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“You already know.” I peek over my shoulder towards her peppy child.
“No, what is this about?” She’s a terrible liar.
“Convincing.” I roll my eyes and follow her as she takes a few steps away from the group of ladies around her.
“What is it that you want? Did your father tell you?”
So, it’s true. “No. he doesn’t know I’m here. And for your sake, I wouldn’t mention my visit to him.”
“I haven’t spoken to him in years. But if he didn’t send you, then why are you here?”
I don’t know. When I looked up the address in Mom’s Christmas card list, I could’ve easily had someone else do the leg work for me. But I really wanted to do this myself. And I still don’t know why I had to see her in person, but I did.
“Years?” So, Dad isn’t present in this daughter’s life. Lucky kid. “She doesn’t know him?”
Wendy hastily shakes her head. “That’s how he wanted it.” Figures. I’m watching her child as Wendy continues, “My husband legally adopted her. He knows the truth.”
And the old lady. “And your mother, I’m guessing.”
Wendy confirms that much with a nod. “Your dad didn’t want anyone to know. How did you even find out?”
“People talk.”
“Who?”
“No one that will bother you.”
Wendy still has a bit of fear on her face as she asks, “What do you want, Morgan? Why did you come here? Do you want to meet her? You can. Just please don’t say anything to her. She’s happy. Her dad, my husband, is a wonderful father to her.”
“No. I hate kids.”
Wendy whispers as her eyes dart to the little girl, “The affair was a mistake. But I can’t regret her.”
“Okay.” Is all I respond as we stand there watching her jump until the rope drops on her shoulder, not making it around her as she yells at the little boy again before darting our way. “Mom, he’s cheating.”
Wendy hurries forward to stop the little girl from getting close to me but she ends up just a foot away. Her green eyes are so familiar it leaves me speechless as I watch the mother-daughter exchange.
“Just go swing instead,” Wendy tells the little girl who’s standing cross-armed and glaring back at the little boy before looking to me with curiosity.
“Who are you?”
“Madison. That’s rude.”
The little child shrugs. “She’s the one staring at me.”
I can’t hide the smirk that rises on my face. At least I know the little girl won’t put up with shit. She’ll need the trait to deal with assholes in life.
Wendy gives me a worried glance. “Maddie, I’ll be done in a few minutes. Go play.”
Maddie takes an assessment of me before asking, “Do you want to jump rope?”
“No, I don’t.”
There’s clear annoyance on her face as Wendy tells her, “Let me talk to my friend for a few more minutes, then I’ll come jump rope with you.”
She seems content with that answer but doesn’t make a move to leave as she keeps an eye on me. Bending at the waist, I move eye to eye with her as I tell her. “Now who’s staring.”
She scrunches her nose, reminding me of Ryder. Fuck. Why did I come here? I don’t want to care about this kid. This isn’t my sibling. DNA doesn’t mean shit. Just ask my father.
