Page 78 of Just Like Starting Over
“No clue. Better get an assessment and an estimate first. But no matter how much it is, it can’t make up for fifteen years of me not paying a cent.”
Sylvia blinks. “You’re kidding.”
I fling out my hands. “Why would I joke about doing the right thing?” I demand with frustration and my voice rises. “Why are you so sure that I’m a dick? We made this beautiful girl together, Sylvia. I’m sorry I didn’t get your letters. I’m sorry I didn’t reply. But let’s get this sorted now and make things right.”
There’s a beat of silence as we stare at each other and Ihave no clue how she’ll respond. Then, lo and behold, Sylvia smiles.
“Oh, Mike,” she whispers and I see that she’s going to cry again.
“Do not get this virus,” I begin, but she’s ignoring me. She closes in fast, barreling into my chest, and my arms close around her of their own volition. Her tears are soaking my T-shirt but she’s laughing a little in her relief and it breaks my heart. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, which is too little too late.
Maybe for everything.
It’s lucky that I’m good at fixing things, because this will be an epic repair.
“Me, too,” Sylvia says, her voice rough.
I hold her close while she cries and hope with everything I’ve got that we still have a chance of a shared future.
Either way, Sierra’s my daughter and I won’t be an absent parent anymore.
“You’re thinking with your dick,”Dad says the next morning when I tell him about Sierra. We’re in his old office, the door closed to listening ears, and he’s already annoyed by the stack of paperwork I’ve left there.
“Where are the letters, Dad? I can’t believe any mail came to the house and you didn’t see it.”
“There were no letters! She’s lying to you, just like every other mercenary bit of trash wanting to marry into the Cavendish fortune.”
I’m bristling at his tone and his choice of words. “Sylvia isn’t mercenary.”
“Isn’t she? I knew what she wanted when you were in highschool. She came after you with one thing in mind. Anyone could see it if they looked.”
“She did not.”
“You didn’t look, did you? She probably tricked you into sleeping with her, in order to be able to accuse you of being a father. But that girl isn’t your child. She’s Luke’s child. Anyone can see with a glance that she’s a bad seed.”
I straighten and look at him.
“You don’t believe me,” he says with frustration. “Of course, you don’t. You always see the good in people, just as your mother did. I promised her I’d protect you from your own trusting nature. This woman, Michael, is trying to trick you. It’s all a ruse to get your money! You’re too ready to accept what people tell you…”
I interrupt him. “If marriage or money were what Sylvia wanted, she would have come back to Empire years ago and asked for either. She didn’t even tell me about Sierra until last night, when I asked. She wants to do what is right.”
“Oh, really? Where has she been with this child all these years? That girl is Luke’s daughter, and for all you know, they’ve been living together all this time. Both of them are acting with the same selfish disregard for anyone else as I expect from him.”
“If Sierra is Luke’s daughter, why wouldn’t Sylvia pursue Luke? He’s earned a fortune.”
“And he’s spending it as quickly as he can.” Dad shakes his head. “No, there’s no future in that, and she’s smart enough to see it. I’ll give her that. You’re her second choice and don’t forget it.”
I still want to believe Sylvia.
Dad knows it and he steps in closer. “How can you be so sure this is your child, Michael? Did you have a paternity test?”
“I don’t need one.”
“You’re wrong!”
“I don’t see a lot of compassion from you on this, Dad. Even if you think Sylvia’s daughter is Luke’s child, that still makes her your grand-daughter.”
Dad is visibly enraged by this suggestion. “Bite your tongue! No scheming hussy will convince me that I have a granddaughter, not until one of you boys is married to some nice girl and starts a family.Think, Michael. She’s trying to get money out of you. She wantsmymoney. This is exactly what Louise Jones did, but I didn’t fall for it.”
