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“How can you even be sure she’s yours?” The anger has already evaporated from her tone.
I whip my head in her direction, ready to defend my right to be in Monica’s life, but it’s a reasonable question to ask. “She’s mine. She has my eyes.”
Her lips press harder together. “You need to have a DNA test done to be sure.”
I take her hand. “I will, but Adelaide?” I wait for her to look at me, which she does with wetness coating her eyes. “She’s mine.”
Her shoulders sag, and her head falls to her chest. “What does this mean?”
“It means you’re going to be a stepmom.”
She cringes and drops my hand. “I don’t even want my own kids.”
She can’t be thinking I’d walk away from Monica? I mean… the woman I’m about to marry would never want that of me. I’m sure of it.
“I get it, but the child is mine. I’ve already missed five years with her. I’m not going to miss any more.” My voice hardens with the unspoken accusation she’s asking me to do something I’ll never do.
She turns to face the ocean again. “Why didn’t Lilah tell you?”
“She says she was afraid I’d try to take the baby from her.”
“Pfft. Typical.”
I agree, but unlike me, Adelaide won’t let her anger disperse as easily as I did. I can guarantee that fact.
We stand in silence for a few minutes, the awkwardness between us growing.
“So what’s your plan?” she asks.
I fill her in on what Lilah and I discussed before I left Kansas and bring her up to speed on what Monica and Lilah’s life is like.
“Great, so in the months leading up to my wedding, I’ll be left to fend for myself every weekend and make all the decisions on my own. Perfect.”
“I know the timing isn’t great, but I need to put in the time to get to know my daughter.”
She straightens, crossing her arms and turning to me. “Can I come with you?”
I grip the railing harder, knowing my response won't make this easier. “I think we should wait until we tell her she’s my daughter. Get her used to the idea first, then introduce you to her.”
Her jaw clenches, and she curtly nods. “I’m going to call it a night. We can finish this conversation tomorrow.”
I rear back that she’s closed the door to the conversation. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
She doesn’t spare me a glance as she heads into the house.
It isn’t until she’s closed the sliding glass door that I realize she didn’t even ask what my daughter’s name is.
“Her name is Monica,” I say to the warm, salty air. “And she’s amazing.”
Chapter Fifty-six
LILAH
So far, Jimmy has been true to his word. He hasn’t mentioned anything about trying to win custody of Monica. My guard isn’t completely down though. What if he and I argue over something and he uses her as a pawn? But I have to remind myself of who I’m dealing with.
Although he’s still angry with me, it’s clear that he’s falling in love, if he's not already there, with his daughter. I have to believe that the Jimmy I’ve always known, the one who would never use a child to try to win an adult game, is still who he is.
Watching Monica become completely taken by Jimmy is surprisingly easy.
