Page 72 of His Weekend Wife

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Phillipe got enough time in prison that we won’t have to worry about him for a while.” Declan placed the newspaper down on the table.

Ash looked at her husband, smoothing out the wrinkles in her yellow sundress. “We’ll be meeting him soon. Do I look okay?”

Declan smiled, stood and strolled toward her. “You look amazing.” He kissed her quickly on the lips, pulling back slightly. “Are you ready to meet your father after so many years?”

She nodded. “I am. I just wish Abby could be here too.”

“Sweetheart, Abby is exactly where she needs to be right now. She’ll be out of rehab at the end of the year.”

“I know. I’m glad she agreed to take this step in recovery. And I want to thank you again for making this possible, all of this. Saving Abby and me. Helping her get into recovery. Finding my dad, but mostly loving me. I couldn’t possibly put my happiness into words.”

“I should be thanking you. You gave me a second chance.” He lifted her hand and kissed each of her knuckles.

“Did your investigator tell you anything about my father? Where he has been all these years.”

“I’m sorry, love. He only said your father dropped off the radar for quite a few years. He’d believed it was a cold case until he came upon a fairly recent police report.”

“My dad helped stop a mugger from stealing a woman’s purse.” She smiled.

“And that’s all we know.”

“I’m glad my mother finally told me everything she knew about him, what she’d done in their marriage. I can’t believe she’d cheated.”

“I’m sure she regrets it.”

She shrugged. “I had a memory of my father squeezing my mom, hurting her, but she told me he was never physical with her. They argued a lot, said awful things to each other, but never abusive physically. He had only been desperate to hug her.”

“I think you and your father will have a lot to discuss.”

“Are you ready to go? If we leave now we can get to the coffee shop a few minutes early to get settled in. I can’t wait another minute longer.”

“Let’s go, sweetheart.”

The coffee shop was only a few doors down from the building so they decided to walk, holding hands and enjoying being together.

Ash and Declan chose a table next to the window overlooking the street. Their coffee was just delivered when Ash spotted a familiar face in the small crowd on the street. “Hey, I know him.”

“The man sitting on the bench?” Declan craned his neck.

“No, the man standing on the sidewalk staring.”

“The homeless man?”

“He used to visit the diner.” She grabbed her purse and slipped from the chair with Declan following. Outside, she waited for a break in the traffic and jogged across the street to where the man was standing. “I thought that was you. How are you? I haven’t seen you in a while. You’re a bit far from your usual stomping ground,” she said as she approached him.

He twisted the dirty hat he was holding. “I would have come in, but, well, you know…” He patted his wrinkled and holy jacket.

“You were coming into the coffee shop?”

“Is it okay to talk out here?” he asked.

She blinked. “I’m confused. How did you know I’d be here?” She looked from Declan back to the man and the truth struck her like a truck. “Oh….ohhhh.” She brought her hand to her mouth then dropped it. “You’re him? My father? Wait…how?”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “I know I’m not who you were expecting.”

“No.” Realizing what he’d meant, she shook her head. “I only mean…why? I-I’ve brought you coffee and food.”

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