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It’s also possible that Brandy will be furious with me for staying in touch with Guy and not telling her.
And what about Elizabeth? What’s she going to think? It’s possible that all three of the women in my life are going to yell at me when I walk through the door.
I take out my key and insert it, then pause, half tempted to turn and go back down. But I’ve got to face the music at some point.
Taking a deep breath, I turn the key and go inside.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Elizabeth
The door opens, and Huxley quietly comes in.
Brandy, Joanna, and I are sitting in the living room, but we all stand as he walks toward us. Nymph goes up and nuzzles his hand, and he ruffles her ears before stopping by the sofa, and slides his hands into his pockets.
“Do I need a crash helmet?” he asks.
Brandy promptly bursts into tears.
He sighs, goes up to her, and puts his arms around her.
“I should have told you.” She buries her face in his shirt. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s all right.” He rubs her back. “I’m sorry for being in touch with Guy and not telling you.”
“He’s your brother,” she says with a sniff. “You didn’t have to tell me.”
“I know, but even so. I didn’t want you to get hurt. But he says he’s sorry. He said he was a different man back then, and he regrets what he did.”
She rests her forehead on his chest, and he kisses the top of her head.
Then he looks across at Joanna. She’s standing there, still white-faced. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” He holds out a hand. “I’m so sorry I lied to you.”
“Oh, Daddy,” she squeaks, and she runs up next to her mother and wraps her arms around him.
I stand there awkwardly, my heart racing, as he comforts them both.
“You know I love you, right?” he says to Joanna, his voice husky.
“I love you too, Daddy.”
“So Mum told you what happened?”
She nods. “She said she got pregnant by your brother, and he left her and went away, so you said you’d pretend to be my father and that you’d look after us both.”
“Iamyour father,” he says firmly. “I was there when you were born, and I’ve been there for every major event of your life. I’ll be there when you graduate from university, and I’ll give you away when you get married. I’m your dad, and nothing’s going to change that, do you hear me?” He’s clearly emotional.
She nods.
“You should have told me that you knew,” he says more gently. “I want you always to be able to talk to me about anything, okay?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
He sighs, and for the first time his gaze comes over to me. I’m so full of emotion that all I can do is blink at him.
He clears his throat, and Brandy looks up, then moves back. He kisses the top of his daughter’s head, and then releases her.
“Let’s go to your room,” Brandy says to Joanna, “and hang your clothes up in the wardrobe.”
