Page 12 of The Tempo of Truth
My Uncle Win always sounded stern and serious.He was tall and had a head full of icy silver and white hair.And even though he was technically retired, he still carried himself like he was the boss of the entire world and in charge of every major decision related to the Hallidays.Like me, he’d taken a lot on at a young age, and because of his sacrifices, I never wanted for anything, nor would I have to face major opposition when stepping into the CEO position.He gave up so much to pave a smooth path for me and to ensure that I got the chance to experience life outside the bubble of being an heiress.I never would’ve been able to go to school and have my child abroad if my aunt and uncle hadn’t intervened on my behalf.My Uncle Win set me free, and my Aunt Channing taught me how to fly.My parents couldn’t have picked a better set of guardians for me.There was no way in hell I was going to let them down.
I picked up a piece of fruit from the plate in front of me.My aunt was busy buzzing around her kitchen, making snacks and keeping a bunch of tiny hands occupied as Lowe ran around after his older cousins.Win and Channing had two older boys, a daughter, and a surprise little boy who was only a few months older than Lowe.All of the kids were close.My aunt and uncle made sure they traveled with the whole brood and spent plenty of time overseas with me when Lowe was growing up.Even in a small town where I knew no one and didn’t speak the language, I never had the time to feel lost or alone because my family had the uncanny knack for showing up when I needed them the most.
I crunched on an apple slice and waved Win’s concerns away.“Lowe needs to learn how to judge true from false and the difference between good and bad intentions earlier than the average kid.Having a father like Ky might give him an advantage in the long run.There’s no better person for him to test sincerity with.”
My Aunt Channing paused her busy work and gave me a concerned glance.While my uncle looked like an old Hollywood actor, my aunt looked like a modern-day hippie with feathers and tinsel braided into her long, red hair and chunky earrings that I knew came from either an antique store or a thrift bin.They were an odd pair that seamlessly complemented one another.It was their mismatch in personalities and priorities that ensured my teenage years were well-balanced after I escaped the clutches of my evil grandmother.
“You’re putting some pretty heavy expectations on Lowe.If you tell him Ky is a friend, he’s going to trust him and believe him because you seem to.It sounds like you’re setting them both up for failure.Your expectations are too high.Why haven’t you cleared everything up with Ky after all these years, Winnie?You’ve had plenty of chances to ask him what really happened that night with your grandfather.Don’t you want to know if he had a hand in taking you to the docks?You’ve always given him the benefit of the doubt unnecessarily.”Win’s words were sharp and unforgiving.
I hummed in agreement.“I’ve asked him a million times over the years.The last time I asked was that night in Portugal.I thought he might be inebriated enough to tell me the truth.He always says the same thing.”If you had to ask, then you already had your answer.“He’s annoyingly evasive.”
“Do you really trust him around Lowe?”I glanced at my uncle and met his questioning gaze unflinchingly.
I nodded and finished chewing on the sweet fruit before answering.“Ky’s going to be a good father, even if he isn’t always a good guy.”
My aunt gave me a knowing look and asked, “What about you?Do you trust him around you?”
That question caught me off guard.I pushed off the marble counter I was leaning on and reached for a dish towel to wipe my hands.The kitchen, like every other room in the sprawling home, was lived in and less than perfect.Other than a housekeeper and security staff, Channing had never allowed others to help raise her children or take care of her family.I could barely remember anything about my mother since she passed away when I was so young.However, my aunt did her best to set a solid example for me to follow.I didn’t want Lowe leaning on an army of nannies for guidance and comfort as he grew up.
I brushed my hands together and called for Lowe.This afternoon would be the first visit between Ky and our son where they would spend significant time together.I was worried and nervous about how both of them would react.I wasn’t even sure Ky was going to show up.I texted him a confirmation last night, but he never responded.I had yet to tell Lowe he might have a visitor, just to prevent the possible disappointment if Ky decided to confirm my low expectations.I thought I knew him better than anyone else, but six years had passed.It was likely he’d changed just as much as I had as the time slipped by.
“Hmm… I’ll be fine.He doesn’t want anything to do with me outside of Lowe.Not much has changed on that front.”I couldn’t keep the hint of disappointment out of my voice.Years may have gone by, yet Ky was still the only one who made my heart throb and motivated me to ignore all the rules and regulations that were deeply ingrained within me.
Win cleared his throat and stepped to my side as I called for Lowe to head next door.All of the kids groaned and complained that I interrupted whatever game they were playing.They didn’t quiet down until I promised to bring Lowe back tomorrow.
“You know that Alistair and I have been fielding endless questions from the board.They’re very concerned about your ties to Kent.”Win sounded as irritated by the intrusion as I felt.
