“Because if he had known, he would have given up on his dream and rushed back here to do the right thing, and well…” Addy glanced over at Jesse.
“After a time,” Jesse said, “I imagine it just got easier to move on with her life, right, Addy?”
“Did you ever forget him? Did you love him?” Mia asked. “I don’t want to remember Ricky, and I don’t think I ever loved him. I just wanted someone to love me like Poppa loves Nana. We even talked about that before we moved in together, and he said he wanted the same thing. How can I ever trust another guy?”
“Question one.” Addy held up one hand. “I never forgot him.” She held up another finger. “And I did love him, but I wasn’t sure it was the marryin’ kind of love. I thought it was most likely the best friend love that got out of hand one night.”
Jesse patted her on the back. “When the right guy comes along, he will respect you, and he will never want to change you.”
Mia’s eyes shifted from Jesse to Addy and back again several times. She finally cocked her head to one side and then blinked rapidly a dozen times. “Best friend love…” she whispered. “Jesse, are you my father?”
“Yes, he is,” Addy said before he could answer.
“And everything your mother said is true. I’d always talked about making a career out of the military. I would have given all that up in a split second if I’d known about you. Our friendship was so strong that she didn’t tell me about you so that I could have my dream,” Jesse added.
“I had dreams, too,” Addy said. “I wanted to be a nurse, and I am one. I have a beautiful daughter that has brought joy to me…well, until she got all sassy and headstrong and ran off with a bad boy. I have no regrets about the decisions I made, except that I feel that I’ve cheated you two out of knowing each other. That’s the one thing I’m sorry for.”
Mia stared at Jesse the whole time both he and her mother were talking. Addy wondered if she was in shock or in a trance. She started to snap her fingers in front of her daughter’s eyes when the girl finally spoke.
“I have your eyes, and that’s why I’m so tall.”
“Yep.” Jesse nodded.
“You really didn’t know about me?” she asked.
“Not until I came home. I knew Addy had a daughter, but I didn’t know you were my child,” Jesse answered.
“Did you ever wonder?” she asked.
“No, I didn’t. We only had that one night together,” he said.
“Didn’t Poppa and Nana talk about me? Did they ever send pictures, like at Christmas, or didn’t you see the ones on the mantel of me and Mama?” Mia pressured for more.
“They did, and yes, I saw the pictures when I came home, but I never made the connection until I came home a few weeks ago. If I had, I would have gotten to know you,” he said.
“Part of Jesse not seeing you is my fault. When he came home, I made sure we were in Cactus for Thanksgiving,” Addy said.
“I didn’t figure it out for myself until I was told when your birthday was,” Jesse told her.
“I’ve got to think about this for a while,” Mia said as she stood up. “I should have known it all along because Mama has always had a picture of you in her wallet, but…” She frowned at Jesse. “I figured my dad was someone she was ashamed of, not her best friend. I don’t think I’m ready to call you daddy or dad.”
“You might not ever be ready for that, but I do hope we can be friends,” Jesse said.
“We’ll see.” Mia started for the door. “Is this a dream, Mama?”
“No, but you might lead with ‘I’m not pregnant’ next time,” Addy said.
Mia turned around and drew her eyebrows down into a dark line. “Are you coming with me?”
“Of course I am.” Addy followed her into the house.
“If you’ve got any more questions for me, I’m right here,” Jesse said.
“Thanks.” Mia turned around and smiled. “And I’m glad it’s you that’s my father, Jesse.”
“Me, too,” he said.
Mia reached over and took Addy’s hand in hers. “I meant it. I’m glad Jesse is my father. That means that Poppa and Nana are my real grandparents, and…” She paused.
“And what?” Addy asked.
“And I’ve been a horrible granddaughter.” She sat down in the grass and pulled her mother down beside her. “Do they know?”
Addy pulled her hand free and hugged Mia. “Yes, they figured it out years ago, but I didn’t tell them until after Jesse came home.”
“Do you think Lylah knows?” Mia asked.
“Nope. If she did, she would have already spread it all over the whole state. I heard that she spread rumors that I got pregnant by one of my professors,” Addy answered.
The stars glistened in the night sky just like they had twenty years ago when Addy slipped out of the bunkhouse and jogged all the way across the pastures to her own house. There was comfort in knowing that some things never changed.
“Jesse is a good man.” Mia seemed to be trying to wrap her mind around him being her father even yet.
“Yes, he is. He’s always been a good person,” Addy agreed.
“He’s a tough boss, but I like him. Do you think I can ever think of him as a daddy?” Mia asked.
“What I think doesn’t matter. That is totally up to you,” Addy told her. “Give him some time. Nothing has to be decided tonight.”
“I wish it could be so that I wouldn’t worry. Oh, no!” Mia gasped.
“What?” Addy looked around to see if there was a snake or maybe a tarantula near them.
“I’ve treated him like crap. What if he never likes me?” Mia asked.
“You are his daughter, and he already likes you,” Addy assured her.
“Are you sure?” Mia wiped more tears from her eyes.
“Positive,” Addy answered. “Let’s go on to the house. You need to get some rest. You’ve had nothing but one crisis after another lately.”
“I’m not sure if I’ll ever sleep well again, but I’ll try.” Mia stood up and extended a hand to help Addy. “At least Jesse was good to you, and y’all are still friends.”
Addy’s heart was still beating too fast when they made it to the house, and Mia had disappeared into her bedroom. There was no way that she could sleep, so she grabbed a bottle of water and headed to the front porch swing, only to find Jesse already there. She collapsed beside him and laid her head on his shoulder.
“God, I’m glad she’s not pregnant. It never entered my mind that she might be. She’s been on the pill for a while.” She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the porch swing.
“We’re living proof that failures happen.” Jesse slid down to sit closer to her and take her hand in his. “What do you think she’ll say after she’s slept on the news?”
“Six months ago, I would have said that she would have another million questions to ask and she would take a while, but she would accept you. Today, I don’t know. I’m kind of glad she doesn’t have enough money to run away, because after the stunts she’s pulled, I’m not sure,” she said. “Jesse, are you ready for all this responsibility? She’s concerned about feeling like you are her dad, but she’s also worried that you won’t like her.”