I wanted to ask her more, quiz her on all the facts. I wanted to know about Bryson and Parker Wells Jr. I wanted to knowher. My sister.Potentially. But we didn’t have much time. “I hope this wasn’t too much trouble, meeting me here.”
She swallowed visibly. “No. I needed to see you for myself.” Shrugging, she added, “I guess the paternity test is a formality at this point. If you’renotmy brother, I’d be shocked.”
I agree. A couple of months ago, I was an only child, and now I had siblings.Allegedly. “I’d love to schedule a longer visit. I have several questions.”
“The answers won’t be nice. But if you’re willing to listen, I don’t mind sharing.” She moved closer, searching my eyes. Her face softened. “I don’t know what it’s like to be you right now, but I do know how it feels to be disappointed, to be lied to. I can only hope things look up from here.”
I cracked a small smile. “Thanks.”
Brooklyn let out a deep sigh. “I didn’t tell Parker, Ronnie, or Bryson that I was coming—or even that you’d contacted me. I thought it’d be best if I came first. Plus, Parker likes to control everything. Be warned.”
Chuckling, I said, “Got it.”
“I’ll set up sibling testing. I should be back in town next week. Maybe we can go to a nearby lab? Once we know for sure, I’ll tell them. It’s better that way.” She glanced at her watch. “Shit, I gotta go.”
“Sounds good to me. Just let me know, and I’ll make myself available.”
Brooklyn held out her hand, yet let it fall to her side. She stepped forward, but retreated backward. She opened her arms, then hugged herself. “Ah, forget it.” And she hugged me. “I’m a hugger,” she whispered. “You’ll get used to it.”
I didn’t know this woman, had never seen her before today, but my instincts told me she was sincere. Something told me that once Brooklyn made her mind up about anything, she was a force to be reckoned with. But I could also sense she’d be a great person to have in my corner.
When she pulled back, she shot me a soft smile. “I’m kind of bossy as well,” she confessed. “You’ll get used to that too.”
I barked out a laugh. “As long as you get used to my quiet moods.”
A corner of her mouth quirked up. “That won’t last long. We’re a pretty loud bunch.” She walked to the door. “I’ll be in touch.”
“I look forward to it.”
Turning back to me, she said, “Bye, Preston.”
Just like that, she was gone, her face still registering the shock I felt. I worked for about an hour after Brooklyn left, but decided it was futile. I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than the upcoming DNA test. So, I’d made the forty-five-minute drive to Ann Arbor.
At Veteran’s Memorial Park, I located the baseball diamond where Dallas and her family played, and parked near it. As I approached the field, I immediately spotted Blake on first base. On the pitcher mound, Dexter stood, eyes on the hitter. But…where is she? I peered into the dugout and noticed the rest of her clan. She wasn’t there, though. I checked my phone to see if I’d missed a text or a call. Nothing.
Seconds later, Dexter tossed the pitch. The batter swung, connecting with the ball. On third base, Mr. Young shouted commands at Asa, who was at second base. The play was fast. Tristan picked up the ball and tossed it to Asa, who tossed it home. The catcher jumped up, caught the ball, and tagged the opposite team’s runner.
“Out!” the umpire called, extending three fingers signaling it was the third out.
Blake did a fist pump and held her hands up to her face like a makeshift megaphone. “You’d better catch that ball, Sissy. Yes!”
My gaze traveled back to the catcher, just in time to see Dallas pull the helmet off and drop it. “I got you,” she yelled back. “That’s game.”
While the teams greeted each other with handshakes, I made my way to the dugout, where they were celebrating their win. Dallas looked radiant, helmet hair and all. Her eyes were bright, her smile was genuine, and that body…still beautiful in her chest protector and leg guards.
“Hey, Preston!” Bliss waved at me.
Dallas whirled around and met my gaze. “Hey.”
I gave Dex, then Tristan dap. Turning to her, I tipped my head. “What’s up?”
She approached me. “I didn’t think you were coming?”
Lifting a brow, I asked, “I didn’t know I’d received an invitation.”
I could’ve imagined it, but it looked like she smiled. “Touché.” She sighed. “Walk with me?” I followed her to a grassy knoll on the opposite end of the diamond. Once we made it there, she sat on the ground. One of the things I loved about Dallas was she wasn’t afraid to be outside, to get dirty. She enjoyed the outdoors as much as I did. “Join me?”
I sat next to her. “What’s up, Dallas?”
