AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When he hesitated, she said, “You might want to do that before you lose him, because if you don’t, he’ll just come to work with me. And then where will you be?”
He chuckled. “She’s pushing him right into your arms, eh?”
“I won’t allow her to hurt him because of me.”
“I believe that,” he said. “You’re nothing if not loyal.”
“Maybe you could take a page out of my book.” She’d told herself she wouldn’t say anything too bitter, but she’d been unable to hold that back.
“Ellen, I’m here because... Well, let me ask you this—what’s your relationship like with John Williams?”
“The guy who lived next door while you and Mom were married?”
“Yeah. He’s not part of your life, is he?”
“No, why would he be? Why would you even ask me that?”
“Because I’ve always wondered if...while I was away at work, and he was hanging out with your mother...”
Ellen pressed a hand to her chest as she began to comprehend what he was getting at. “You think they might’ve had an affair?”
“I’ve always suspected that. I hate to even bring it up at this late date, but I can’t help thinking I should’ve brought it up before—established, once and for all, what my responsibilities regarding you really are.”
Her heart jumped into her throat. “You’re saying... You’re saying you’re not even sure if you’re my father?”
When he didn’t respond, just looked at her, she knew that was exactly what he was saying. “Is that why you left us to fend for ourselves and didn’t even feel the need to pay your child support?”
“I paid child support,” he said, handing her one of the envelopes he’d brought with him. “Inside, you’ll find copies of all the canceled checks to prove it.”
She didn’t want to accept it, didn’t want to see the proof. Jan had bitched about the money he owed her almost since Ellen could remember. Ellen had believed her on that if almost nothing else. His lack of love and attention had given it too much credibility. If he’d walk away from her physically and emotionally, why not financially?
But her mother had never been the most reliable person. Was it just that Jan thought they’d deserved more? That she was jealous she didn’t get to enjoy everything Lynn was able to enjoy after the divorce? Or was it Jan’s way of blaming Stuart for her own shortcomings—making it look likehewas to blame for the many hardships they’d suffered?
You’ll find copies of all the canceled checks to prove it.Of course they’d be in the envelope, just as he said. She should’ve known better than to take anything at face value when it came to her mother. Jan wasn’t trustworthy and never had been. Stuart couldn’t even be sure she was his daughter.
As the ramifications of what he said sank in, Ellen’s knees went so weak she could barely remain standing. Fumbling to grab hold of the nearest chair, she sank into it to avoid collapsing on the floor. “Why’d you pay child support if you didn’t know for sure that I was your child?” she managed to ask.
“Because I wanted to leave you with that much, regardless.”
“And you didn’t want to find out the truth, even after I got older?” She couldn’t even imagine living with such an unknown.“Why?”
“I didn’t see how it would improve your situation. John was such a flake. I knew he wouldn’t give you anything.”
“But you must be telling me for a reason. Now you want to know?”
“Considering the unexpected situation we’re facing—one that could literally tear my family apart—I think it might be the best path forward.”
She thought of all she’d done to compete with Fetterman Well Services, hoping to prove to Stuart that she was just as capable as Hendrix. Had she been chasing a man who owed her nothing? Who’d already given her much more than he had to?
He thought her father might be the guy who’d lived next door. From what she remembered, John Williams had been kind enough, but he’d shown little interest in her personally, rarely had a job, smoked a lot of pot and had moved away from Anaconda when she was fifteen. As far as she knew, her mother hadn’t heard from him since.She’dcertainly never heard from him.
“So...what are you suggesting?” she asked, and he handed her the second envelope.
Inside, she found a cotton swab and some directions. He wanted her to take a DNA test.
Twenty-Eight
Ellen couldn’t remember ever being so angry at her mother, and that was saying something. She’d spent most of her teenage years seething at her mother, her father and the world at large. Making the conscious decision to focus most of her anger on her father instead of her mother was the only thing that’d enabled them to have a relationship—that shift in blame and the enormity of Jan’s need. If Ellen hadn’t been around to take care of her through those years, who else would’ve done it?
