by J. P. Comeau
“Richard Truman, in reviewing your records, it appears as though you have a young daughter for which you’ve never provided child support. Why is that?”
Danielle stood up.
“Your honor,” Danielle said, “my client, Richard Truman, is just now being informed that he has a daughter. For reasons unknown to us, he wasn’t made aware that she was pregnant with his child.”
The judge looked over at Heather, who rolled her eyes as her attorney stood up.
“Is this true? Did your client neglect to tell Richard that he had a daughter?”
“Your Honor,” her attorney said, “my client is asking for back child support payments plus a lump sum payment to help with finances.”
“Is it true that your client failed to tell the father about his daughter, though? Answer my question.”
Her attorney stuttered a bit before responding. “Well, yes, your honor. But it’s still his child.”
The judge looked back at us. “Your honor, my client has missed out on the first few years of his daughter’s life. First, we need to establish that he is, without a doubt, the father.”
The judge wrote a few things down on paper, then let out a sigh before speaking. “Well, it makes sense why you haven’t paid child support since you weren’t even aware that you had a one.”
I looked over at Heather, who looked pissed off. “I hereby grant temporary visitation rights for the father to see his daughter. The mother will supervise the first few until the child feels comfortable around him. After the paternity test, if no agreement is made, we will reconvene.” He turned to Heather. “You are to set up the first meeting. Court is adjourned.”
“That wasn’t so bad,” Danielle said to me.
“Quick and painless, for the most part. At least I can see Addison.” I looked up at Heather, who was staring down at me.
“Richard, if you want to see your daughter, meet me at Martinelli’s Pizzeria in one hour.” She clutched her Chanel purse and walked away; her Christian Louboutin heels clicking a little too loudly as she left the courtroom.
“Is that legal?”
Danielle shrugged her shoulders. “You heard the judge, Richard. Heather sets up the first meeting. She’s not happy, but she wants to get it out of the way. That’s common in these types of cases.”
“Do you have any tips?” I was suddenly nervous about meeting my daughter for the first time. The only child I’d been around was Caley.
“Nope. You’re going to make a great father, Richard.” Danielle smiled, gathered her briefcase, and walked away.
I got to the restaurant a few minutes early and sat at a table that faced the doorway. My mind was racing a mile a minute, wondering how Addison would react to seeing me for the first time. All I had to go on were her pictures. Danielle couldn’t tell me anything else, and I sure as hell couldn’t count on Heather for any information.
My heart dropped to my stomach when they walked through the door. Addison was wearing a pink dress and black shoes, holding Heather’s hand and smiling as she walked toward me. Tears formed in my eyes, and that time, I refused to wipe them away. I stood up and smiled down at her.
“Daddy?” I nodded and reached down, embracing her as she wrapped her tiny arms around me.
The tears were flowing non-stop, saturating her curly blonde hair.
Heather sighed impatiently. “Can we sit down?”
I shot a nasty look at Heather, who couldn’t have been more annoyed.
We sat down and placed our order.
“I love pizza, Daddy! But Mommy doesn’t let me have it that much.”
I looked at Heather before turning my attention back to Addison. “Well, today is a special occasion.”
Her big, blue eyes were so bright that it melted my heart. I wanted so badly to have her sit on my lap, but it was still our first meeting.
“Mommy said that you work for Grandpa.”
“I work with your grandfather, sweetie. It’s a family business.” Heather rolled her eyes at me, sipping her water while surveying the restaurant. “So, tell me about school. What grade are you in?”
“I’m in second grade. We’re learning about scary dinosaurs. But that’s okay because they’re not around anymore.”
“That’s a good thing,” I replied with a chuckle. “Nobody would want to run into a Tyrannosaurus Rex.”
Addison put her hands in the air to mimic a dinosaur. While it made me laugh, all Heather could do was roll her eyes.
“I have a lot of friends, too. Molly is my best friend, more than Janice. Janice steals crayons.”
“Stealing is a bad thing, and I’m glad you’re not a stealer.”
She smiled and started swinging her legs back and forth against the red leather banquette. “I won’t see her after this school year, though.”
“Why is that, Addison?”
