Page 92 of One Kind Soul

Nicole tried a few times to come up with something to say to this . . . this . . . this utter nonsense. “You’re lying,” was what came bursting past her lips.

“You think so?” She held out her hand to Marty. “Give me the phone I gave you.”

Marty walked over to a flimsy table in the kitchen then came back, a phone in his hand. He held it out to Lynda, but she shook her head.

“Give it to her.”

Marty tossed the phone toward Nicole and she fumbled to catch it.

“Call Mom and Dad. Ask them.” Lynda sat in the recliner Marty had been in when Nicole had arrived. “You ought to have the truth confirmed before the rest of this unfortunate night unfolds for you.”

She was tempted to call 911 then bolt from the apartment, but Marty’s sheer muscle made her think she wouldn’t get too far.

Plus . . . she had to know for sure that Lynda was making up shit.

Nicole unlocked her phone and found her father’s contact. Tapping it, she put the phone to her ear and listened to the ringing.

One ring.

Two rings.

Three . . .

“Hey, baby girl!” Her father’s voice was full of warmth and love. “Are you still in Vermont?”

“Ah . . . hey, Dad. No. I’m back in Hawaii.”

“Oh. Weren’t you staying longer in Vermont to be with that guy?” her father asked. “What was his name again?”

“Christian.”

“Right. Did something happen?” His concern made Nicole’s eyes prick.

“Umm . . . yeah. That’s not why I’m calling though.” She drew in a breath. “I have a crazy question I need you to answer.”

“Okay. Shoot.”

Nicole squeezed her eyes closed. She didn’t want to see the smug look on her sister’s face as she asked this ridiculous question. “Are you . . . are you my real father?”

She expected an instant yes, I’m your real father or some laughter or an are you drunk? interrogation. The silence that greeted her instead was the loudest answer she could have received.

“You’re not, are you? Someone left me on your doorstep?”

“You found Lynda.” His voice sounded so small.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because to your mother and me, you’re ours, Nicole. You were ours the minute we saw you.”

“But you didn’t want more children.”

“Not originally,” he said. “But when the world leaves you an incredible gift, you take it, baby girl. And that’s what you were—what you are. An incredible gift.”

She had so much more to ask and say to him, but Lynda snapped her fingers at Marty and the wall o’ muscle ripped the phone from Nicole’s hands. He ended the call and dropped the phone in Lynda’s lap. It immediately vibrated with an incoming call of course, but she set it on a TV tray by the recliner and let it hum there.

“Not the news you were hoping for?” Lynda arched her brows. “It must be awful to find out your whole life has been a lie.” She got up and strode over to Nicole. “Why, I’d say you probably don’t wish to keep living after that revelation.” She put her face right by Nicole’s left ear. “I can help you with that, Princess Uggers.”

“Why tell me this now?” Nicole asked. “Why not tell me years ago and hurt me back then?”