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“Yes, evidently last night when Rumor was crying, I’m not sure where I was, he told them their dad was Porter and Davina’s dad. I don’t know why; I haven’t gotten that far with him yet. I’m so sorry. When Pris and Rumor repeated it, I didn’t respond.”
“I’ll handle it. But do me a favor, Calista. Keep Austin away from us.”
Choking back a sob, she agreed, apologized, and hung up the phone. She went back inside the RV.
The children dressed; their things packed. Angela had been crying.
Calista took her arm and pulled her into the bathroom. “Alphé’s your dad, okay? You’re his daughter.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Your dad said he’d explain everything. Let’s go out so the little ones don’t freak out.”
She led Angela out of the bathroom. The sound of Austin’s voice meant he was close by.
“We’ll walk out to meet your dad.”
She put her arms around the shoulders of the little ones as they exited the RV. Austin approached with the two boys and Davina. She hustled the kids away from them; Austin couldn’t take a hint. “Wait!”
“We’re going to meet their dad.”
“We’ll walk with you,” Austin said.
Shaking her head, she said in a stern voice, “Please stay here.”
He caught up with her. “Why? I felt like they needed to know.”
Trying to catch her breath, she stopped in the middle of the street. “Kids, walk up to the street sign. I’ll be right there.” Then she turned back to him. “It wasn’t your call, Austin. Please go back to the RV.”
“I’m talking to him. If I have to, I’ll apologize.”
“Austin, if you don’t go back to the RV, I’m going home with Alphé and Katrina.”
Her voice shook so much, it was difficult to speak.
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Please go back to the RV.”
She turned from him and walked to join the children, who were waiting obediently. Katrina’s new SUV came through the gate. The children waved, jumping up and down until he pulled over.
“Where’s Noel?”
“He wants to stay.”
“Go tell him to pack up his stuff.”
She nodded and turned to run back to the RV.
Austin and the three children were waiting at the picnic table.
“Noel, Alphé wants you to come home.”
Noel paused for a moment, understanding that something had gone down but not sure what it was.
Inside the RV, he gathered his things. Looking around disappointed, he would be glad to see his father. In silence, Calista walked with him to the entrance of the park.
He got into the car, the others waiting. “I want to go back to Cypress Cove with you,” she said. “If you had a bigger car, I’d bum a ride, me and my kids.”