I snorted.“It doesn’t matter who it is; they’re pissed I have a baby daddy and no ring on my finger.Which is ironic because I can name at least seven of those old guys who are on their third and fourth wives.I don’t care what they think.”I grunted when a tiny body slammed into my legs.Lowe wrapped his arms around my thighs and looked up at me with pleading eyes, begging me to stay longer.I shook my head and glanced at my uncle out of the corner of my eye.“I hope you tell them exactly where they can stick all of that fake concern.”
Lowe put his small sneakers on top of my feet and held on tight as I walked with him toward the door.It was convenient having my family so close, but also a little oppressive.The only reason I let my aunt and uncle know about Ky coming to visit was that they would find out as soon as he was at my door anyway.There was no keeping secrets when your neighbors loved you the most.
“I’ll back you no matter what.You’re the majority shareholder.Anything they say is just hot air, but they can make things unnecessarily difficult for you if you constantly oppose them.”Win’s warning didn’t go unheeded.
I stopped at the door and urged Lowe to climb down before we went outside.I shouted goodbye to my aunt and told Win, “Good thing I never shied away from difficult.”It was very much part of the cage that held me in place when my grandmother was raising me.I knew my way around difficult like it was the back of my hand.
By the time we followed Helio to the front of my brownstone, Ky was coming around the corner.He had a big box in his hands and was wearing a baseball cap and dark sunglasses, so he was hardly recognizable.We waited for him on the top of the steps, even though Helio urged Lowe and me to go inside.My son’s eyes brightened when he caught sight of the image of a kid kicking a soccer ball into a goal on the box.
“Is that for me?”Lowe’s words tripped over themselves with excitement.
Ky nodded, and I could feel him looking at me even with his eyes covered.“I wasn’t sure if you had something similar or a place to set this up.I had something like this when I was a kid.My mom let me use the living room to kick the ball around.”He chuckled.“I may have broken more than one of the decorations she had hung on the walls and a TV or two.”
I took the box and opened the door while Ky agreed to a rather rough pat-down before following me into the house.The hostility Helio had toward him was evident.To his credit, Ky didn’t posture or bristle and let the other man practically smack him from head to toe.
“The roof has a large outdoor space, and I haven’t decided what to do with it.There’s enough room up there to kick the ball around.”I looked at Lowe’s excited eyes and reminded him, “If you kick it off the side of the building, it’s gone until you can prove you’re responsible enough for another one.Got it?”
The little boy nodded solemnly and dashed inside the house.I waited for Ky to follow me inside and realized the reason he had sunglasses on wasn’t because he wanted to be low-key but because his face was still beat up and bruised.Even more so than when we met at the diner over a week ago.
He took the box back from me and shot me a sheepish look.“I didn’t message you back last night because I wasn’t sure how bad my face was going to look today.I had a fight that got out of hand.If you don’t want Lowe to see me like this, let’s reschedule.”
I sighed and felt my hands curl into fists involuntarily.“He’s going to ask how you got hurt.If you tell him you were in a fight, he’s not going to be able to differentiate between a purposeful fight and an unplanned altercation.He’s too young to understand that not all fighting is bad.”Ky shifted nervously.I quickly realized the reason he didn’t text me was that he was worried I might send him away.I gestured for him to follow Lowe into the house and quietly dismissed Helio.The brooding bodyguard offered up a slight protest, but I didn’t need outside eyes watching my son get to know his father.This reunion was between me, Ky, and Lowe.No one else had a say in the matter.“For now, if he asks how you got hurt, just tell him you got injured at work.He’s a sensitive kid.He asks a lot of questions.Especially after he gets to know you.When you’re ready to tell him that you’re his father, you can anticipate that interest and concern for you tripling.He’s going to drive you crazy with his excitement and curiosity.”I gave him a pointed stare.“Try and give him truthful, easy answers, unlike the ones you give to me.”
Ky shifted the box and muttered, “There are no easy answers where you’re concerned, Winnie.Do you want me to set this up now?”He knocked on the box in his hands.
“Sure.Let’s go up, and you can have Lowe help you.He’s great at handing over the tools if you point to what you need.”
After I showed Ky the space and got Lowe settled next to him, I jogged down to the kitchen to grab some drinks and a snack for Lowe.He’d been active all day, and I knew by the time Ky was ready to leave, my son was going to crash out—hard.The food would keep him from getting cranky and scaring Ky off.I knew the former athlete had minimal experience with children, aside from the barely legal women he often dated.It was going to take more than a few stolen hours to get him comfortable being around an active and inquisitive little boy.
Just as I was about to use my hip to push out the door, I heard Ky ask Lowe, “Your mom really won’t get you a new ball if you lose this one?”
