Page 17 of Silver Player

“She isn’t a prize, William. She’s a gift. They aren’t the same thing.”

When he’s silent a moment, I crane my neck to look at him over my shoulder. His head is lowered once again as he stares at his feet.

“Should I bring her presents?” He’s concentrating on his scuffed boots.

“You can’t buy her either. For now, just be present. Be here. She’s struggling with everything. Losing her mom. The move. Leaving her friends. She needs all the support we can offer.”

“We?” His head springs upward.

“Well, yes. I’m her aunt. Her family. But you’re her father, and while she gets to know you, I think we should present a united front.”

His eyes shift to the front of my T-shirt and linger a second. “Not that front.”

“I’d still like to unite fronts,” he flirts.

Good God, he’s impossible, but I laugh all the same.

Eventually, I call Sadie back to the kitchen. Dinner passes with the same unease as when Sadie was present earlier, only this time awkward silence fills the spaces between. It’s awful. And then Billy drops the bomb.

“So I made a date for us. An appointment to be tested.”

Holy what?

“What?” I stammer while Sadie looks from Billy to me.

“I have school,” Sadie adds.

“We can go afterward,” Billy continues. “There’s a lab right here in Blue Ridge that will do a legal test. They are open until five. In roughly three days, we’ll know for sure.”

“For sure, that you’re the sperm donor?”

“Hey,” Billy snaps. Sadie’s really pushing it tonight, and I admit her comment crosses another line, but he can’t raise his voice to her. He doesn’t have the right. Not yet.

“William,” I hiss under my breath.

“Look, this isn’t easy for me either,” he states, his voice still louder than necessary. “And I’m trying to do the right thing here.”

“Well, don’t do me any favors,” Sadie yells again, setting her fork down with a clatter.

“Maybe I’m doing this for me,” he retorts, and instantly, I can see he’s lost Sadie. She shuts down completely and turns to me.

“May I be excused?”

“Sure, baby.” My heart aches for her, and I’m ready to spout off at Billy until I turn to him and read the horror on his cheeks.

“How am I the bad guy?” he questions. “This is new to me.”

“It’s new to her, too,” I offer, sympathizing with both of them.

“I went too far.” His voice lowers as his shoulders sink.

“You did.” I want to reach out and comfort him, touch him, but I don’t think it’s best.

“I didn’t mean it how it sounded.”

“You never do,” I say, keeping my voice steady.

“Meaning?”