AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know. He didn’t think I was good enough for her.”
“Well, he was against you kids from the beginning. We always thought he was an asshole. That poor girl left with only him for a parent is a travesty.”
“Yeah.” My mother rarely swore and I was surprised. “She doesn’t have much to do with him anymore.”
“I hate to say it, but it’s probably a good thing. What about Jensen? How did that happen?”
Air filled my lungs to capacity as I imagined the alternative reality if she would have complied. Maybe she would have been with me, but we wouldn’t have Remi.
“He told her dad he was the baby’s father to get him to back off of Teagan and me. I mean; it was brutal. I wish she would have just told me the truth so I could have been with them, but I’m grateful for Remi, and I’m grateful that Jensen has taken care of her as well as he has. I had all these emotions: I was completely pissed off and resentful, and I didn’t want to dig it all up again. I mean it was killing me, Mom, but Jensen convinced me that I needed to hear the whole story, and he was right.”
She looked at me intently. Her blue eyes full of admiration. “I’m proud of you, Son. Teagan told me a little of it earlier.”
“Yeah, but now, as much as I’d like Teagan and Remi to move to London to be with me, how can I rip her away from Jensen? He’s the only father she’s ever known, and she loves him.”
“But, yesterday you said Remi knew you were her father.”
“She did. I’m grateful that Teagan showed her pictures, told her stories, watched my games with her, but Jensen has been here since she was born, and I can’t ignore that.”
“If Teagan had moved on, she’d never have done that, Chase. Teagan still loves you as much as she ever has. I can see it as plain as day.”
“I know, she does. But she cares about Jensen, and I know she feels she owes him everything.” I ran a hand over my stubble-covered jaw, feeling frustrated with the conversation.
“Are they planning to divorce, then?”
My jaw set. “As I said, it’s not an easy answer.”
My mother concentrated on my face for a few more seconds.
“What?” I asked, agitated.
“Remi needs her real daddy, and you need her, Chase. You’ll figure it out.”
“I have to.” My eyes moved back to Teagan and my heart literally seized inside my chest just looking at her.
She was half lying across the arm of a big, plus chair that matched the sofas with her head resting on one bent arm and her knees curled beneath her. She had pulled her short dress down to cover her legs as much as she could manage, but she looked cold. I glanced around wondering if there would be blankets hiding in one of the cabinets along one wall by the sink where she’d found the pillow I was using.
Her eyes were trained on me like mine had just been on her. Her dark gaze was intense and intuitive. “Your pain pills are in my purse. Do you need one?”
I shook my head. My stomach reminded me that I hadn’t eaten in eighteen hours and I knew the pill would put me out. I wanted to speak to Jensen, not take a nap. “No. I could use something to eat, though.”
“Your father and I can run out and bring something back,” Mom stated. “Frank!” she called.
Dad had been watching a baseball game with Jensen but turned his head quickly at the mention of his name.
“What is it, Roma?”
“Chase needs something to eat.” She picked up the purse sitting beside one of the sofas. “Let’s go out and bring something back.”
My father’s face looked perturbed at not being able to finish the game, but he didn’t complain out loud and stood up obediently to do my mother’s bidding. “What does everyone want?”
“No cheeseburgers,” I said.
“Why? You love cheeseburgers,” my dad said, frowning quizzically. “You must not feel well.”
“They’re Remi’s favorite,” Jensen answered easily. “If she wakes up and can’t have one, it won’t be good.”
“Yes,” I nodded, meeting my dad’s eyes and pointed at Jensen. “That.”
