. Words failed him as he looked from the woman to the child.
"She wanted to meet you."
He stood there like an idiot, unable to respond. His trusty and very wise assistant had taken one look at the most beautiful child she had ever seen and put two and two together.
Pushing back her chair, she came forward with a warm smile for the child. "Why don't we step into Mr. Tyrell's office? I'm sure I can rustle up a cup of hot chocolate and some cookies."
She looked at the mother, expression cooling for approval and was given a nod.
"Thank you." The little girl said politely, gaze swinging to her father.
"Mr. Tyrell?"
"Come this way." He finally found his voice, but it sounded a little rusty.
Sending his assistant a grateful look, he stepped back and allowed them to precede him. He did not know what to do next. Going to his desk, he turned to face them.
"Sit. Anywhere." He gestured vaguely towards the group of chairs in front of the desk.
They remained standing. So, he did as well.
"You're my daddy."
His eyes flew to the little girl and felt his heart melting and then thundering inside his chest. She had on a pretty pink sweater and was wearing a puffy pink jacket over it.
Black leggings completed the outfit and adorable brown boots with pink hearts etched on the sides.
He could conclude that pink was her favorite color.
Her dark brown curls were tamed and brushed back into a long tail. Gold knobs winked at her lobes. Her beauty dazzled him.
"Yes."
"Mama said you left before I was borned."
"Born." Her mother corrected her automatically.
"Yes." His eyes flew to Abigail, but she remained silent. Realizing he was on his own on this, he struggled to find the words. "I didn't know. I made a mistake."
He desperately wanted her approval and her love. "I was young and foolish back then and did pretty much what I wanted."
The little girl studied him out of hazel eyes he swore could see clear into his very soul. "You came back."
"Yes." His fingers flexed and he forced them to relax. "I know I don't deserve a chance, but I'm asking for one. I want to be a father to you."
Before she could answer, there was a discreet knock on the door. It was pushed open and Lilieth came in bearing a tray.
Ignoring the palpable tension in the room, she went to put the tray on the table next to the window.
"I also found some pastries. Sugar treats, they're called.
" She smiled at the little girl and winked.
"Something your mother forbids, but I'm sure she will not disapprove just this once. I'll leave you to it then."
"Thank you."
The child's smile struck inside her heart like a lightning bolt and for that instant it was like looking at twin images. She had her father's smile. Lordy!
Shaking her head, Lilieth left the room, closing the doors behind her.
"Mama, may I?"
"Go ahead."
She started towards the table and then turned around. To the shock of the two adults, she raced over and wrapped her arms around her father's waist.
Kincaid's eyes flew to Abigail's as emotions tumbled inside him at a rate he could not control. Closing his eyes and hefting out a breath, he went on his knees and wrapped her around him. He was veering dangerously close to disgracing himself.
"Daddy."
That did it. Hearing the word in that soft voice broke him clean in two. He hugged her closer, almost crushing her small ribs.
Abigail's knees went weak and she had to lower herself into the chair. Seeing them together made her realize that this was the right thing to do. Her little girl had obviously been pining for a father.
Easing back, Zoe clasped her small hands on his face. "I look like you."
He nodded, words stuck inside his throat.
He tried to speak, but emotion rendered him silent for a moment. With trembling hands, he gently brushed a stray curl from her forehead, taking in the details of her face as if committing them to memory. The resemblance was undeniable, but it was the warmth in her eyes that truly connected them.
Overcome, he finally managed to whisper, "You're perfect."
She giggled at that. "Grammy Addy says I can be a terror."
"That's not true." He lifted her into his arms and went to the sofa in front of the table. "Why don't we get to know each other?"
She nodded.
Abigail sat there watching the two of them bond and felt a peculiar twist in her heart. Minutes ticked into half an hour, during which she kept looking at her watch. She had meetings lined up and had kept her daughter out of school for the meet.
But father and daughter ate and drank hot chocolate and chatted about everything. She filled him in on her life, dance recitals, ballet classes, books she enjoyed and what her best friend was up to. He in turn talked to her about the publishing house.
They were like two adults having a reasonable conversation.
