“Hey, baby girl,” he says to her. “You get to come hang out with Uncle Aaron for a little while.”
“You have a car seat?” McKinley asks him.
“Yeah, I just leave it in all the time these days. She loves to go for rides.” He smiles. “Call me,” he says and I nod.
I put my arm around McKinley and we watch as they pull out of the drive. “Let’s get this over with,” I say, turning and holding the door open for both of them.
McKinley leads the way to the living room, Misty right behind her. I take a seat on the couch and pull McKinley down beside me. “Talk.” I point to the chair. Misty takes the hint and sits.
“It’s a long story, but I assure you, I’m not trying to take her from you.”
“We’re listening,” I say. My hand is squeezing Kinley’s so tight I’m sure I’m about to cut off her circulation. I will my grip to loosen so I don’t hurt her.
“She’s beautiful, Evan,” Misty says.
“Talk,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Okay.” She takes a deep breath. “Growing up in my house was not a pleasant experience. My parents never wanted me, but it was the southern thing to do, for a man in politics—get married and have a family. They had me, and then hired a nanny to raise me.” She wrings her hands together, never looking at us. “I never got hugs or kisses, never had my mom or dad lie in bed with me at night and read me a story. I had nannies. Nannies who were instructed to not spoil me by showing me affection.”
How did I spend a year of my life with her and not know this?
“I never wanted kids. I was too afraid I would be like my own parents, and no child deserves that. I can admit I’m selfish and spoiled. I was raised to be. I finally got the courage to leave home with their blessing because I was in college. It worked for their social circle to say I was ‘off at school,’ but what my parents didn’t know was I was biding my time until I could get as far away from them as possible.” She looks up and her eyes land on my hands gripping McKinley’s tightly.
“I turned twenty-five about a month after she was born. Every day, I felt guilt for not loving her. What kind of person doesn’t love their own flesh and blood?” she sobs. “I was wracked with guilt. I didn’t know how to fix it. How to let her know how sorry I was, and how signing over my rights to you was what was best for her. On my twenty-fifth birthday, I got the call. My grandparents, my mom’s parents, left me a trust fund. I had no idea. Their rules stipulated I was to not have access until my twenty-fifth birthday. The guy on the phone told me the fund was ten million dollars.” She looks up at me, tears in her eyes.
“That’s when it hit me. I could make sure you and Lexington were always taken care of. I know you make a good living, but this was something I could do. Not only that, but I could make a fresh start for myself. I could break free from the parents who never loved me as well.”
“How did you do it?” I ask her.
“My parents’ attorney.” She grins. “Money talks and he signed a non-disclosure to not discuss any of this with my parents. Client confidentiality and all that. He helped me with the car accident, my new identity, and setting up an offshore account with five million dollars, and he also helped me set up a trust for Lexi. It was my stipulation that you not be notified until she turned one. I wanted to give you time to not hate me as much, to let some of the pain I caused you fade before you were notified I willed your daughter five million dollars in the event of my death.”
“Holy shit,” Kinley whispers.
Misty smiles. “It was a great plan, except for the fact it turns out the attorney sleeps with his secretary. She is also sleeping with my father. I was unaware or I would have chosen someone different. However, what’s done is done.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I tell her.
“Don’t say anything. The less you know about the how and where the better. I got word that my parents found out and were coming after you for custody of her. Turns out, they’re in financial trouble and gaining custody of her also gained them the five million dollars I willed to her in the event of my death. As soon as I found out what they were trying to do, I hopped on a plane and here I am.”
“They’re going to be pissed.”
Misty gives a humorless laugh. “Yeah, it’s safe to say I will more than likely be spending some time behind bars for my little disappearing act.” She shrugs. “It’s my own fault. I should have put the money into an account and sent you the information. I thought about it, but I knew you would never take it, not with me still alive. I knew if you found out about my death and then the money you would save it for her, for her future. That’s all I wanted.”
She looks at McKinley and then to me. “I’m sorry for what the two of you have gone through. My parents are not nice people, and there is no way I would let them get their hands on your daughter.”
“Thank you,” McKinley says before slapping her hand over her mouth.
“No, it’s okay,” Misty assures her. “I could see, just from the small interaction, you love her very much. I can tell from the tears in your eyes as I told you my story. I’m glad you’re her mom. I gave birth to her, but you are the one who gives her love and affection. I don’t have that in me to give.”
“Someday?” McKinley says.
“Maybe. I’ve been seeing a therapist, which is long overdue.”
“I don’t know what to say to all of this,” I say.
Misty shrugs. “Nothing. I just wanted to tell you myself that my parents will no longer be an issue. I have money for my legal fees.” She reaches into her purse. “And here is the account information for the money I want to give her. There are no restrictions on it. It’s in your name and hers.”
She holds it out for me, and I stare at her hand.
“Evan, take it. I want to do this. I don’t know how to be a mom and I know I wouldn’t be good at it, but I want her to be whatever she wants to be. College, backpacking through Europe, whatever her heart desires—I want her to have the means to do it. I know you, and I know you will let her live her life, not hold her back. I want her to have this.” She shakes the account book at me. “Please,” she says softly.
I reach out and grab the book, setting it on the table. The doorbell rings and McKinley jumps up. “That’s the pizza. I’ll get it.” She turns to walk away.
“Babe,” I yell for her. When she turns, I toss her my wallet and she catches it with ease before quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks.
“You love her,” Misty says.
“I do.”
“Good. She’s good for you and your daughter.”
I need a break from this. “You need something to drink?” How can I stay angry with her when she did this for Lexi? She’s going to jail to keep my daughter safe with me.
“Sure, water if you have it.”
“I’ll be right back.” I flee from the room in search of McKinley.
Chapter 53
McKinley
I find Evan in the kitchen pulling three waters out of the refrigerator. He reaches for the boxes of pizza. “I guess it’s a good thing I ordered extra,” I tease him.