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Right?
Ward leaned forward, his eyes blazing with something he didn’t understand.
Anger maybe?
No, something far deeper that made Jacob still and listen.
“I am your father, whether you like it or not. Science. Yes, your mother stole from us, but we cannot turn back time. Whether you want a relationship with me is up to you.”
“How do you see this working? Sunday dinners, inviting me to family birthdays. Jesus, Ward. I don’t think your sons are just going to be happy to set another place at the table.”
Emotion bubbled up inside him, the need to run overwhelming. He stood and slid a hand into his pocket, turned his back on his father.
Why wasn’t anyone else pissed about this?
He wanted to scream and punch something. Unfortunately, that something couldn’t be his mother—he would never do that—but his fury was toward her.
And, irrationally, toward the man who had also missed out.
He spun back.
“Look, I appreciate what you are trying to do here. But I’m a grown man. Not a child. You have a family. I have mine. Let’s—”
“Pretend?” Ward nudged his coffee away and stood slowly, placing his hands on his hips. “Pretend that I have another child walking this earth with my DNA and that I don’t want to know him?”
Well, yes.
Jacob nodded.
Then swallowed.
Fuck. Fuck!
He didn’t want to feel like this. Didn’t want to want this man as his father. He had lived his entire life with a hole where that love should be.
“Well, son, I have news for you. I won’t. Take all the time you need. I am not going anywhere,” Ward said, his voice strong, solid, and even.
Jacob swallowed again, then ground his teeth as he pushed back the emotion.
“You don’t have to feel obligated.” He tried and, even to him, it sounded weak.
Ward smiled and walked to a nearby cabinet, where he lifted a photograph of him with Knox, Levi, and Atlas. The quick glance Jacob caught of it, it appeared to be a camping or fishing photo.
What was he doing?
He wasn’t in the mood for playing family yet. Had the man not listened to him?
“When each of these boys were born, they came out of their mother screaming and red faced.” Ward then lifted his eyes. “I didn’t know who they were or if I would like even like them, but do you know what did happen?”
Jacob felt his chest tighten as he shook his head.
“I loved them. From their first breath.”
Fuck.
“I know you’re ready to bolt, and that you are also smart enough to connect the dots to that story.” Ward’s mouth curved softly at the corners. “Go. My door is always open. And Jacob, no matter what you choose, I am your dad.”
Jacob fought the emotion stinging his eyes and dropped a curse as he stared at the floor.
