Page 38 of Rejected Wolf's Secret Baby (Rejected Moons 4)

“Just being here makes me feel like I’ve stepped into another life,” she says. “A life where I’m just a kid again. And the fact that I actually have a kid of my own doesn’t belong in that life. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world. It’s just a little disorienting sometimes.”

“That makes sense,” I say.

“You really want to meet her?”

“If you’ll let me. I’m sure it must be stressful letting new people into your kid’s life.”

She sighs. “I like that you get that,” she says. “Not everyone does.”

I figure she’s probably talking about Lonnie, or maybe the rest of her family. Alicia’s always been so independent. It doesn’t surprise me that she would struggle with letting anyone know her child—even her own family.

So what she says next really surprises me.

“You can meet her,” she says.

“Really?” She’s seemed so uncertain about this, and I feel as if she’s really going out on a limb for me. I half expected her to say no, or even just tell me to go to hell for asking.

But she nods. “Maybe you should,” she says.

“I should?”

“Well—I just mean, if we’re going to keep spending time together, it doesn’t make sense for me to try to keep her away from you. You’re bound to cross paths eventually, right?”

“I’d like to think so,” I say. “So wearegoing to keep spending time together, then?”

“You were right in what you said before. There’s something happening here,” she says. “It’s a little scary and a lot inconvenient, but I can’t keep trying to deny it. That just isn’t working out for either one of us.”

I nod. “I’m glad you feel that way,” I tell her. “I want us to be close.”

“Even though I’m going to leave?”

“You won’t consider changing your mind about that?”

“I just don’t see how I can,” she says. “Not—not with things the way they are.”

She means Lonnie, I’m almost sure. I want to argue with her—to try to convince her—but that would be wrong. She has to do what’s right for her kid. She can’t be torn by trying to work out what’s right forme.

I’m not going to do that to her.

“All right,” I tell her. “Then I want us to be close for as long as we can.”

22

ALICIA

I’medgyandnervouswalking back to Dad’s house with Brandon in tow, and not only because I’m not sure I want him to meet Emmy. There’s more to it than just the obvious stress of letting him into my daughter’s life.

The first problem comes up almost immediately. Kayla comes out onto the porch when she sees us approaching, wide-eyed and clearly confused. I read about a million questions on her face, but of course she can’t ask any of them, and I can’t answer.

“Where’s Dad?” I say instead.

“Taking a nap.” She glances at Brandon. “Maybe this isn’t the best time for company.”

“I could come back another time,” Brandon says. “I don’t want to bother Vern.”

I shake my head. Kayla’s trying to give me an out, in case there’s something going on here that I don’t want. That’s obvious to me. Dad used to be the kind of wolf who would come alert in an instant, but in his old age he’s become a very sound sleeper. Having Brandon in the house isn’t going to disturb him, and Kay knows that as well as I do.

“It’s all right,” I tell him. “You can come in. Just keep your voice down.”

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