Page 94 of Claiming What's Mine

What's going on in there?

The curiosity was killing me. Biting my nail, I chewed the small strip and spit it out onto the rug.

“Betty-Sue, that's disgusting,” my mother barked as she carried a tray of sandwiches, and set them down on the coffee table. “Bliss!” she yelled towards the open window. “Lunch!”

“Sorry, I'm just a nervous wreck right now. What are they talking about in there?”

“It's fine, let them both say what they need to say.” My mother sat down on the couch, crossing her leg. “The question you should be asking yourself is when are you going to tell Bliss?”

“I don't have a clue.” Hanging my head, I rubbed my temples and groaned. “This sucks.”

“I'm starving,” Bliss blurted as she ran into the room. Grabbing half of a sandwich, she dropped down into the space beside my mother. “Thanks for lunch, Gram.”

Smiling, my mother wrapped her arm around Bliss's neck and pulled her in to kiss the top of her head. “You're very welcome.”

Bliss glanced between us, sensing that something wasn't right. “What's going on?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to keep control and not burst into tears.

It terrified me not knowing how Bliss would react to finding out Jayden was her father. I felt like I couldn't breathe, and the anxiety of knowing that conversation was coming was just making it worse.

I knew that this day would come eventually, I knew there would be a time where I would have to tell her his name. But this? I didn't expect this. In my head that day wouldn't be until she asked because she was a curious teenager, or she needed her birth certificate to get her license and she'd see his name.

It was hard enough that since she was born all I could see was Jayden in her. From her daredevil side, to her quick whip responses and sense of humor, this girl was her father.

“You're crying, Mom, why are you crying?”

“What?” Wiping my eyes, I hadn't realized that tears had started to roll down my cheeks as I looked at my daughter. “Oh, it's nothing, I'm fine, Honey.”

“Is this about Grandpa? Is he getting sicker?”

“No, it's not about Grandpa.”

“Then what is it?”

Glancing at my mother, she gave a reassuring nod, letting me know that now was the time. Her lips thinned into a pleasant smile, her lids lowering as if to say, this is it.

Taking a deep breath, I leaned forward and reached for her hand. “Bliss, Honey, there's something I need to tell you.”

Quirking a brow, her eyes danced between us. “Okay, what is it?” Pressing the sandwich to her mouth, she took a small bite.

She was so innocent, completely unaware of the gravity in the situation. Bliss didn't recognize the nervousness in my voice, or the skittishness in my hands as they twisted around each other.

Squeezing her hand, I looked at my mother, my eyes begging her for the strength to find the right words to use. “Bliss, I know we haven't talked much about—”

Jayden came around the corner, forcing me to stop talking. His expression was softer, more timid and composed than when he first arrived. His eyes moved around the room, taking note of each of us.

“Hello,” she said, taking another bite of her sandwich and giving him a little wave. Turning her attention back on me, she asked, “So, what were you going to tell me?”

“Bliss—” I started to say, until Jayden held up his hand and stopped me.

Oh thank you.Relief washed over me, willingly letting him take over.

Dropping to his haunches next to her, he took a moment to just look at her. It was as if his eyes were etching every inch of her face into his brain. Sighing, Jayden rested his hand on the arm of the couch as he said, “Bliss, there's no easy way to say this. . .” Pausing, he looked like the words were escaping him.

“Say what?” she asked, popping the last bite of food into her mouth. “That you're my dad?”

All three of us inhaled an audible gasp as she looked around the room.

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