Page 59 of Dirty Money
“Congratulations?” she asked as she rubbed her tear swollen eyes.
“Yes, that’s the appropriate thing to say,” her mother said as she sat next to her and put her arm around her. “Do you want to tell us why you’ve been crying?”
“No,” came her quick answer. “I’d like to find out why either of you think I would care about this news. And I’m wondering why you care, Mom.”
“Your father came to make amends, Aulora. Give him a chance. He’s your blood, you know.”
Aullie looked at her father. He was all smiles and looking almost just like she remembered. She’d inherited his light blue eyes. His firm jaw was another thing she had like him. He was her father but not in the spirit of being an actual father.
“Blood? What about the fact you left us, Dad? Am I just supposed to forgive and forget and move on? And just why would I do that?”
“I don’t expect you to forgive me right away,” he said. “I know it’ll take some time. But I’m not going to leave you out of my life anymore. You’re going to be a big sister, Aulora. I want you to be in your sister’s life.”
“You’re having another girl?” she asked as she settled into her mother’s side.
“We are. You see, the woman I married has a huge heart. It was she who told me I should make amends with you and your mother. When I looked back at what I’d done to you both, it made me sick. And I know you can’t be expected to just accept me back into your life. But, honey, I don’t want you or your new baby sister to miss out on knowing each other because of what I did to you.”
Her brain was in a spiral. Life was knocking her one way and then the other and she was feeling punch drunk. She was going to be a big sister at twenty-two-years-old. That felt weird, to say the least.
“Dad, I don’t know what you expect out of me,” she said as she got up to go grab her a bottle of water out of her small fridge.
“I expect you to let me do right by you. I expect you to feel welcome in my home with your stepmother, Clara. I expect you to enjoy your baby sister. And I expect you to accept my love for you and one day, I hope you can return that love. But I won’t press you about that,” he told her as he followed her into the kitchenette area. “First things, first.” He held out a keychain with three keys on it. One of them went to a car, she could tell as it was one of those chip like things. And the Mercedes emblem on the key fob was staring her in the face.
“You brought me a car?” she asked, stunned.
“I did. A brand new one. Your mother said you love bright colors, so I got you an electric blue one. I had to special order it. I hope you like it. If you don’t then we can always exchange it for something you do like. Not a problem, honey,” came his answer.
She took the keys and held up the one that resembled a house key. “Is this to your home?”
“Not that one. The other one is. I want you to come and go as you please in my home. It’s in upstate New York. Clara is dying to meet you. She’s hoping you’ll do a mural in your baby sister’s room for her. What do you say to that?”
“I say, what’s this key for, Dad?” she asked him as she tried to grasp the reality of what the hell was happening to her.
“That’s to your penthouse on Fifth Avenue, honey. Nothing too huge. Only five bedrooms and three living areas with a couple of dining areas too. And a full staff, of course,” he said with a huge grin.
“Dad, I can’t afford…”
His finger landed on her lips. “You can. You see, I owe you a shit-ton of child support. Which I asked a lawyer about and he came up with what I owe you and your mother. I’ve made accounts with that money for you both.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a bank card. “You’ll need to go by the bank at your earliest convenience to sign a couple of papers for them and the money will instantly be accessible.”
“Isn’t this fantastic, sweetie?” her mother asked her as she came to them. “He bought me a penthouse in the same building yours is in. I’m just a brisk walk away from where you’ll live.”
“I suppose you got a car too,” Aullie said with a frown.
Her mother nodded and smiled. “Yes, your father has been very generous. You should try to, at the very least, act happy.”
“What if I don’t want any of this?” Aullie asked them both.
“This is all yours, by rights, Aulora,” her father told her as he pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sorry I did you so wrong. But that’s over now. You are my daughter. My first-born child. Not only have I given you all I should’ve been doling out to you all along, you will be my heir as well. You are a Wohrl. That means something.”
“I stopped using that name. I go by Mom’s last name now.”
“Not legally,” her mother reminded her.
“Legally, you’re my daughter, Aulora. Now, come with us. I want you to throw on some clothes and get out of this ratty robe you have on. There’s so much I want to show you. You won’t be staying tonight in this dump. Your closets in the new penthouse have already been filled by a stylist your mother gave your sizes and style interests to.”
“You’re going to love the clothes and shoes, the handbags, and jewelry!” her mother gushed.
“This isn’t what I wanted,” Aullie said but her parents were having none of that.
