Page 88 of Eleven of a Kind

Piper

I gave Gabriel the address, and he typed it into the car’s GPS. I should have been more nervous, but having him with me really calmed me down. When Gabriel turned down my father’s street, he parked along the curb across from his house.

“Wow, look at that house.” I swallowed the hard lump in my throat.

“Do you think he’s home?” Gabriel asked.

“We’ll find out.” I placed my hand on the car's door handle and held it there.

“It’s okay, Piper.” Gabriel ran his hand down the back of my head. “I’ve noticed that you don’t have an issue saying exactly how it is with people. He’s no exception.”

“You’re right.” I inhaled a deep breath. “Let’s go and get this over with.”

We climbed out of the car and walked up to the door. Gabriel rang the doorbell, and a nicely dressed woman, whom I assumed was step-mommy, opened the door.

“Can I help you?”

“Is Jonathan home?” I asked.

“Yes.” Her brows furrowed as she just stood there.

“Can I speak to him?”

“Who are you, and what is this about?”

“Tell him his daughter is here to see him.” I pushed past her and stepped inside.

“Excuse me,” she said. “You just can’t—”

“Listen, lady. I can, and I am. Tell my father I’m here to see him.”

“Victoria, who—” My father stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me. “Piper? Is that you?”

“Hi, Dad. I’m surprised you recognized me after all these years. Surprised to see me?”

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Dad, who is she?” A fourteen-year-old girl walked into the foyer.

“Hello, sweetheart.” I smiled. “I’m your sister, Piper.” I extended my hand.

“What?” Her brows furrowed.

“Ashley, go upstairs right now,” Victoria spoke. “You need to leave. The girls don’t know about you.”

“I’m not going anywhere until I get some answers. If you’re uncomfortable, take your girls and go somewhere else,” I sternly spoke.

“Come into the living room, Piper,” my father said. “Who is this young man with you?”

“Oh, him?” I pointed to Gabriel. “He’s a friend, and the man that told me he loved me, and I freaked the fuck out. Want to know why, Daddy? Because of you!” I pointed at him.

“Piper, calm down,” my father spoke.

“No. I came here with guns blazing because I want to know why you left me and never came back.”

“It’s complicated.” He walked over to his bar and poured himself a drink.

“I’ve got all night,” I said.

---