Page 20 of Almost Paradise

“Everyone has a dad, dummy,” Mason says.

“Boy, hush,” Ray says. “And didn’t I tell you to stay out of grown folks’ business? Go to your room.”

“Carter’s not grown. He’s a baby.”

“I’m not a baby.” To prove his point, Carter pushes Mason’s legs.

“Go, Mason!” Ray yells.

Mason apologized after a stern talk from Ray, but the truth is, I’m grateful to my nephew. He did something I was too much of a coward to do. I thought I’d have more time to tell my son about his father. My plan was to see a professional about how to handle it, but Drake took that away from me too.

Audrey and Ray’s advice was to just tell him. He’s young and he’ll adjust, and so far, they were right. He’s been bouncing off the wall with excitement since Mason dropped the news last night. But before I let Drake through my front door, I need to have a chat with him first. Someone taps on the window and it’s Carter and Kyle. They both wave and grin when I turn around. Normally, I’d laugh at Kyle since his two front teeth are still missing, but not today. Today, the best I can do is offer a fake smile and an unenthusiastic wave back. I hope Carter’s buying it. If he senses I’m upset, it will become his mission to make me feel better. He won’t care that today is about him. My baby is an empath.

I gesture for them to move from the window, but they don’t budge. Thankfully, Ray comes and takes them away.

A sleek black car finally rolls down the street. There’s only one person this can belong to, and it’s Drake. I can only hope that he’s come alone and didn’t bring his fiancée. Carter should only have to deal with one person today, and I pray that Drake is sensitive enough to have figured that out. He parks across the street. My heart sinks in disappointment when both front doors open, but I feel a small sense of relief when I see Wyatt and not Scarlett.

I still remember when I read the news about their engagement. I stuff that aside. Today is not about that. Besides, those two deserve each other.

He crosses the street. He looks tired, but that’s not my problem. Maybe he wouldn’t be tired if he didn’t force his way into my life. As tired as he is, he’s still the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. He’s so incredibly tall that even in heels, I’d always have to look up at him.

“What do you think you’re doing, Ms. Nash? This is a place of business,” he says while I unbutton his crisp white shirt. He pulls my hands away and goes to the other side of the office.

“I’m about to climb you like a tree.” I run into his arms. He catches me and I wrap my legs around him right as my mouth lands on his.

I bury that memory too, but even in the frigid cold, that thought is enough to set my body on fire. He gets to the front steps with his damn lawyer behind him. So much for Wyatt’s lies when he was here the other day.

His footsteps become louder and louder as he climbs the stairs. With each step he takes, my heart sinks lower. Soon, he stands in front of me, and I wrap my arms around myself to stop the pull. Even after all this time and all this anger, I still want to be wrapped up in him. But he’s not mine. He never was.

“Nia,” he says. “Good morning.”

I crane my neck and look into his face, but I avoid his eyes. I clear my throat and prepare to utter the words I’ve practiced but I don’t remember them. So, I improvise.

“Listen,” I start. I block his way to the front door. His neutral expression vanishes.

“We had an agreement,” he states.

“I know. I’m not reneging. I want to say something first.” He exhales in relief and waits. “I’ve told him who you are and that you’re coming today. If you upset him, it’s done and you have to leave.”

“I would never—”

I hold my hand up. “I practice gentle parenting. I don’t yell at, berate, or belittle my kid. I praise everything he does that’s good, and I correct behaviors that need to be corrected, but always in a loving way. That’s all he knows. If you can’t do that, we’re going to have a problem.”

“I’m not an ogre, Nia,” is all he says. “Can I please go inside and meet my son?”

I want to yell that Carter ismyson, but I don’t. I look at Wyatt. He’s dressed casually in jeans and sneakers, but I don’t buy that he’s here as a friend like he claims. “Why is he here?” I point at him.

“I didn’t ask him,” Drake says.

“Well, that hurts.”

“He’s here as my friend. That’s it,” Drake says.

I still don’t buy it, but I don’t respond. Resigned, I tell them to follow me. I push the front door open. When I step inside, I feel like my spirit has left my body and I’m looking down at myself from above.

Drake’s steps come to an abrupt stop. I don’t think he was prepared for a full house. My parents are here. So are my brother and nephews. Audrey is leaning against the wall with her arms crossed while she looks on.

“Come here, baby,” I say to Carter. The excitement he’s had since he learned the news is safely tucked away. It’s still there, but he’s put it aside until he knows it’s safe to take it back out. He walks slowly to me with his head down. I take his little hand in mine. “Remember I told you that you’d be meeting your father today?”

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