I ignore her because I know he’s not. He’s—
He spins around, his eyes flashing. “I’m not a criminal, and I’m not trying to hurt her!” he yells. Dull red blooms on his face, and he looks away for a moment. “I… I just wanted to see her, that’s all.” He runs a hand over his cheek, sniffling.
A golden ring on his finger flashes, and I move forward to look at it more closely. I squint and realize it has a flower motif like Mom’s.
Suddenly my legs are unsteady and trembling. Someone might be able to pretend to be my dad, but the golden band? That’s different. “Can I see your ring?”
He pulls back, hiding the hand behind his back. “No.”
“Please! It’s important.”
He hesitates and seems to debate with himself.
“I swear I won’t steal it. I just want to see it.” I need proof. Even as my heart says this is my dad, my head says I have to be absolutely sure. Kim’s right about my new station in life and what that could mean to the unscrupulous.
After three beats, he reluctantly pulls it off his finger and gives it to me. The metal’s warm from his body heat.
“I don’t know why you’re so interested,” he grumbles, looking at his shoes. “It’s just a cheap ring. Not even real gold.”
I don’t care about the cost. I only care about the design. The flower motif is just like Mom’s. It’s gotta be the same set that my mom’s came from. My hands shaking I tilt the band to see the inside. Mom’s says …till death do us part. This one says To love and cherish… in the same swirly script.
Tears spring to my eyes as my hand clenches around the ring.
He shoots me a glance, then sighs. “Aw, don’t cry like that. I’m sorry. I didn’t show up to cause any trouble or anything…” He shakes his head, then looks at Kim beseechingly.
Kim puts a hand on my shoulder, shifting to put herself between me and him. “Evie, hey. Are you okay?”
I nod, touched that she cares even though the gesture is wholly unnecessary. “Yes. It’s my…” I pause as I realize what I’m about to say. “It’s my dad.” Another wave of longing and joy sweeps over me, and my chest feels tight. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get to see my father, much less introduce him to any of my friends. But now I get to do both.
“Your dad? I thought he wasn’t around anymore.” Kim takes another good look at him. “How did you find her?”
“I saw articles,” he says. “I only wanted to see her, that’s all. I’m embarrassed I fumbled around like a fool.”
“You didn’t.” My voice is shaking hard. “Do you have any idea how much I wanted to find you?”
“Evie…”
“Mom said you were a great guy. And I…I was hoping you’d come find me one day, because I wasn’t sure if I could find you. We lived in Dillington for so long. I think Mom secretly wanted you to come back,” I say through the tears that keep welling and falling, my heart overflowing with emotions I can’t begin to identify.
Dad steps closer…
Chapter Forty
Nate
I leave the office early. There are still a few things to review, but I can do that at home. My office feels oddly empty without Evie around. It’s as though she’s what makes everything complete.
As I approach the gates, I notice a couple of women and a man off to the side. Weird. We don’t have many pedestrians around here. I do a double take when I realize it’s Evie and Kim with a guy I don’t recognize. Rage fists around my heart at the sight of tears on Evie’s face. What the hell is going on? Is the guy hurting her?
He starts to move toward her.
Oh no you don’t!
Fear for Evie and our unborn child slams into me, along with fury and an overwhelming need to protect her. I slam on the brakes and jump out, my hands clenched into fists. I leap between Evie and the man and point a finger at his chest. “Stay away from my wife!”
The man flinches, blinking like I’m the bad guy. The gall!
I turn to Evie. “Are you okay? Is this guy harassing you?”