Page 9 of Who's Your Daddy
Because, thanks to Terry, by Thursday, we will all be living in Jersey.
I’m not sure whether the idea seems better or worse than it did two hours ago.
“After the cleaning service and pest control get through the building, we can move in,” he says, his tone full of false lightness, like he’s working to convince himself as much as me.
“Pest control?” I shiver and blow out a rough breath.
Sully rubs at his forehead like he’s trying to ease the headache he’s suffered from for the entirety of his little brother’s life. When he lifts his head, his blue eyes plead with me. It’s a vulnerability I’ve never seen from this stoic man. “Please, Lola? We need you.”
“Fine.” I cross my arms and steel my spine. This is outrageous, yet once again I find myself signing up for the ridiculousness without much fight.“I’ll keep him until Thursday. You two get the paperwork done, then you have to find me an apartment. ASAP.”
Brian smirks. “Sure you don’t want to live with us?”
“Oh, don’t even try it, I am not going to be Cal’s nanny.”
Chapter 4
Cal
Ipace back and forth in the conference room trying to wrap my head around this bloody situation. I have a son. I’m a father. No matter how many times I say it, the words don’t make anymore sense than they did when Sully talked me through all of it.
And then they sent me in here while they did some research. Because their first instinct was to prove it wasn’t true.
“We should require a blood test, make sure he’s actually a Murphy,” was my brother’s suggestion.
“Definitely a DNA test, this isn’t the first time someone has claimed you’ve fathered their child, I’m sure.” That was Brian.
I scoffed at his assertion.
It absolutely was the first time anyone had suggested I was a father, and I didn’t need a bloody test to tell me what I already knew. Murphy Macallister was my son. One look at him and it was clear as day.
And I could feel it. This strong unfamiliar need to comfort him. This overwhelming pull to race down the street after him and Lola. He was mine and I wasn’t going to play their games. So waiting in here for Lola to return with Murphy seems like the best option. Butit’s been a while, and not only am I wondering what’s taking them so long, I’m figuring the slushie will be melted by the time they return.
I shake my head. There’s no way I could even contemplate eating or slurping right now.
I have a son.
A smile tilts my lips as I imagine how much fun we’ll have. Unlike Sully, I’m going to be the fun dad. I’m already the fun uncle. I straighten my suit jacket, determined to stalk back into the office to tell my brother just that, and to tell Brian to forget all his silly concerns, when instead I find Murphy standing at the door, staring over at me.
All my grand plans go out the window when I see the uncertainty in his blue eyes. Eyes that are the exact shade of mine. Eyes that give off the impression that he’s unaffected, just like I so often act, but I imagine beneath the exterior he’s probably scared and nervous. Just like me.
“Murphy, right?” I say casually, trying not to rush at him and pull him to my chest. I’ve never so much as been introduced to my own son, let alone gotten the chance to hold him.
He nods and arches a brow. “Coming to terms with it all?”
His candor and delivery surprise me. My eyes widen, unable to hide my shock. “Yes.” If he can be honest, so can I.
He nods like he appreciates that. “It’s a lot. Don’t worry, I heard they’re figuring it all out in there.” He thumbs over his shoulder toward Brian’s office and I can’t help my scowl.
“There’s nothing to figure out. Can I—” Before I’ve even started speaking, I’m walking toward him and am about to drop to my knees to hug him when he seems to take a step back. I hold up a hand realizing he may seem older, but he’s young, and despite the fact that I’m his father, he doesn’t know me. “Sorry, I just wanted—” I shake my head. “Never mind.”
What I want is to hug him, but what he apparently needs is space. For once in my life I’m worried about someone else’s wants over my own, so I stay put.
He shrugs. “I'm sure Mom will be back in a few weeks. I know it will probably cramp your style, but I won’t get in the way. I’m pretty good at taking care of myself. I can do a lot with twenty dollars a day.” He holds out a hand like he’s waiting for me to hand him some money.
I’m not sure what to make of any of it. He’s only a boy but he’s clearly not been given the chance to be a child. That ends today. I just don’t exactly know how to accomplish that yet, so I reach into my wallet and pull out a twenty. Murphy seems to nod as I set it in his palm and then he slips it into his pocket. “Thanks.”
“I know this is strange,” I start, but I keep my hand held out. “But I’m Callahan. Most people call me Cal, but since you're my son, you can call me?—”
