“Because someone had to pay. My mother hasn’t been the same since and it’s all her fault. Now you can take your pregnant slutty ass out of our faces before we call the police for trespassing.”
“How about I call and inform them of the drug tampering you did? I’m sure it’s a federal offense.” They all gasped and looked at each other in shock. “What I want from you is to stay as far away from me as possible. If you see me on the street, you go the other fucking way. I don’t want to even know that you exist. You’ve done something to me that can’t be undone and have irrevocably changed my life. I hope you rot in hell. If you come near me, or I smell a hint of you, I will go to my doctor and tell her to be my witness as I take you all to court. Nod, if you understand.”
They nodded fast and with no little amount of fear and for the first time in months, I could genuinely smile. I turned on my heels and left this place, hoping they heeded my warning because this bitch was done being anyone’s doormat.
Chapter 9
Tony
Two whole freaking months since I saw her beautiful face. I missed her for all the world. Everything in me wanted her back. Where was Denise? I’ve looked for her everywhere and nothing.
My phone rang as I stood by the wall in the hotel in Oregon. I had one more month of babysitting duty. Jake’s girl was pretty, but had nothing on my Denise. It was easy to look after her because she was sweet and never did anything other than work. We spoke briefly and she told me that I’d find her again if it was meant to be. I think it was because she was young and full of hopeful dreams, but I still hadn’t let the idea of seeing Denise again fade from my mind. It was probably for the best. The thought of becoming my father was always in the back of my head. I loved this woman to the point of obsession. All my dreams had been of her.
“What’s up, Andy?”
“Bro, do you have some time to talk?”
“Sure. Give me a minute.” I walked up to Harley and said, “I’ll be back in twenty.”
“Okay,” she said with a bright smile.
I walked into the manager’s office and closed the door. “What’s up?”
“You know I was visiting mom’s family and they gave me a box of photos she didn’t take with her. You have to see her prom picture. I just sent it to you.”
“Okay.” I wondered why it mattered if I looked at the photo. He could have just sent it to me and say, “Hey, look at mom and dad before he showed his true colors.”
I opened the message that said, “Sit down for this.” I fell into the chair as I looked at myself. This wasn’t the man I knew my entire life. “Who is he?” I asked, unable to take my eyes off him.
“According to mom’s cousin, that’s her one true love. He died the next night. Mom was never the same, and well, there’s more but you’ll have to call her to learn the rest. What I heard I won’t even mention ever again. But let’s just say mom was heartbroken, and well, she told her cousin that you were the son of this guy.”
“Fuck, this is crazy.”
“What’s his name?”
“She wouldn’t tell me. She said you’d have to go see her before she’d tell.”
“I can’t go for another month, but I will be there.” With my brother’s investigative skills, I should have him look into Denise for me.
“I need you do to something for me, Andy,” I added, then explained who I needed him to find. Denise was going to be mine for sure, especially since I now know I wasn’t related to that bastard.
Chapter 10
Tony
I sat across from the woman who looked like a healthy version of my mother. “Anthony, I’m so glad you’re here. I wish we would have met sooner, but things didn’t come to light until your mother died.”
“Who’s my father?” I asked, feeling like a helpless child.
“You weren’t named after that son of a bitch your mother married. You were named after your real father. They had the same first name. His name was Anthony Middleton.”
“Middleton?”
“Yes, like your boss
es, your cousins.”
“Wait? What do you mean?”