11
Jolie
We moved into our new house this morning, four days after I moved into Kildare. Kash helped us move and every time he walked out the door to get more boxes made me feel like it would be the last time I would see him.
But then he comes back in, one last time. And he walks to Jess first and kisses her head while she sleeps in her playpen bassinet and then he walks to me and he stops before touching me.
“If I kiss you, I don’t think I’ll ever stop.”
“Promise…” I say with a smile.
His long brown eyelashes flash and those eyes melt me this time. He tips my head up and his lips barely brush mine. “Text me whenever you need me.”
“I will.” Always need you.
Two days ago, Kash and Jess gave up cells from their cheeks to prove paternity. Dr. Lyons came to our house and did the scrape and promised the results in 72 hours. Only one more day.
Cray stayed over at Kash’s on the couch. It was irritating, but my brother’s trying. Too hard.
When Kash is gone, Cray comes back in. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll start unpacking soon.”
“Need help?”
“No. I don’t think I want my brother going through my boxes to find my vibrators.”
“Jolie!” he looks back like Jess has heard me.
I roll my eyes. “I’m not twelve anymore, Teddy…I mean…”
“You can call me Teddy. I kind of like it. It takes me back to better days. Ones before…”
There’s always a moment when you know something either has to be said or it has to be swallowed down forever.
“Cray, you didn’t kill, Dad. Dad killed himself. He was dying from the inside out with how awful he was. He made a choice to kill Mom and then I think he wanted to die. You were just trying to stop him from taking both of them away. He made it happen anyway. He was too much of a coward to face the consequences.”
“I’m so sorry. I know I never said it, but I…I wish it had gone another way. Any other way.”
I sniff back a tightness in my throat. “Me, too. But sometimes the fates have a different plan.” I look to the bassinet.
“Do you love him?”
I think about what I’ve thought love would feel like. All consuming. Overwhelming. Heart rocking. And this is more. “I do. I loved him from that very first night. But I don’t know if he…”
He walks to me and wraps me up. “Sis, I’ve never…ever…seen Kash like this. He looked like a punished puppy leaving here. Either the man’s in love, or…the man’s in love.”
I laugh and wrap my arms around him, glancing up. “It’s good to see you again.”
“I wish I’d come to see you.”
“You did.”
His face pales. “You saw me?”
“Lots of times. Graduation from college. When I got my master’s degree at that bar. And two years ago at Christmas.”
“I thought I was sneakier than that.” He steps back, running a hand over his closely shorn head. His military background following him around.
“Cray…no one looks like you. You’re one in a million, brother.”
He smiles and I have to admit, it’s a little fuckin’ creepy, but I’ll get used to it. “Right back at ya sis.”
My phone buzzes on the nightstand the next morning. I stretch. I pick it up and there’s two messages.
Kash: Good morning, beautiful. I’ll be at the shop today. Hope to stop by and say hello after, around six.
I text back.
Jolie: You’re welcome anytime.
And then there’s an unknown number.
Unknown: Hello. Dr. Lyons here. I have your results. You want them over the phone, by text, or in person.
There’s no time like the present.
I sit up in the bed. Jess nursed about an hour ago and went back to sleep.
It seems like forever before my phone lights up again.
Dr. Lyons: Here you go. Hope it’s what you were looking for.
I open the attached document.
There’s “Child” with Jess’s name listed, then “Alleged Father” with Kash under it. Then a bunch of things listed. And then at the bottom it says, “Probability of Paternity” and my heart pounds reading the results.
I text Naomi to see if she or one of my nieces can watch Jess this evening and drop my phone as the tears stream my face.
I knew it.
12
Kash
Cray let me come back. I didn’t even have to gravel. Naomi I think had a lot to do with it. He came over to my house and just said “You’re rehired. No signing bonus, so don’t even fuckin’ ask.” I laughed and he turned and left.
But then again, maybe he didn’t want his sister’s boyfriend being unemployed. Not that she and I have put that designation out there. I’m assuming it’s coming. But I also wonder if the results of the test will change anything. Either way.
Plus, Cray would’ve had to pick up my slack and since he’s backed his days down to one or two clients, he’d be a hurting unit to keep up my pace.
It’s after eight and my last client leaves.
Kylie knocks on my doorway. “There’s one last client who wants a simple design. She says she’ll only come to you.”
“I’m bushed, Kylie. Have her make an appointment.”
“It’s really simple, I promise.” She holds out the design and I grab the paper.
It’s a date, one I recognize, and the words “Just the beginning”.
“Send her back.”
In seconds Jolie is in my doorway. “Hey…”
“Baby…”
“I have something to tell you.”
“The results are back?”
She nods.
“And?” I ask, but her blue eyes drop from mine and I walk to her, pulling her to my chest. “It’s okay. I still love you both.”
Her head jerks up. “You love us?”
“I love you, Jolie. I love Jess. I love your family, even with it being Cray.”
She laughs and I wipe away tears. “Well then, I think you’ll love knowing that you are a 99.9998% probability of being Jessica Lynn Creager-Mayer’s…father.”
Cheers come from beyond the fake wall.
I tip her head back with my hand wrapped in her hair. “Really?”
“Welcome home, Daddy.”
“I heard that…” Cray growls.
We both laugh and then I kiss her until we both are gasping for breath.
“Naomi has Jess for a couple hours. Wanna come over?”
“No, I want you to come home. Permanently.”
“But the house…”
“I have an idea.” I call out one of my coworkers names and Ozzy appears. “Were you saying you wanted to move into a house so you and your girlfriend could have more privacy?”
Cray comes around the corner. “Wait. What?”
Ozzy gives me the “Bro, really” look and I chuckle.
I forgot—secret girlfriend.