Page 19 of Don't Call Me Daddy
Her lips curve into a warm smile. “Oh, I just love hearing that. You know, the author’s a local. Word around here is, she writes under a secret pen name.” She nudges me with her shoulder. “Isn’t that exciting? I suppose I could be talking to her right now and not even know it!”
It’s rare, meeting anyone as obnoxiously enthusiastic as me. I want to be best friends with this lady, and I’ve only just met her.
I laugh and shake my head. “Trust me, I’m no secret monster romance author, just a regular hot-mess express, trying to figure out my life as it comes.”
Is it weird that I’m having a full-blown conversation with this complete stranger in the middle of a hospital room waiting room? Absolutely. But stranger things have happened.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you while you’re waiting. I guess I just felt like I needed to meet you,” I say with a smile, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden.
She extends her hand in greeting, sandwiching mine with her other palm. “Well, it was very nice to meet you …”
“Ivy,” I offer, shaking her hand.
Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head. “Did you say Ivy?” Her voice hitches.
She looks at the older man beside her, and they share a glance.
“Yes?” I ask, feeling like I’m missing something.
“Oh my God. I’m Mary. It’s so good to finally meet you.” She opens her arms wide before pulling me into a firm hug and smashing my face against her cheek. “Frank, did you hear that?! She’s real! And so …young.”
My whole body goes limp with confusion, letting her squeeze me.
She’s real?
I don’t know what I was expecting from a beautiful stranger with kind eyes, but consider me pleasantly surprised. Though Idon’t know why. Everyone I’ve met in this town has been kind and welcoming. Apart from the grumpy guy I’m still here for, but I think I have enough evidence to prove he’s the exception.
“Would you look at that? No wonder he waited so long to tell us about you—probably knew he’d never hear the end of our teasing,” the man says, clapping me on the shoulder. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Ivy. I’m Frank.” He points to the three other men in their group. “That’s Roman, and Luka, and the tall, ginger on the end is Guy. I’m sure Leo’s told you all about his brothers?—”
My ears perk up, and my brain does acrobatics, trying to make sense of all this new information.
“Holy shit. I could’ve sworn he was lying,” Roman says before shaking my hand.
“He must’ve wanted to surprise us for Bartholomew’s birthday party!” Mary claps her hands in front of her face, her green eyes filling up with tears.
And that’s when the final puzzle piece clicks into place.
This kind-looking woman is none other than my grumpy stranger’s mother … and for some crazy reason … it seems like she knows me.
Just then, a nurse comes through the mechanical double doors, holding a clipboard. “Leo’s in the recovery room. I can take immediate family members to go back and see him now.”
“Oh, wonderful!” Mary hoists her purse strap on her shoulder and tucks her arm around mine.
She moves to pull me forward, but I stop.
“Uh, you go ahead. I’m not … I’m not family.”
“Of course you are, dear. Did you think I wouldn’t notice that ring on your finger? You’re as much family as any of us now.”
I swallow a gulp and grit my teeth and follow her into the sterile hospital room.
What the hell is going on?
CHAPTER FOUR
Leo
“Not only did you keep your girlfriend a secret from me, but you also neglected to share that you wereengaged!” My mother’s voice pulls what’s left of the anesthesia right out of me, and I sit up with a grunt, realizing I’m still chained to an assortment of beeping machines.
