Page 102 of All We Need

“My brother suggestedItry one of those genetic testing sites.Myexpectations were pretty low at this point.Whenthe results came back,Iwasn’t sure how to feel whenIfound outIhad relatives in a small fishing town inNewEngland,”Isay matter-of-factly.

Five minutesIwas inMartin’sliving room before the fear of being rejected again became unbearable.WhenItwist inBooth’shold, he isn’t stunned.Hisexpression is neutral, almost prepared.

“You knew?”Iwhisper.

Apology is written across his face. “Ihad suspicions.”Heintercepts my question. “Justsmall things.Theway you’d act aroundMartin, the questions you asked him, and then…”

“My eyes,”Ifinish.

He nods. “They’reidentical.”

Groaning,Irest my head on his chest. “Iroyally freaked out.Thepoor man was making us coffee.Heprobably came back and thoughtI’ddisappeared into thin air.Ifelt ready to face him, but as each second ticked by andIwas alone, my mind replayed those hours in the restaurant.”

Sturdy fingers weave into my hair, coaxing my head to tilt up. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.Hewas a little…confused, but when he called, he was worried more than anything.Worriedabout you.”

My lips twist. “Doyou think he knows?”

Booth sucks in a breath. “Ithink he suspects something…”

“God,Idon’t even know where to begin.”

“Be upfront.Martin’sa good guy.Hewon’t turn his daughter away, especially one he never knew existed.”

I rear back. “Sorry, what?”

His confused expression mirrors mine. “Youthink he always knew?”

“No, thatI’mhis daughter.”Wigglingout of his hold,Imassage my temples. “Booth,Martinisn’t my birth father.He’smy paternal grandfather.”

His brows jump to his hairline. “Wow, okay.Iwasn’t expecting that.”

“Yeah, it’s a head fuck.Therewere two hits on the ancestry search.Martin’swas the only name listed alongside an unnamed male, whoIpresumed was his son.Itracked down birth and marriage certificates.Atthe timeIwas born, his son would have also been sixteen.Hisname isHarvey.Therewasn’t much else about him after graduation, soIstarted researching the town he was born in.”

Like a penny in a well,Isee the moment it sinks in. “That’swhy you’re here.”

I jerk my head once. “Atthe time, it seemed smart.Igained access to my inheritance whenIturned thirty, and the first thingIspent it on was a?—”

“Restaurant,” he interrupts, dumbfounded. “Shit,Aly,Igave you such a hard time about being here.I’msorry.”

I can’t help it,Ilaugh. “Andso you should have.Ibit off more thanIcould chew, butI’malso not the type of person to commit to something and then drop it.Youand your family deserved more than that.Inmy head,Ineeded an excuse to be here soIcould scope out the town and people before revealing my identity.Ididn’t think it would take me this long to do it.”

He mulls over the informationI’vedumped on him.He’snot angry or accusatory, but the longer he stays silent, the antsierIbecome. “Canyou say something?You’renever quiet for this long.Tellme whatIshould do.”

My yelp of surprise bounces off the walls when he abruptly stands, holding me bridal style. “Isay bed.”

“What?”Ihuff asIhook my arm around his neck.

His gait is steady as he strides toward the bed. “Sleep.Youdon’t need to decide tonight, and you’re tired.Plus, we both know you never listen to me, anyway.Tomorrow, we can come up with a plan.”

“We?”

He chuckles, and smooths away the divot on my forehead. “Yeah,Aly.We.Itsounds like you’ve been facing this alone for long enough.”

With the gentlest of care, he lays me down on the bed and stretches out beside me.

I’ve always felt loved and accepted by my parents.Theblood we share is irrelevant.Butthere’s a small chapter missing in my story.Theycouldn’t understand my need to find thosemissing pages, even after the disappointment with my birth mother.

Of all the sweet things he’s said to me recently, his next words take the cake.

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