Page 105 of Charm

“You were always a goddamn show off with the gifts.” He pats the center of my back. “You always made me look bad.”

With a smile, I shrug that off. “Finny and I were on the outs at that time, and this woman was fun, James. She bought me a drink, but didn’t indulge. When I had my fill, she suggested we go back to my place, but grandmother was there, so...”

“So you ended up at her place?”

“A hotel,” I answer. “She said her hotel had paper thin walls so she suggested one of the nicer ones that border the beach.”

“You couldn’t say no,” he rightfully assumes.

“She was pretty,” I tell him. “Friendly and I needed the fun.”

“What was her name?” he asks the question I’ve never once asked myself since that day.

That’s been haunting me since I left Greer’s home the other night. My daughter was conceived on a night when I didn’t have the decency to ask the name of the woman I took to bed. I didn’t offer mine either. Maybe if I had, things would have been different.

“Celia,” I say, and then add to it, “I found that out the other night while I was at Greer’s. When we slept together, we didn’t exchange names.”

“Lay out for me how this all came to light, Holden.” He pats my back again. “I think I’m missing some pieces.”

“When I was at Greer’s for dinner, Olive showed me a dress that her grandma made her.” I stop to consider what I’ll say next. “She had the charm around her neck on a chain. It was the charm I had custom-made for grandmother. When I woke up the morning after Celia and I were together, the charm was gone. She took it out of the pocket of my jeans.”

“It makes sense that I never saw grandmother wearing it.”

I nod. “I couldn’t take my eyes off the charm. Then Olive told me her birthday, and the timing lines up. I saw a picture of Celia with Greer, and I knew. I know. She’s mine, James.”

“Wow,” he whispers. “That had to have knocked you on your ass.”

“It threw me,” I admit. “After I saw the charm around Olive’s neck, I excused myself. Greer assumed I needed to make a call, so she directed me to her home office. I didn’t call anyone. I tried to catch my breath.”

“Understandable,” he says.

“Then came the birthday reveal and the picture of Celia.” I look up at the sky. “It hit me so hard, James. I slept with her nine months before Olive was born. I’m her dad.”

“We need to look at this froma rational place, Holden. The first step, if you haven’t already taken it, is talking to Greer.”

Without glancing at him, I nod.

“I know you may not want to hear this, but a paternity test is important, Holden,” he says evenly. “I hate to ask, but you used protection, right?”

“A condom.” I rest my head in my hands. “I always use one. It could have broken, though. That happens.”

“It does,” he agrees. “The paternity test will put any questions to rest.”

My heart is telling me Olive is mine, but I suspect James won’t be the only person suggesting a paternity test. I’m sure Greer will want it, too. I don’t even know how I’ll tell her that I believe I’m the father of her daughter.

It’s as fucked up as it is miraculous.

“If you need me to go with you to talk to Greer, say the word,” he offers. “I’ll back you up in whatever way you need.”

I appreciate the offer, so I pat his knee. “I’ll handle it, but thanks for this, James. I needed this.”

“I won’t breathe a word of this to anyone,” he promises. “Until you’re ready to share the news.”

“You’re going home to tell your wife, aren’t you?” I ask, although I already know the answer. “You’ll tell her as soon as you can.”

“I’ll call her as soon as you walk away.” He chuckles. “You know, Sin, though, she’ll keep the secret.”

I don’t intend on keeping my daughter a secret for very long. I want everyone I love to know I’m the father of a beautiful little girl named Olive.

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