Heather sat up a little bit, folding her hands on the table as she waited for our daughter to speak. “Mommy is sending me away to school.”
Heather cleared her throat. “No, Addison. That’s not what I said. Michael is sending you to boarding school, and I agree that it’s a good decision.”
My throat tightened up a bit. “Is Michael your fiancé?”
Heather nodded. “Yes, and it’s one of the best boarding schools in the country.”
I wanted to say something about her luxurious clothes and jewelry, assuming the school would be expensive as well. I held my tongue for Addison’s sake, though. “Which boarding school?”
“Dickinson School,” Heather replied proudly.
I nodded, fully aware that it was one of the best schools in the country.
Heather leaned back, looking at her nails. “It’ll be a wonderful experience, Addison. Plus, it’ll give me time to do things that I’ve had on the back burner.”
“Mommy said that after the wedding, she and Michael need to spend time together. Without me.” Addison’s voice became incredibly sad, and I fought the urge to wrap my arms around her.
I had just met her, but what Heather was doing sounded cruel. I forced a smile and shrugged to my daughter. “Well, adults do need their alone time. But it’s also important that you be happy, Addison. You don’t sound happy about attending Dickinson School.”
Addison put her head down and shrugged her shoulders just like me.
Heather waved her hand in the air. “It’s a done deal, Richard. And Michael is going to be a wonderful stepfather to Addison. He went to boarding school and turned out very successful.”
She gave me the iciest stares I’d ever seen. That was the one moment I had a chance to tell her she didn't need the money she was looking for without Addison being aware, but I stopped myself.
We spent the rest of the lunch discussing everything Addison was doing at school. We talked about her hobbies, favorite cartoons, and how happy she was to finally meet me. “Michael wants me to learn horseback riding, but I’m afraid.”
“You have nothing to be afraid of,” Heather said in an icy tone.
“What if the horse bucks me off?” She looked up at Heather with her big, round eyes, and once again, my heart broke.
It was a genuine concern that even adults had.
“That is something to think about, Addison.” I turned my focus to Heather, whispering in her direction, so Addison didn't hear. “Especially since some adults end up paralyzed for life after horse riding accidents.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Heather said. “Michael and I ride horses all the time. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Addison changed the subject, and it seemed like she was a pro at it. That was disheartening for a girl her age. “Michael said that if I do good, that he won’t have to spend as much money on boarding school.”
“It sounds like Michael is trying to get you a scholarship,” I said.
Heather looked away while sipping her soda.
After lunch, all three of us walked outside.
“When can I see you again, Daddy?”
<
br /> “I’ll have my lawyer contact yours,” Heather said, putting Addison’s hand in hers and walking away.
Addison looked back at me until they reached their car.
There was no doubt in my mind. Addison would become a regular part of my life, regardless of what Heather wanted.
13
Annie
I was at work, going through some paperwork and trying not to stare at my phone. I had texted Richard earlier in the day, but he still hadn’t gotten back to me. It was out of character for him, too. Ever since we first became friends, when Jake and Julianna started dating, he was always quick to reply. I could anticipate a reply within an hour at the latest.
The fact that he had grown distant after I opened up to him was unsettling.
I buried my face in my designs for yoga pants. Branching out into activewear seemed like a good idea to go along with my holistic health line of products. Having worn them for years, I understood the importance of making them breathable and moveable. Many of the yoga pants currently on the market cropped up, too often riding up in places no one wanted to admit.
I’d seen several of my students pick their wedgies during class, trying their best to be discreet.
I wanted to use a material that would allow the pants to move without bunching up. I’d been researching different ones online as I sat there, designing a few styles on a notepad, too.
After happily nodding at my work, I went into my desk drawer and fished out an herbal tea K-cup. I chose a detoxifying blend with peaches. The dinner with Richard was delicious, but eating such dense food had made me feel sluggish those past few days. The herbal combination in the tea would take care of that problem.
I made a mental note to develop a detoxifying herbal tea of my own, jotting down a few herbs that worked well for stomach bloating. The idea of creating detoxifying protein bars seemed interesting, too. Something to consume that was full of vitamins and protein, was relatively low in sugar and would help with stomach inflammation.
