Aunt Maddy gets up, giving me a pat on the shoulder for good luck. She motions at Milo and they move into the kitchen. They’re still within earshot, and that’s a good thing. The whole reason they’re here is for moral support.
I sit by Coach and curl my hair behind my ears. “Did you have any idea my mom kept a diary?”
Coach grins. “No, I didn’t.”
“Well, I recently found it, and you’re in it. A lot.”
Nervousness ripples through his expression and posture. “Oh. You didn’t read anything you didn’t want to know, did you?”
“Mom didn’t go into excessive details,” I say, skirting their love life. “But she did drop a bomb.”
Coach straightens up. “What is it?”
“Did you ever suspect you were…”
He leans in closer with a serious expression. “Suspect what?”
I blow out a breath and whisper, “You’re my dad.”
His hand cups his mouth, and his eyes widen. When he slowly lowers his hand, he murmurs the words, “I knew it.”
My heart pounds with bated excitement. “You did?”
His hands land on my shoulders and run down my arms. “Oh, Jamie. I wish she’d told me.”
“She planned to,” I reply. “It was all in her diary. She knew you’d want to stick by her, but she wanted you to finish college.”
“There was just something in her eyes every time she let me hold you.” His gaze drifts into memories. “I always expected her to tell me. When she denied it, I believed her.”
“Wait. She told you I wasn’t your kid?”
He nods. “I half believed her.”
I frown. “I’m so sorry she lied. You must be so angry. You said you knew her as someone who didn’t lie.”
“What she said was one thing. How she acted was another. I couldn’t deny how much she loved you. Whenever I came home on breaks, she always encouraged me to visit you.” Coach smiles. “When she kept your dad’s identity a secret, I still didn’t lose hope he was me.”
I grin. “You wanted to be my dad?”
“I loved Lily so much,” Coach admits. “I felt it in every fiber of my being that we had made something special. I looked at you and it was undeniable.”
“You never said anything. Even when she was gone.”
“I couldn’t be sure. But with her gone, I looked out for you even more. I’ve always cared about you like you were my own.” His posture tenses. “How are you feeling about this?”
“It’s a crazy mix of emotions,” I admit. “But I’m so relieved that it’s you. I was so scared to find out who my dad was. I never imagined you were him. It was a total mind blow, but not in the least bit scary.”
Coach smiles. “That’s good to know. What happens now? Do you call me dad?”
I wince. “That feels super weird. Can we stick to Coach?”
Coach chuckles. “That feels right. I like that.”
I lean forward, roping him into a loving hug. “Good. I love you, Coach.”
He rubs a circle on my back, exhaling deeply. “I love you too, kiddo.”
Milo edges away from the kitchen counter, subtly looking our way.
