Page 55 of Moonlit Kisses

I’m supposed to like him, right?

He’s my dad.

Neither of us touches our food. He draws in another deep breath. “I went back to see Nicole about a week after everything fell apart. She was gone. Her mother was devastated and her father beat the shit out of me. I ended up with fractured ribs and a broken collarbone, a smashed eye socket and broken nose.” He points to the crooked bridge.

A gasp escapes and I cover my mouth in shock. Oh my God!

He shrugs. “I deserved it. And probably a lot worse. I left without any answers that day and staggered home. I gave it a few days and then went back when Mr. Lewis wasn’t home. I hoped to have a better chance at getting information out of Nicole’s mom. But she had no idea where Nicole had gone. She’d disappeared into thin air.”

I nod. “I knew she’d left and not told anyone where she was going. She told me she didn’t know herself. She didn’t have a plan. Apparently, she kept driving until she felt she was far enough away. Mom cleaned out the money she’d saved from birthdays over the years to get her to Portland.”

Maybe if she’d held on a few more days, Martin and Mom would have sorted it all out.

Maybe things would have been different. But then I wouldn’t have had Jack as my stepfather and there would never have been Ethan. I don’t want to think about that. I loved Jack like a father and he loved me like a daughter. And Ethan. I loved my brother so much. It hurts thinking about them. About losing them.

I peer back up at Martin. His eyes appear glassy … and sad. Worry lines his forehead and he blows out a harsh breath. “I … I’m sorry. My immaturity back then has been my greatest regret. You probably hate me now, and I’m guessing I’ll lose you all over again.” He smiles, but it’s sad and full of defeat. His posture is that of a man who’s lost something he thought was guaranteed.

I return his sad smile and shrug. “I think I’m going to need a little time.” As much as I don’t like to waste food, because I know how hard it is to come by, I’ve lost my appetite and I don’t want to be here anymore. My skin is itchy and too tight. I need space away to work through everything I’ve learned tonight. “I’m sorry.” I point toward my plate of uneaten food. “I’m not usually wasteful, but I can’t eat this and I’d like to leave, if you don’t mind.”

He nods as though he was expecting me to walk away. “I understand. I’m truly sorry, Molly. For my actions back then and for everything we’ve both lost. If you give me the chance, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll be the man I should have always been for you. I’ll spend the rest of my days making it up to you. If you’ll allow me.”

“I … I think I need some time to think. Can you give me that?” A storm is swirling in my stomach and I’m fighting to contain everything this conversation has stirred up inside me. I need to get out of here.

“I can try. Only if I know there’s some possibility I haven’t truly lost you when I’ve only just found you.”

I give him a sad smile. “I can’t make promises, Martin. This. It’s … it’s been a lot.” I stand. “Bye, Martin.” I can’t bring myself to hug him. I don’t want to touch the man who caused Mom so much pain. I was young when she told me why I didn’t have a daddy, but I felt her pain. It rolled off of her in waves even though she tried to hide it from me. I spin and walk away quickly, unsure how my shaky legs will carry me.

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