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She unzipped the inner lining. All that was in there was a half-eaten packet of gum that looked like it had been there since 1992. Remi made a face and dropped it back in. None of the other compartments held anything of interest either. “I don’t know if we’re going to find anything.” She tugged the suitcase back into the closet.
Colton’s heart sank. Why had he thought it might be just as easy as searching through his father’s things? He’d hoped there would be something. Then inspiration struck. “The last note was in his pocket.”
Remi brightened. “Right.” She grabbed his father’s jacket from the closet and came back to where he sat on the floor. She stuck her hand in the inside pocket, and her eyes widened. “There’s something in here.”
She pulled out three folded pieces of paper. He held his breath as she sat back down next to him, the notes in her open palm. When she didn’t move, he nudged her elbow. “Open them.”
With controlled movements she opened each note and spread them out on the carpet in front of them. A hole formed in Colton’s chest as he read them.
I have a right to see my son.
I will tell the press what you did if you don’t pay me.
What you did was illegal. I can put you in jail.
It was true. His mother did have an affair. And it looked like his biological father was a complete jerk. He wanted money. Who was this man? Did he know him? His mind spun with the possibilities.
Remi sucked in a breath as she read the words. “Oh, no,” she said quietly. She placed her hand on his knee. “Are you okay?”
The room began to spin. He’d been so focused on trying to find out the truth, he hadn’t considered the consequences. He and his father didn’t get along all the time, but he wasn’t a horrible person. Colton knew this deep down. He was controlling, but he wanted what was best for him.
He hadn’t even thought about the possibility of his biological father threatening them. He was thinking things would get better if he found out who his real father was. Not worse. His tongue felt dry and stuck to the roof of his mouth. He couldn’t answer Remi.
The door opened and his father entered. “I couldn’t find—” He stopped short, his gaze falling on the notes spread out on the floor.
Panic spread through Colton, and he jumped up. “Dad.”
His father’s jaw clenched. “What’s going on here?”
Remi quickly picked up the pieces of paper and stood as well. Colton took a step toward his father, shielding Remi. He didn’t answer his question. It was obvious what they’d done.
His father’s gaze traveled between the two of them, then down to his jacket still crumpled on the floor. Colton waited for him to yell. To get mad at Remi being there. Or to deny the truth about the situation. But instead of blowing up, his father’s face drained of color, and he scrubbed his hand over his mouth. “You found the notes.”
“Yes.”
“You’re not going to drop this, are you?”
Colton grew restless. Maybe his father would finally confess. “I’m not,” he said, his voice low. “I need to know the truth.”
His father motioned with his hand. “Would you please excuse us, Remi? I need to talk to my son.”
Stunned that his father was actually going to be civil, Colton turned to her. “I’ll call you.”
She gave him a quick nod, stuffed the notes into his hand, and left.
He turned back to his father. “Are you going to tell me the truth now?”
“Please, sit,” he said quietly.
Colton did as he was told.
After a pause, his father exhaled and sat on the overstuffed chair. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “I want you to know I never meant for you to find out this way. Your mother and I…” He swallowed. “We were going to tell you at some point. It just was difficult, and it never seemed to be the right time.”
Colton nodded, waiting for his father to continue. As the seconds ticked by, he realized instead of feeling relief that he was finally going to learn the truth, an anxiousness was building inside him. He crumpled the papers in his hand. “You’re not my father,” he blurted out, hoping to get things going.
“I raised you. Iamyour father.” He stared at the carpet. “But you’re right. We don’t share any DNA.”
“Then who?” Colton held his breath for the answer.
