Page 54 of Don't Regret Me
Franklin’s gaze landed on Stephanie, and he swallowed, nodding slowly. He stepped out of the way, and Nick entered the small house. He’d barely taken in the place before when all he’d seen was Sherrie and the betrayal. But now, with fresh eyes, he noticed how minimalist it was. Beige tile stretched the length of the entryway, through the living room where a single brown leather couch sat.
There were few decorations on the walls, nothing more than the essentials.
“Is that…?” Franklin didn’t finish the sentence. He couldn’t. The entire time, his eyes didn’t leave Stephanie.
“Your daughter?” Just saying the words hurt. “Yes.”
Franklin released a breath. “Okay.” He turned to walk into the kitchen. “Okay.”
Nick followed him, needing more thanokay. In the kitchen, each surface was covered with trays of what looked like macaroons. “What are you doing?”
“Baking.” He went back to removing cookies from trays and spreading cream on them.
“I mean, what are you doing in general? Your daughter is right here.”
He froze, his body tensing. “A daughter I haven’t met?”
“She’s right here!” He didn’t get it. Bringing Stephanie here was the right thing to do, but Franklin hadn’t looked at her again.
“Does Sherrie know you’re here?”
“Does that matter?” He didn’t want to freak him out by saying Sherrie left. Not yet.
“Of course it does.” He reached for a spatula and slid it under a macaroon half. “She hasn’t let me meet her, so why now?”
Hadn’t let him? Nick assumed Franklin abandoned his duties, but this unfortunately fit. Everything Liz said about Sherrie rolled through his mind. He didn’t want to believe a word of it, but things kept getting worse with her. “Sherrie left her with me days ago.”
Franklin finally turned. “Excuse me?”
“She dropped Stephanie off and disappeared. I’ve tried finding her, called everyone I can think of. The only person I didn’t call was you. But I’m here now. After you slept with my wife, after I punched you in public and made a fool of myself. I’m here because I don’t know what else to do.”
Franklin pushed a hand through his hair. “What do you want from me, Nick?”
He still didn’t see. “I love Stephanie. She is sweet and deserves everything she could ever need. But I have no legal rights over her. She’s your daughter, not mine.”
“Can I… hold her?”
He hesitated handing her over, didn’t want to let go, but he had to. Franklin took her into his arms gently, like he couldn’t believe she was really there. His eyes glassed over as she wrapped her tiny fingers around his.
He smiled for only a moment before reaching his arms out to hand her back. “I can’t.” He leaned against the countertop. “But honestly, the best thing for her is that you never find Sherrie.”
“You can’t mean that. She’s Stephanie’s mother.”
A dark look crossed Franklin’s face, and he walked by Nick to escape the kitchen. Nick followed him, determined to get answers. Answers he now suspected his old assistant had all along. Franklin lowered himself to the couch gingerly, as if he was in a trance and he didn’t know what he was doing. He leaned forward, burying his face in his hand.
Stephanie started crying, a loud wailing that cracked the soul. It was like she knew. Her father could hardly bear to hold her, and there was no logical reason for it. Not like there ever was, but this made no sense.
As if reading Nick’s mind, Franklin said, “She’s a reminder.”
“A reminder.” It wasn’t a question, only an attempt at processing.
The young man nodded, still not looking up. “Have you ever done something so bad you can’t handle thinking about it?”
Of course he had. He didn’t remember the accident or the events leading up to it, but that night was still on his mind more than he’d admit. “Sleeping with another man’s wife is hardly a criminal offense.”
Bad, yes. But not so bad there was no coming back from it.
Franklin’s shoulders shook. “I don’t mean that. Yes, of course I regret it.” He finally met Nick’s eyes. His were bloodshot and wet. “I’m sorry. For that and how I acted later on, but there’s more. Worse.”
