Page 59 of Secret Baby
"Someone threatening was at the door, sweetheart." Colt held it carefully. "He shouldn't be back. Can you give me a minute to put it away? I want to talk to you about Vicki."
"Okay, Daddy." Clara wobbled as she walked to the kitchen table. The second she crawled into a seat, her arms plopped on the table to help her head stay straight.
He rushed inside his room and locked his rifle in the closet.
Finished, he wiped his brow. The last time he had held his gun had been overseas, and he'd never done it in front of Clara.
He covered his mouth with his hand as he stared at his daughter. She deserved to be safe, and perhaps he'd overreacted.
Then he swallowed and stared at Vicki, who hovered at his bedroom door. Her blonde head and open heart deserved to be protected too. No one would get to them. He stepped out of the shadow of the doorframe and smelled the strawberry-scented air.
“What was that all about?”
“I’m a Morgan. The press always wants a story about my family.”
“Did anything happen that set them off to come here?”
“I wouldn’t know. We can ignore and hope they go away or I can call my brother for added security?”
“I don’t like that idea.”
“Let me know.”
Vicki returned to the table and sat next to Clara. It was time their daughter knew.
Colt sat across from Vicki and took his daughter's hand. "What do you think of Vicki, sweetheart?"
He glanced at Vicki for a brief moment, and saw her smile falter as she covered her chest with her hands. He nodded at her. It was time.
Clara dropped her hands to her side. "Daddy, you know. I want to keep her."
With a nod, Colt asked, "Clara, have you wanted to meet your mom?"
"Are you going to marry Vicki?" She smiled at him.
"No." His heart beat a mile a minute on that one. Clara needed to know in terms she understood. "Vicki is your real mom. She's returned to our lives for you."
Clara's wide eyes didn't blink as she stared at Vicki. "I knew it. Daddy, she's my mom?"
"Yeah."
Vicki nodded, and he swore her eyes looked watery.
"Why didn't you say so?" Clara shook her head. "Can I take her to show and tell, then?"
"No. Vicki is your mom. I'm your dad." Colt stared at Vicki, who hadn't said a word yet. He finished, "And you don't take family to show and tell."
He stood to give them both a moment. "What do you want for breakfast?"
Vicki scooted closer to Clara and wrapped her arms around her.
Neither called out to him. He wandered into the kitchen and decided to make them all eggs.
The girls talked.
Vicki spoke animatedly, and her face shone with joy. She'd be a beautiful bride on her wedding day.
He dropped the oil into the pan and it spattered. He woke up from the daydream and found the eggs.
