Page 17 of Eleven of a Kind

“Why are you calling me already?” she asked with irritation. “You left like two minutes ago.”

“Sabrina called with the results of the paternity test.”

“And?”

“I’m definitely your father.”

“See, Mom wasn’t lying. Can I finish getting ready before Grandma Barb comes over?”

“Yeah. Have fun today,” I said.

“Bye, Dad. Wait. Before I hang up. Do you think you could refrain from stalking me all day?”

I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh. “Yeah. I promise not to stalk you via phone calls and text messages. Happy?”

“Thanks. Bye.”

This was my life now. Not only was I responsible for myself, but I was also responsible for Riley. My office door opened, and Ashley, my nurse, popped her head in.

“Dr. Kind, you have patients waiting. I know you don’t like to get behind.”

“I know, Ashley.” I sighed. “I’m coming.”

After seeing a few patients, I went down to the kitchen area. When I walked in, I saw Nathan making a cup of coffee.

“Hey,” I said. “Sabrina called earlier and confirmed that Riley is my daughter.”

“That’s good, Gabriel, but you already knew that.” He smiled.

“Yeah.” I opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.

“You’re going to be okay, and so is Riley,” Nathan said. “Life as you know it has changed, and you’ll realize it changed for the better.” A smile crossed his lips.

“I never saw kids in my future.” I set the bottle of water on the island.

Nathan chuckled. “Neither did I, and now I’m having kid number three. You’ll be okay.” He patted my back.

After I saw my last patient of the day, I headed home. When I walked through the door, I didn’t see Riley, so I yelled her name.

“Riley?”

“Upstairs,” she shouted.

I walked up the stairs and stepped into her room, where her bed was filled with shopping bags.

“Did my Aunt Barb buy you all that?” I asked as I pointed to the bags.

“Yeah.” She smiled. “I tried telling her I didn’t need all this stuff, but she insisted.”

“I don’t believe you.” A smirk crossed my lips.

“She wanted to buy me all these clothes. Who am I to tell her no.” She grinned.

“I hope you thanked her.”

“I did, Dad.”

“We need to go grocery shopping. Let’s go now and get it over with because we’re having a bonfire tonight. By the way, I called the school today, and we have to be there Monday morning to enroll you.”

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