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“Yes, we can!” she yelled. “You ruined everything when you took me away from my daddy. Fix it, Mommy. Fix it so we can be family again.”
Her words stabbed me in the heart. She was right. I had taken her away from her daddy, and I’d never forgive myself for it.
Abe shifted in his chair. He didn’t look happy, maybe even sick to his stomach.
As much as I wanted to be gentle with Nova, she was already pushing back. I needed to just break the news to her so then I could mend her heart… repair all of our damaged hearts.
“Baby, I lied to you.” I ripped it off like a bandaid, in typical Karma fashion.“And I’m so, so sorry.”
Nova blinked like she hadn’t expected me to admit I lied to her.
I took the blame because this situation was on me. I could’ve stayed in town, gone to a friend’s house, or even told Lady M I was pregnant. I was so heartbroken. I couldn’t face Abe and his lover.
“Why did you lie?” Her little voice softened.
“You know how I told you that hiding something important is the same as lying?”
“Mhm.” Worry was etched on her forehead as she studied me.
“That’s what I did. I hid the truth from you.”
“Why is he here? Is he your boyfriend? Is that why you don’t want to see my dad?” She shot Abe an angry look. It was like she refused to hear what I was telling her. She wanted to derail me, but why?
Did she instinctively know what I was trying to tell her?
“Nova, have you ever heard me call Stein your dad? Have you ever heard me tell anyone he was your dad?” My words came sternly to keep her focused on me.
She shook her head.
“No, I haven’t. I’ll show you why.” My throat constricted as I went to the hall closet. I retrieved a box from the top shelf and returned to my spot beside Nova—dread set in. “I’ve never called Stein your dad because he’s not, baby. Stein isn’t your dad.”
“Yes, he is.” Her bottom lip trembled. “Yes, he is. You’re just mad at him.”
“No, baby.” I looked at Abe. The pain in his eyes stripped me raw. He’d been my world before he destroyed it. I wished I had stayed in Fargo. If I had, he would’ve been in Nova’s life from the beginning. “I can prove it to you.”
“How?” Tears rolled down my baby’s precious face.
I took the lid off the box and removed a picture of Abe and me. We both looked so different in it. He didn’t have a beard, and my hair was blonde. Anyone could see how madly in love we were wrapped in each other’s arms. I handed the image to Nova.
“Who are those people?” She studied it while I dug for her birth certificate.
“Your parents.” I pointed to me. “My hair is blonde. I just color it black to look like yours.” I moved my finger to Abe. “This is your dad. Isn’t he handsome? But I think I like him more with a beard.” I lifted my gaze to Abe’s intense stare.
“Wait.” Nova’s voice jerked my attention back to her. “He’s wearing a black vest just like Sadie’s daddy wears.” She looked at Abe. I could hear the wheels turning in her head.
“Yes, your daddy is in the club too, but in Fargo.”
“He’s a biker?” She peered at Abe through her eyelashes. “Like that man?”
“Yes.” I blew out a breath. “Look at this. It’s your birth certificate. I’ve never shown it to you before, have I?”
“No.”
“It’s a very important paper. Everyone has one. It shows your name and when you were born, and it has your mom and dad’s names on it.”
“Why does my name have a line after Brandt and another name?” She pointed to the document with fresh tears in her eyes.
“It’s your full name, baby.” I flicked my gaze at Abe. “Nova Gray Brandt hyphen Knight.” I moved my finger to the next spot. “On this line is my name Karma Ruby Brandt and your father’s name is on the next line, Abraham Charles Knight.”
