call that she’s dying and has a baby whose birth certificate had his name on it. He went down to Austin, did a DNA test, got the results just as the woman, Susan Kendicott, died. He brought me home and that was it.
“You’ve never told me she was from here. Why do you keep so much from me?” I demand,
“I don’t!” he roars, and his hands slam down on the desk. His face is red, and he breathes fast and hard like he’s trying to cool down.
How did things escalate so quickly? He smooths his hair back in place. “I'm not keeping anythi—- agh,” He falls back into his seat with a grunt and clutches his chest. “Water,” he groans.
I put a cap on my anger and rush to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. He had a heart attack last year, and I’m still haunted by how close we came to losing him.
I sit and watch him, waiting for his color to return to normal before I press him for more information. But he surprises me and starts talking after a couple of sips. “I met her at a conference in Austin. During a small group Q&A, I mentioned I’d grown up in Winsome. She came to me after and told me she had, too. We ended talking about life here. And uh, well you know...things went too far.” He runs a hand through his hair and groans. “I shouldn’t have let you come.” His gaze loses focus and his shoulders droop as he stares unseeingly at the desk.
I’m sorry I pressed him to tell me this story because it hurts to know I’m the product of an act he’s so ashamed of he can’t even say the words. “I’m sorry I’ve managed to drag you back to your personal pit of hell, but I am sick of paying for a sin I didn’t commit.”
His face pales, and his pained eyes fill with tears. I’ve never seen my father cry and it shakes me to see it now “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that,” I say quickly.
He shakes his head and sorrow draws furrows around his eyes and mouth, aging him in an instant. “No, I’m the one who should say sorry. You didn’t ask for any of this. I chose this family, this life…for you. And I know it hasn’t been a bed of roses. I’ve made mistakes and miscalculations. And yes, it’s cost me a lot. But let me tell you what. It’s been worth it to see you become the man you are today, on the cusp of your reaping the fruit of your labor. If I had to do it all again, I would. Because you complete our family.” His smile is wistful. “I’ve let you think I went to Penn and told her the truth, gave her a choice about whether I’d go get you. But that’s not true. I didn't tell Penn anything. I went down to Texas with my checkbook and my excuses ready. I didn't plan to bring you back."
I don’t know how to feel about that, except surprised. “What changed your mind?”
“I met you. And fell in love with you the instant our eyes met. You are my son. Doing the right thing wasn’t easy. But it was a lot easier than leaving you behind. So, I brought you home without telling Penn what I was doing. I knew once she met you, no matter how angry she was at me, she’d find a way to forgive me so she could be your mom. I will always do what I think is best for this family. And I’ll never apologize for it. Even when it hurts.” His eyes and jaw tighten with resolve. “You can’t have anything to do with anyone with the last name Wolfe. They’re liars, frauds, thieves, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were murderers, too. She’s his daughter, raised by him. She’s as toxic and twisted as he is.”
My mind rejects his words outright. Beth couldn’t, wouldn’t harm anyone. But my heart, more vulnerable than it’s ever been, is pounding. I have to clear my suddenly dry throat to answer him. “If he’s her father, she must be estranged from him. She’s talked about her brother and her aunt. She’s never mentioned that part of her family. Maybe she’s using Mortimer instead because she’s turned her back on them. She’s a college student in Austin and an artist. Not part of some evil