He touched her a lot, as if trying to remind himself that she was really here. He trailed a finger over her cheek, tugged on her long tail of hair, teased her when she talked about hating spiders and loving cats.
When she leaned in to kiss him, Abby could see the tears glistening in his eyes. They had completely forgotten about her. She used the time to check her emails and respond to a few text messages.
They both looked up when she rose.
"I'm afraid it's time to leave."
"No. Mama, can I stay?" She looked at her father. "Can I?"
"I'm sure Mr. Cade has things to do."
"I would love her to stay." His expression was pleading. "We could take a tour of the place, and you tell me what you think."
"I'm not sure."
"Mama, please!"
Two identical faces turned towards her, and she felt herself weakening.
"All right." Forcing a smile, she walked over to kiss her little girl on the forehead and tried not to think she was losing her.
"I'll come and pick you up."
"I'll take her back. Just let me know when."
She wanted to lash out at him but managed to rein in her anger. "I'll call. Behave." She touched her daughter's cheek before stepping back.
Before she reached the doors, they had started talking, forgetting about her. The pain was sharp and blinding. She had no idea how she made it out of the office and into the elevator that would take her downstairs.
Rushing towards the car, she sat there for a moment trying to compose herself. Taking a few short breaths, she called up her brother's number.
"Are you at the office?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I'm coming over."
She hung up before he could respond.
*****
She was his twin, and he knew her moods like he knew his. As soon as she walked in, he spoke quietly to his legal secretary.
"Hold my calls."
Taking his sister's hand, he led her into his office and closed the door behind them. As soon as he did, she walked straight into his arms and burst into tears.
Leading her to the sofa, he sat with his arms wrapped around her and waited until she was spent.
"God." She burst out, pulling away slightly. "I hate tears."
"It's sometimes necessary. A cleansing." Plucking a few tissues from the box, he wiped her cheeks gently, eyes fixed on her face. "What's this about?"
"He's stealing my baby."
A frown touched his brow. "What? Please clarify."
She shrugged. "I took her to see him." She bit her lip and felt the tears surging again. "They just bonded. Andre, she called him daddy."
Biting back an impatient sigh, he took her hands in his. "He's her daddy."
She shook her head. "You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly. You wanted Zoe to resent him the way you do for deserting you. This happens to be a little girl without guile, and she realizes she now has a dad and is lapping it up. Abby." He sighed when she refused to look at him. "This is a good thing."
"She wanted to stay with him. Didn't even notice when I was leaving." She hitched out a breath. "They looked like one unit, as if I was no longer part of her."
"That's nonsense and you know it. You're her mother and you're feeling separation anxiety. You're not used to sharing her."
"I share her all the time." She snapped.
"With us, your family." He kept her hands in his even when she tried to pull away.
"You were never threatened when it comes to us.
Now sharing her with her father and after having her for four years, you're not accustomed to it.
You're going to have to come to terms with the fact that he's going to be in her life. "
Dragging her hands away, she rose, a little unsteadily and wandered over to the window. It was almost Thanksgiving and then it would be Christmas. She had plans of taking her little girl to a ski lodge in Vermont because Zoe loves skiing. Stay at a quiet lodge and drink tons of hot chocolate.
Then they'd be back for family dinner.
"He's not taking her away from me."
"Is that what he wants to do?"
She turned to look at him over her left shoulder. He looked so handsome, sitting there. He had shed his navy blue suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his pearl pink shirt. His hair was well cut with natural waves, and he looked as patient as Job.
It settled her.
"I don't think so." She sighed wearily. "And you're right, I have to think about Zoe.
She already loves him." Her lips tilted up slightly.
"He's easy to love. It does not matter that he's fickle.
I won't have him leaving, running off to be with his women and her wondering where he is. I won't have him hurting her."
Her brother studied her thoughtfully. "Seems to me like you're projecting. And you still have feelings for him. I often wondered about that." He rose and approached her. Ignoring the warning flash of her eyes. "You never date. Yes, you had a few relationships that never lasted long."
He clamped his hands on her shoulders to keep her there. "You made the excuse that it was work and Zoe, but that's not true, is it?"