Page 62 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets
“I think that’s understandable.”
He shot her a small smile. “I’ve finally allowed myself to agree to that, but old habits and feelings sometimes rear their heads. And…”
“And?”
“And having you witness one of my moments was humiliating.” He looked away, and Jade’s heart pounded. Never in a million years would she have thought they would have this kind of conversation. Guilt hit her hard. She’d judged him based on someone else’s issues. She’d automatically assumed he would be the same as Lee Simpson. He didn’t deserve that. What he did deserve was the truth. “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me.”
“Yeah.”
“Because I haven’t been completely honest with you, either.” She drew in a fortifying breath. “Bryce, I need to tell you something. About Mia.”
* * *
He froze for a brief second, and then his gaze met hers. “What?”
“She’s…”
“She’s what, Jade?” His pulse ratcheted up a few notches.
“Yours, Bryce,” Jade whispered. “She’s yours.”
The breath left him in a rush, and all he could do was sit frozen. When he finally found his voice, he said, “That’s why you wanted me to get in touch with you six years ago?”
She nodded.
“Frank didn’t give me the message,” he said. “I promise.”
“I know that now.”
“When did you find out?”
She shrugged and rubbed a hand over her forehead. “Not too long after you left. For several months, I walked around in denial, but I really did intend to tell you after I got over the shock of it. When I asked Frank why you weren’t calling, he always had a legitimate-sounding excuse—like you were on a mission, and then it was that you were recovering from being injured. And then, after Kristy said she finally heard from you, but I didn’t, I thought you were ignoring me and… I was hurt. So eventually, I just quit trying.”
Feelings he couldn’t identify warred within him. “Why did you wait so long to tell me now? We’ve been together nonstop for the past few days. Why haven’t you said anything?”
“Why do you think?” she cried. “You really have to ask that?”
Shame engulfed him, overpowering the initial anger at her delay in telling him. “No, I guess I don’t.”
“In addition to your denial about your PTSD, you don’t want kids, remember? You like kids as long as they belong to someone else,remember?”
Her agitation cut through to him and he nodded. “I remember.” He paused. “You’ve done a beautiful job with her,” he finally said softly. He had no right to be angry that she’d waited until now to tell him.
She swallowed and shook her head. “I had a lot of help. I couldn’t have done it without my parents.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
“I am, too, but it’s not your fault. You didn’t know, so no taking on undeserved blame, understand?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll do my best.” He shook his head. “I’m still very confused about Frank keeping this from me, though. I can’t think of any good reason he’d not pass on your messages.”
“I don’t know, either.”
“I think I’ll ask Lisa.”
“Good idea. I don’t want to be mad at a dead man, but I’ll admit, I am.”
“Yeah.” He drew in a breath. “I want to see her, Jade. I want to tell Mia I’m her father.” She bit her lip and he frowned. “What?”
