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I can’t believe she did this. When I get home, I dial Scout, but the phone goes directly to voicemail. I open the packet of papers I was served with and immediately shake my head.
Paternity testing, if I want it, and a visitation schedule.
She’s not asking for money. She’s giving me a choice. She thinks I wanted this. I don’t know who I could talk to.
My phone rings and I hope it’s Scout, but I see my sister’s name on the display.
“Can I come see you?” Stormy asks. Her voice is so soft, but I can hear the tears in it.
“Yes.” Even my voice is scratchy.
There’s a knock on the door before I even hang up, and I know she was sitting at the end of my driveway just waiting.
“Why is Dad’s car here?” she asks when I open the door.
He moves from the kitchen where he was giving Ryder a snack to hold him over until I go pick up dinner.
“How about I go get the pizza with Ryder and you two have your talk,” Dad offers, and I nod at him. He moves to my sister and without question pulls her into his arms. “I’ve missed you so much, baby girl,” he says against the top of her head. She holds him tight, and I smile. Watching my father and sister make up is the best thing to come out of today. I know it’s going to take more time, but they needed this. “Be here when I get back. I want to talk to you.” He chucks her chin, and she smiles.
“Okay, Daddy.” Her voice cracks, and Ryder comes over to hug her.
After they leave, I sit down at the table with her.
“Scout came and talked to me today. I know everything.”
“You do?”
“Well, I knew part of it. Now I got the parts I didn’t overhear.” She chuckles softly. “Mother talked loudly, and Monica couldn’t keep a secret for the life of her. They played Scout.” She takes a drink of the water I sat in front of her. “Scout didn’t know you were gone already. They acted like you were in your room. I didn’t know that part until she told me. But you need to know she thought you broke up with her and left her pregnant. Monica had a ring and everything.”
I pause and it hits me. “Did you see the ring?” I demand. She doesn’t lean back in fear of me. She knows I’m not mad at her, just the situation.
“No, but I remember seeing mother with it after the fact. She used to store it in her desk. Why?”
“Because I bought a ring for Scout. She said she wasn’t ready to get married at the time. Said she still had a year of school, and I could change my mind. But that she was still and would always be mine.”
Stormy looks to the side as she bites her lip. She reaches for her large slouch bag and pulls it onto her lap. I watch as she digs around in it for a bit before she pulls out a key.
“Okay, I lied. Here is the key to a safety deposit box. The ring along with some other information from that day are in it. I stole the ring right afterward. Mother did hide it in the desk. It’s how I’ve kept her off my back all these years.”
I shake my head, my eyebrows raising to the roof. My eyes grow big. “You blackmailed our mother? You were only thirteen when this happened.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t do the blackmail until later. I just knew that Scout needed help. She looked so scared. Scout doesn’t know about this.”
“She won’t hear it from me. You need to tell her.”
“I will. I knew our mother and Monica were wrong. I knew they were playing Scout. I also knew Sky was yours the first time I saw her.” She chuckles, and we continue talking for a bit. I’m still worked up and move to the porch when my dad and Ryder come home. I dial Scout’s number, and again it goes directly to voicemail.
“Scout, Sunshine. Please call me back. I’m not mad. You were played. We both were, and I’m stupid for not questioning my mother all these years. Please. I know Skyler is my daughter. I don’t need a paternity test. I now know why you stayed with that idiot who beat you. You thought that’s all you deserved after what I did to you. I want to try to work this out. If not, at least I want to be a part of my daughter’s life.”
I hang up and go back into the house knowing I’m going to have to fight Scout on this. She’s not going to roll over and let me walk back into her life. Maybe she’ll let me in Skyler’s life but not hers. She might be right. I might not deserve her anymore.
NINE
SCOUT
I’ve been a chickenshit. I’m avoiding him, and I hide out in my offices when someone pulls in. I stay at home on the weekends unless we have a run. If Stormy needs something, I have her contact River. I’m not willing to discuss it. I know he got the papers. He’s been in contact with Joel, but he won’t sign the visitation paperwork until I meet with him.
What if he’s pissed?
