Page 116 of Charm

Dinner is over.Martha and Bruce have gone for a walk, and the moment is here. I’m about to tell Olive I’m her dad.

I’m doing it with Bruce’s blessing. When I arrived an hour ago, he took me into Greer’s office, gave me the biggest bear hug of my life, and told me he knew I was up for the honor of being the father of his granddaughter.

He’s a good man who loves deeply.

I’m grateful to be part of this family.

“Mom said you need to talk to me, Holden.” Olive looks up at me. “It sounds important.”

I drop the dishtowel in my hands on the counter. I was on cleanup duty. I’m the one who assigned that task to me.

I needed time to gather my thoughts. It’s been a few hours since Greer and I opened the envelopes confirming I’m Olive’s birth father. We agreed we’d tell her as soon as possible, so I came over with three flower bouquets in hand, and a bottle of good scotch for Bruce.

I thought the time it took to eat dinner would be long enough for me to prepare a speech, but I’ve got nothing, so I’m going to have to wing this.

I glance down at the T-shirt I’m wearing.

Olive’s gaze follows mine. “Don’t worry about it. I get all wet when I help with the dishes, too. Mommy said it’s okay to make a mess when you’re little.”

“What about when you’re big?” I ask.

She grins from ear to ear. “It’s not so okay then, but I can wet my T-shirt too if it makes you feel better.”

I look at the dark green Sweet Indulgence shirt she’s wearing. “Maybe your mom can get me one of those shirts?”

“Ask nicely and she’ll do it.” She steps closer to lower her voice. “If you make your eyes look like this, that helps, too.”

She bats her long eyelashes.

I can’t help but laugh.

Greer walks into the kitchen from the hallway. “What’s so funny?”

“His shirt,” my daughter says, jerking her little thumb in my direction. “He’s messier than me, Mom.”

Greer’s gaze volleys between the two of us. I can tell she’s getting choked up, so I motion toward the main living area. “I think we should go sit down and talk.”

“Okay.” Olive reaches for my hand. “I’m sitting beside Holden.”

I mouth the wordsI love youto Greer before I follow Olive into the other room.

Once we’re all seated,with Olive between us, Greer takes the lead. “Do you know how you’ve sometimes asked me about your dad?”

“Oh, sure.” Olive shrugs. “I think about him sometimes.”

“What do you mean?” Greer asks.

“I think about if he’s tall.” Olive laughs. “If he has freckles. If he has a bald head. I sometimes wonder if he is good at basketball.”

“He is,” I say, without realizing I’m stepping in before I should.

Olive’s head snaps in my direction. “Really?”

“He’s really good,” I tell her, stealing a glance at Greer as I do.

She’s smiling. A soft nod of her head encourages me to keep going.

“He’s pretty tall.” I tap Olive’s knee. “He’s smart. His brother thinks he’s smarter, but he’s wrong.”

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