Page 7 of Coveted Justice

Gwen was sitting in the car? That was…weird. They’d been practically joined at the hip since they’d met years ago in Seattle. The whole situation had Maddie’s heart pounding in fear. Was he going to tell her he was ill? He didn’t look like his usual healthy, happy self if the truth be told.

She sat down next to him and reached for his hand.

“You know you can tell me anything, right? I’m here for you, Dad, and I always will be.” She took a deep breath before continuing but it didn’t calm her nerves. “Whatever it is we can face it together. We’ll get specialists. I still know people in Chicago. We’ll get the very best.”

Her father frowned as if he didn’t understand what she was saying but then shook his head, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.

“No, sweetheart. I’m not sick. This isn’t about my health.”

Good. That was very good. But what was it? And why was Gwen waiting in the car?

“Are you getting a divorce?” she blurted out. “Are you and Gwen splitting up?”

She hadn’t seen any signs of a rift but then she’d been distracted by the fundraiser and Tanner’s candidacy.

Her father’s brows shot up and he shook his head again. “No, not at all. Gwen and I are just fine. Happy as ever.”

That was also good. Except that didn’t explain why they had to speak tonight. It wasn’t like him to beat around the bush. He was usually a kind but direct man. He’d had to be as a doctor.

“Okay,” Maddie said, waiting for her father to continue. She didn’t want to keep making guesses. “Then what do we need to talk about?”

His fingers tightened on hers and then he let out a loud sigh.

“I don’t know how to tell you this. I’ve practiced this about a hundred times, but I still don’t know what to say.”

“Dad, you’re making me worried as hell. You say it’s not your health or your marriage, but you won’t say what it is. I’m sure whatever you’re going to tell me isn’t as bad as what my imagination is coming up with right now.”

He buried his face in his hands and groaned.

“I’m trying to get there. This is just so hard.” He sat up and cleared his throat. “Okay, I’m going to do this. I have to tell you.”

A pit had formed in Maddie’s stomach as she waited for the blade to fall. Whatever it was that he was going to say, it wasn’t going to be good. Clearly, he wanted to be anywhere else but here.

“You have a sister.”

She was sure she hadn’t heard correctly.

“You have a sister,” he repeated. “A half-sister, actually. She’s a year younger than you.”

Had her dad had too much to drink tonight? Was he getting dementia? This was insane. Absolutely crazy. Yet, a part of her knew that her father wasn’t the type to tell tall tales. If he was saying it, then he believed it.

She pulled away from him, her hand visibly shaking. She didn’t want him to say anything else, but she couldn’t stop him either.

“Dad, I think you better start at the beginning of the story. Just how in the hell do I have a sister? It can’t be true.”

Because if it was, it threw everything she’d thought about her life - and her father - out of the window.

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