Page 27 of Crazy in Love

“Huh?”

“Your mojo is off,” she said slowly, as if talking to a child. “Never mind. How was driving with Hope the other day?”

“It was fine. You’re changing the subject.”

“Busted.” She huffed out a laugh. “I just got some earth-shattering news. I’m still trying to figure out what to do with it.”

“I’ve been told I’m a good sounding board.”

Should she tell him? Could she? “I haven’t even told Tess yet.”

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged.

Maybe it would be wise to get an unbiased opinion. Someone with no ties to her or her family. Someone completely objective.

“My dad’s not my dad,” she blurted. There. It was out now. No taking it back.

He cocked an eyebrow, and she sighed, plopping down next to him on the bench. “I found some sealed envelopes buried in my mom’s desk. One with my name on it and one with my dad’s.” She put air quotes around dad. “And a third with some other man’s name who, according to my letter, is my actual father.”

“She left notes?”

Faith shrugged. “I think she wrote them a long time ago and probably forgot all about them when she was sick.”

“No deathbed confession?”

“Yeah, don’t get me started on that. What if I’d never found the letters?”

“She must have had her reasons.”

“Anyway, I assume the other letters inform my dads. Apparently, she was pregnant when she met Eddie—that’s who I call dad. He must not know either. And I’m not sure I should tell him. Especially right now.”

“So close to her death?”

“He’s already having trouble with that.”

“So, did she name your father?”

“Yes. I’ve never heard of him.”

“Do you want to meet him?”

“I have no idea. The information is still sinking in. As an uninterested party, what do you think?”

“Tell Tess. She knows you better than I do.”

“Okay, but what wouldyoudo?”

“Honestly, I’d want to find the guy out of sheer curiosity. If nothing else, to get a health history.”

“That sounds exactly like what Tess would say. So pragmatic.”

“Did your mom mention whether your bio dad knows about you?”

“Hm. I’ll have to reread the letter to see if she said one way or the other. The fact that there’s an envelope for him makes me think not. What if he’s a terrible person, and that’s why she never mentioned him?”

“What if he’s rich and has no other children to leave his fortune to? What if he was married, but his wife couldn’t have kids even though he desperately wanted one? What if he has five sons but always wanted a daughter? Could be anything. That’s what I mean about being curious.”

“If you had a daughter floating around in the world, would you want to know?”

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