AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dan wipes the remaining sauce from his mouth, pushes his plate away, then folds his hands over the table and looks at me. “Will I like what you have to say?”
“No.”
Carla is about to sit down too, but with a gentle wave of my hand and a pleading expression, I silently signal for her to leave us alone.
He just sighs. After a moment, he nods, “Okay, tell me.”
I decide to be direct, “I’ll cut right to it. Andrew is Alissa’s father.”
Dan slams his fists over the glass board of the table, shouting as if I just killed his dog. “Emily, are you crazy? When?”
“Prom night.” I show him a resigned smile, which he doesn’t appreciate.
He shakes his head from one side to another, hands folded at the level of his chest.
“I knew it wasn’t that Patrick Shire kid, but I could never figure out who it was,” he mutters to himself.
Then he looks at me, livid. “I’m going to kill that idiot!” and he stands, ready to leave and go square off against Andrew right now.
“Dan, no!” I hold him down. “What will that achieve? Mom and dad have accepted him and he’s getting along with Ali. Give him a chance. If not for me, then for your niece.”
My older brother’s face is serious and consumed in thought, and I hope the fact they just got back from church is in my favor here.
“Do you think he deserves a second chance?” Dan asks me, demanding my most sincere reply.
“Yes, Daniel,” I say without skipping a beat, “He’s trying very hard to compensate for the fact that he’s not always around. It’s… compelling.”
Dan then reaches for my hand, still looking serious, but I see the hint of a smile on the corner of his lips. “Do you love him?”
“I do,” I say again, firmly. “And it’s not a stupid teenage love like before. Now I know who I am, and I won’t take less than what I’m worth. I have Ali to think about first.”
He squeezes my hand and then gives me a sad smile. “I know dad is still here, and that you don’t believe in these out-of-fashion clichés anyway, but for what it's worth, you have my blessing, Em. Andrew is still on trial.” He lifts his hand to show me an angry finger. “But you’re the queen of your kingdom.”
I drag my chair just a tad closer, and hug him.
“I better go spend some time with my daughter now, you kept me away from her all week!” I say, standing up and ready to leave.
“Goodbye, Carla!” I shout, knowing that I don't need to since she's listening right outside the kitchen.
“Goodbye, Emily!” She immediately enters the kitchen to wave goodbye.
Dan may have found a genuinely happy person, but he also found quite the nosy gossiper.
Chapter Twenty-Three
ANDREW
Ihave a daughter.
Even though I had my suspicions, knowing she is in fact my daughter is something I’m still trying to wrap my head around.
I feel terrible about not being there and not knowing until now, but I just tell myself there’s nothing I can do about that now. It makes me even more determined to be the best father I can be for her moving forward.
I’m truly thrilled. I was ready to marry Emily and take her and Alissa as my family, and then I find out Alissa truly is my daughter. What more could I ask for?
She’s unwilling to recognize me as her father yet, but I’m willing to be patient and work with her timetable.
I need to tell someone, so I go straight home to find dad.
