Page 86 of Finding Our Reality

He shrugs. “Not as much as I would like. Sometimes the job makes it hard for me to plan in advance, make arrangements with Brooke for Laura to come here. But Brooke’s a good mom. She’s attentive and loving. I just really want Laura to have a positive male influence in her life. That’s why it’s important for us to spend time together. She’s an amazing kid.”

“I can’t believe Trash didn’t even mention her to me,” I say. “We’ve talked about everything under the sun over the past few months during those interviews. I can’t believe he didn’t say anything about being a father.”

“That’s because he’s not. Not legally, anyway.” Ry’s jaw tightens and his mood shifts. He hates talking about his brother. “Brooke made the horrible mistake of tagging along with a friend to a party that someone had for Trash when he was released from prison. She was young, stupid, vulnerable. Looking for something forbidden. Her family life was crap. She started hooking up with Trash. Wasn’t long before she wound up pregnant. That’s when she realized things had to change. She showed up at the station one day, doctor’s report in hand, terrified and scared. I rented her a small, one-bedroom loft. Helped her get a janitor job at the station. I told Trash if he signed over all of his parental rights, then Brooke wouldn’t come after him for child support. He couldn’t get his hands on an ink pen damn quick enough.”

I knew Trash was an asshole, but this is a whole new level of being a dick. “I can’t believe he gave up his child, just like that. Does he ever see her?”

“Of course not. And I won’t let him. Brooke won’t either. Not that it matters, he hasn’t even tried to contact her. He wasn’t at the hospital when she was born. Just me. He doesn’t take her to dentist appointments, doesn’t go to school functions. Just me.” He looks back at the open door where Laura plays contently on the couch. “It’s my job to fill that void. I never want her to feel inadequate because her father isn’t in the picture. I refuse to have her grow up in a situation like I had with my parents.”

“How did Brooke care for a baby all on her own?”

Shaking his head, he clears his thoughts. “I helped Brooke get some public assistance for daycare after Laura was born. The university actually has a childcare center, and they offer scholarships to needy individuals. It’s open for the whole community, and not just enrolled students. Laura went there until she could attend Pre-K at public school. And I help out any way I can. Anything they need, I’m there for them. But Brooke’s doing okay financially. When Laura was a year old, Brooke got a new job as a dispatcher. It came with a good raise. She’s a super hard worker and is next in line for a new promotion at work.”

“And the glasses?”

He chuckles. “Well, glasses are expensive. Even though Brooke is doing good, flying volleyball hazards aren’t really in her budget.”

He walks over to me. I’m too absorbed in his story to move. Too engrossed in the movement of his predatory body. Taking my face in both hands, he caresses my jaw line, tracing his fingers down my neck, grazing my collarbone. “I’d better go get her. I highly doubt she has used the bathroom like I told her to do. Like someone I know, she has a mind of her own and can bea little defiant,” he teases with a wink. “I’ll grab us some waters too.”

My throat constricts. Lust boils in the pit of my stomach and tender affection circles my heart. I can’t let him walk away without telling him this. “Ry, you’re a good man. Laura’s lucky to have you.”

He smiles softly. “I’m the lucky one. She’s like a daughter to me.”

He turns and walks away.

A torrent of emotion is running though me. Equal parts love and hate at the same time. But how can I hate him? Look at what he’s doing for his niece, for this innocent child? All Brooke did wasshow up. She showed up and he did all these wonderful things for her and Laura. What if I had been given the chance toshow up?

That’s all I needed—the chance.

But Ry didn’t give me that.

He took away my chance when he left me.

Chapter 29

CRUTCH

“Uncle Ry, when can we have pizza?”

“Are you starting to get hungry?”

Laura looks down at her stomach and pokes her belly button through her shirt. “I’m starving.”

I look over at Lulu. She lifts her eyebrows. “I’m starting to get pretty hungry too.”

“So, the effects of the Long Island Iced Teas have finally worn off?”

“I like sweet tea,” Laura chimes in.

Lulu laughs, rubbing Laura’s shoulder. “Oh sweetie, you wouldn’t have liked this tea.”

Getting up from the dining table on the front porch, I rake all of theGo Fishcards in a pile. “Alright, but we have to go get it. You know no one delivers out this far. Go inside and grab your shoes.”

“Can’t me and Miss Lulu stay here?”

I glance back and forth between Laura and Lulu. I hate to put Lulu on the spot. “Oh. Well, I—”

Lulu interrupts, quickly putting herself on the spot. “I think that’s a good idea. I mean, if you don’t mind, Ry? We’ll clean up the games and set the table.”

---