Page 60 of Mine to Love
“My Dearest Liberty,
It’s been a long time since you’ve reached out. I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want to speak to me either after everything. I guess I’m just surprised that you didn’t have questions for me after what I told you in that note. I recently learned that you’re getting a divorce from Charlie, so I’d like to know where to send the money. It’s for you and Gabriel, no one else. Again, if you ever want to talk about things, let me know.
Oh, your mother and I are divorced.
Your dad. Where it matters.”
She scrolled down the attachment.
“Dad,
Here’s the new account. I would have reached out with that when it was time. Outside of you doing what is financially right, we have nothing to say to one another.
Liberty.”
“Well, outside of one word, that does sound like me.” She let out a dry chuckle. “There’s one more response from my father and then nothing.”
Miles scooted closer. “This isn’t going to be easier to hear.”
“Yeah. I’ve gathered. I’m just not sure what he’s going to say, except I know I’m not going to like it.” She tapped the arrow down button.
“Liberty,
You are NOT your mother’s daughter. You might not be mine biologically?—”
Liberty covered her mouth and gasped.
“You really didn’t expect that?” Miles ran his hand up and down her arm.
“Absolutely not and it makes all of this even more confusing.”
Miles kissed her temple. “My gut tells me that whenever he found out, he did what he could to protect you, even if it doesn’t feel that way.” Miles arched a brow. “Keep reading.”
She blinked. Tears filled her eyes. Of all the things she expected, this wasn’t it. But Miles was right there with her and he knew. He sensed things. Even if he didn’t want to believe how smart he really was, she valued his insight and would be lost without it.
“You might not be mine biologically, but I did raise you for twenty years. I was the one who drove you to school every day. I was the one who went to your tennis matches and supported you when you wanted to quit. I was the one who tucked you in at night and I was there for you in the hospital when you had your appendix out. Not your mother. Me. And I did it because I loved you. I still do and yes, I do get I had a shit way of showing it when I up and left. But understand this. I didn’t leave you when you were nine and I learned you weren’t mine. No. I stayed because in every way that mattered, I was your father. However, you’ve already heard this because you read it in that note but have chosen not to respond.”
“I never got the note, Daddy,” she managed behind a guttural sob.
“Do you want to take a break?” Miles held her close. God, she’d be mad without his strength. His wisdom.
Dare she even think it?
His love.
Whatever it was, she needed Miles and she wasn’t going to let go.
“No. I need to finish this.” She blew out another puff of air.
“You know what, maybe you need to hear this story again and perhaps now that I’ve finally left your mother, I need to tell it. So, here we go. I was going to divorce your mother when I learned she’d had an affair and that you might not be mine. I had confronted her, and she denied it all. A few months later, after I had proof of the affair and had secretly done a paternity test between you and me, I told her I was leaving her. She informed me she was pregnant with Gabriel. My heart sank. I didn’t know if he was mine or not, but again, it didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to let her take him from me. So, I stayed in what had to be the worst marriage ever and I can only imagine what that was like for you and Gabriel. Apologizing to you now wouldn’t be enough, though I am sorry.
Once it was clear that Gabriel was special, your mother essentially walked away from both you kids. I know that it feels like it was easy for me to do the same, but it wasn’t. I made the decision to leave your mother and I was working on an exit strategy. Part of that included ripping up the proof of your paternity. I was your dad and I loved you. I wasn’t going to let her take that away from me, but she won and I wasn’t man enough to fight her because in a court of law, I probably would have lost Gabriel.
Why, you ask?
First things first.
You see, when I told her my plans, she informed me of who your biological father was and she was ready to tell you. She was ready to hurt you, to get to me. But I was willing to deal with that. I figured over time, you might want to still have a relationship with me, because it wasn’t my fault for what your mother did. When I told her to go ahead and tell you, your momwent for the jugular. She told me she’d fight me for custody of Gabriel. She was technically a stay-at-home mom and I was the workaholic dad who was emotionally abusive because she’d had an affair a long time ago. That I’d never forgiven her and I abused her. I also deprived Gabriel of the love and support he needed and she had the proof. All the staff that had been fired. All lies, but the emails came from an account that had my name on it because she was that good of a manipulator.
