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He takes a step back as if my words slapped him across the face.
“Katie,” he whispers, searching my face with his gaze. “I thought you came here to…”
“To what?” I interrupt him. “You thought I came because all is forgiven? I came because I wanted to see the face of your little girl. I came because I want to put all of this to rest. I came because I need this to be over for once and for all so I can go on with my life.”
I slide off the barstool. “We can’t pretend that the past didn’t happen. It did.”
“We can sort through it.” He rests both his palms on the bar. “We’ll sort through it together.”
“I’ve spent five years sorting through it.” I pick up my clutch purse. “I moved across the country, made new friends, kissed a few men and learned how to love myself again.”
I don’t give him a chance to respond. I slip through the crowd of people inside the bar and duck out the door.
Once I’m outside I draw a deep breath into my lungs and type out a message to Preston.
Kate: I’ll meet you at Easton Pub in twenty minutes.
Chapter 22
Kate
I bounce Arleth on my knee while Olivia looks at a vintage satin wedding gown.
“You’re already married, Liv,” I point out. “I can put that on hold for Arleth’s wedding, but I’ll tell you what I tell every mother-of-the-bride who comes into the store. Let your daughter have the last say on her dress.”
She glances over her shoulder at me, her tongue sticking out. “Ha! I stopped by Liore today. They’re gearing up for a bridal lingerie shoot. I happen to be on a mission to find the perfect dress for the model to wear.”
“You’re on maternity leave.” I laugh. “Shouldn’t someone else in your office be on the look-out for the perfect dress?”
“I told them they needed to come here to find a wedding gown.” She tosses me a wink. “I want you to have the sale.”
“Thank you,” I mouth back silently as Arleth settles into my arms.
“If you rock her a bit she might fall asleep.”
I look down into the face of Olivia’s daughter. I was at the hospital the night she was born. I waited anxiously in the waiting room with Alexander’s sister until he came out to announce that Arleth had arrived.
He had tears in his eyes and the widest grin on his mouth.
Gage never got to experience that. He didn’t know about his daughter until she was walking and talking.
Precious moments were stolen from him.
Olivia turns to face me. “Have you talked to Gage since you found out about his daughter?”
I called Olivia the other night after I got home from Tilly’s house. I didn’t want her to hear about it from anyone but me. She understood how confused I was. She told me to take some time to absorb the news and that she was always around if I needed her.
I needed her today, so I texted her and asked her to come by the boutique.
“I saw him last night,” I whisper, not wanting to wake Arleth.
The store closed thirty minutes ago. We planned to go to dinner, but take-out may be a better option since I could spend the entire night cradling this sleeping baby in my arms.
“What happened?” Her hands dive into the pockets of the red jumpsuit she’s wearing.
“I went to Tin Anchor.” I shake my head. “I thought it would help in some way if I saw a picture of his daughter.”
“You were curious,” she states. “You wanted to put a face to the name. You wanted to see Gage’s child.”
