Page 101 of It's One of Us
She follows an ebullient Scarlett out the door to the car, biting back the words.
We’ll see.
The Benders’ house is a lovely, modern French country, the brick painted a creamy white with black accents, shutters and downspouts, and a large wood-and-glass door. Darby knows more about them now, knows the background especially of Olivia Bender, the designer, thanks to a quick bit of googling in the car on the way over. Scarlett drove with exaggerated care, the cautious motions of a girl about to do something life-changing, while Darby gleaned as much information as she could from the ether.
Sitting in the drive, Darby is more than a little intimidated by the sheer size of the place, the casual charm of the façade and landscaping. It succeeds in looking cozy and welcoming, and Darby knows it must have cost a fortune. She thinks ruefully about the two plastic pots filled with barely budded chrysanthemums from Home Depot flanking her front door, burning in the southern-facing sun because she always forgets to water them. Nothing about the Benders’ house and grounds screamsI’m too busy to take care of my place. Quite the opposite, it is somehow both summer lush and autumnal in spirit, everything placed just so, like something she’s seen on the cover ofSouthern Living.
Maybe Olivia Bender could help rework a few things at their place.
Banish the thought, lady. You can’t afford those luxuries, not without a job.
“Wow,” Scarlett breathes.
“Yes, it’s a very nice place.”
Scarlett shoots her a look. “Oh, yeah. Pretty. I just meant...wow, I’m about to meet my father.”
“You’re about to meet your donor, honey. A lucky sperm doesn’t make him your father.”
“You know what I mean,” she shoots back, getting out of the car.
Park Bender opens the front door, the smile on his face welcoming, but cautious. He is handsome, tall, and looks less than delighted to see them.
Scarlett takes one look and loses her head entirely. She rushes to him and throws her arms around his waist. Darby is shocked to see him wrap his arms around her daughter and lift her bodily off the ground in a huge bear hug.
They are both talking at once, talking over each other, and Darby feels such trepidation. All of their worlds are burning, yet here are her daughter and her donor, chatting and laughing like they’ve known each other for years. Out of the ashes of this horror show they’re living, a connection has been made, one of joy and happiness. Maybe she’s been wrong to withhold the knowledge of this man from her child all these years. Maybe Scarlett does need a father figure. Darby’s rarely seen this level of enthusiasm from her daughter. It’s remarkable, actually.
“Come in, come in.” Park is beckoning to her. Scarlett has already disappeared inside like she owns the place. God, are they going to end up sharing some sort of custody? No. He has no parental rights. Though she can hardly stop Scarlett from hanging out here if she wants to.I’ll be at Dad’s, okay?
Damn it. She doesn’t want this. She’s never wanted this. They don’t need him.
The inside of the house is as lovely as the outside. They get a little tour of the downstairs. He offers drinks, and Scarlett follows him to the kitchen, offering to help. He looks over his shoulder at Darby, and she swears his smile grows wider.Look what we made, he is thinking.
Look what I made, she replies in her mind.She’s mine. I did this without you.
They settle in the living room, Scarlett still chattering like a jaybird, Bender responding with surprising enthusiasm. Darby takes a moment to breathe, taking a deep sip of her herbal tea and looking around, awkward and out of place. She shares two children with this handsome stranger. And handsome he is. She’d gotten a sense of it before, but up close, comfortable, in his element, the floppy hair and the light eyes and the breadth of his shoulders and that smile, God, that smile makes her remember just how long it’s been since she was last with someone.
She realizes he’s watching her, too. A strange pulse of desire shoots through her. Not cool.
She sets down the cup. “Mr. Bender—”
“Park. Really.”
“Park.” The word is hard on her tongue. “We should discuss next steps.”
He shrugs. “The police are all over this. They’ll find Peyton soon, I suspect. I’d...like to meet him. I know that might not be something you’re interested in pursuing, and I understand if you want me to keep my distance.”
Darby is on edge, and this gracious offer upsets her. “And if he’s a murderer? If there’s something inside him so broken that he’s actually done these things they claim?”
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot the past few days. If what they say is true—and I hope to God it’s not—I condemn what he’s done. But he’s still of my blood. You shouldn’t have to shoulder this alone.”
He reaches over and squeezes her knee, and Darby is flooded with confusion, and not a little gratitude.Ifwhat they say is true?“You don’t think he did this?”
“Innocent until proven guilty. I have a little experience with being falsely accused. If he didn’t do this, we will fight to keep him safe, and out of jail. If he is guilty, well, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Together. If you’ll let me stand by you, of course.”
Scarlett is beaming. This version of a father is exactly what she’s been dreaming of. Park Bender certainly knows how to be the knight-errant for them both, doesn’t he?
“We have to find him first,” Darby says, burying her nose in the tea.
