Page 145 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

“I get it.”

“I’m not sure you do. Your dad and I talked about it so many times, wrestling with the decision, and I’ll tell you why we decided not to tell you.”

He held his breath, the anticipation almost painful.

“He was worried that every time he was angry with you or distracted by work or just in a bad mood, you’d see it through the filter of knowing he wasn’t your biological dad and think it meant he didn’t love you. That you were a burden to him. He wanted you to see through one lens and one lens only—that he was your dad, and he loved you unconditionally. But again, you can’t understand it until you have children of your own.”

In that moment, he felt a clearing in his heart. A healing. Almost like his dad was talking to him through his mom. For the first time, he understood. And again, it was thanks to Hellcat who’d explained that Stevie got her sense of herself from seeing her reflection in other people’s eyes. If he viewed her as an obligation, she’d pick that up.

Whereas if he loved her the way his dad loved him, she’d be invincible.

“I do get it, Mom.” He paused before dropping the bomb. “And maybe it’s easier to understand now that I have a kid.”

She laughed. “I wish.”

“No, I do.” He needed to sit down for this. He settled in one of the padded deck chairs. “Two Christmases ago, Marcus threatened to fire me, and I had a tough decision to make. So, I headed to my cabin?—”

“What cabin? You don’t own property.”

“I bought it with the money Dad left me.”

“You bought acabin? Where?”

“Here. In Calamity.”

“I don’t understand. But we’ll come back to that. You have a child? A son, a daughter? How long have you known?”

“I was getting there.”

“You were taking the long way,” she said it jokingly, but he could hear her impatience.

“I have a daughter. She’ll be two in September.”

“A daughter? And I’m just finding out about this now?”

“I found out three days ago.”

“You better finish the story. A daughter,” she whispered in awe.

“Right, so, I got caught in a blizzard and had to share my place with a woman.”

“Okay, we can fast forward through this part. But why didn’t she tell you about the baby?”

“We never exchanged personal information.”

“I will never understand this generation. My God, I wouldn’t touch a man who withheld his name.”

“Mom, she’s Lorelei Calloway.”

“Okay, now I know you’re pulling my leg. Look, I’m sorry for the unintended consequences of the choices we made, but I promise you?—”

“I’m not messing with you. We only spent a day together, and she didn’t want me going back to the city and selling my story. Anyhow, fast forward to now, I’m the best man for my client?—”

“Ginty. I know. You’re in St. Lucia.”

“Actually, there was a change of plans. They’re getting married in Calamity in a few days. And we’re staying at the maid of honor’s house.”

“Who just happens to be Lorelei Calloway.”

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