I also took a moment to check my phone.
I still hadn't heard back from Richard. The longer he took to reply, the more insecure I became.
As my tea was brewing, I casually scrolled through his social media profiles. He hadn’t been active on any of them in over twenty-four hours, which made me feel better. If he had been online, that meant that he had his phone in his hands and chose not to reply.
It reminded me of how my last relationship ended. Edward slowly started drifting away, taking longer to respond to every text message, while still appearing online on social media. It didn't take long for me to figure out who he was fooling around with, either.
Realizing I was starting to overthink every little thing, I jotted down some ideas for making a mental clarity type of tea. Part of holistic health included taking care of the mind, something that I felt western medicine often overlooked.
As soon as my tea was ready, my cellphone went off, and I just about flew out of my chair. I was a bit disappointed to see that it wasn’t Richard, though. I didn’t recognize the number, either.
“Hello?”
“Yes, is this Annie Belmont?”
It sounded like a much older man, probably around Richard’s age. “Yes, it is. Who’s this?”
“I’m Marcus Brereton, and I’m interested in investing in your lifestyle brand.”
“Oh, wow! Where did you hear about it?” I quickly shut the door to my office.
“Well, I’ve been following you on social media for quite some time now. You are the epitome of healthy if I do say so myself.”
I blushed. Even though my online clout had increased over the years, I didn’t expect that type of phone call. “That means a lot to me, thank you. I haven’t launched one yet, though.”
“That’s why I’m calling, Annie. I’m an investor in New York. You’re in California, right?”
“Yes,” I said, trying to calm myself down. “I live in River Valley. Small town, down-home. You've probably never heard of it.”
“It sounds quaint and charming. Anyway, I’d love to set up a virtual meeting to discuss the line with you sometime. On your website, you mention that your main interest is supplements. What else do you plan to develop?”
“Oh, well, yes. Supplements are my number one interest, but I’m also designing activewear, herbal medicines, soaps, candles, and am considering lotions too. I make all of it myself, and have even picked out some fabric for yoga pants.”
“That’s fantastic, Annie. So listen, what time and day work best for you? I’d love to do this sooner rather than later, as I’m sure you do too.”
I went through my desk planner, deciding it was time to give some classes to Crystal. "How about tomorrow? Anytime is good for me.”
“Perfect, Annie. I’ll call you at 10:30 AM. Have a great day!”
I collapsed into my chair as soon as he hung up, stunned that an investor was interested in my lifestyle line.
Crystal walked into our office a few minutes later, her yoga mat in hand, and just stared at me. “Either you did too much yoga, or something big happened.”
“You’ll never believe it, Crystal. An investor from New York just called. He’s been following me on social media, reading about my ideas for a lifestyle brand, and is meeting with me tomorrow. Can you believe it?”
“Oh, my God!” She shrieked so loudly that some of the students looked up at us through the office window. “But how are you going to get to New York so quickly?”
“It’s a virtual meeting, so I’ll just do it from my loft upstairs tomorrow morning.”
“What about your classes, though?”
I smiled at her.
Crystal stood up straight, her eyes wide. “Wait, are you saying that I can teach? Are you serious?”
“I was considering it anyway, so I took this as a sign that you’re ready. To be honest, you’re more than ready, Crystal. I want you to teach all four of my morning classes tomorrow, and then I’ll teach the afternoon.”
She clasped her hands together and jumped up and down. I could have let her teach sooner, but I wanted to be sure.
“I cannot thank you enough! Oh my gosh!”
“This will include a raise, of course. And with that comes full benefits, paid time off, and the whole nine yards.”
She sat down at her desk and shook her head in blissful excitement. “Annie, ever since I moved back to River Valley, I have waited for this moment.”
After Crystal earned her Ph.D. in Holistic Health and Medicine, she had completed her internship in Hawaii. Since she was a California girl at heart, Crystal had no problem adjusting to life in Hawaii. Just like me, however, she wanted to settle down in River Valley.
“You’re going to do so well,” I said to Crystal. “And I agree with you. I never had any desire to leave River Valley for the long-term. It’s home, you know?”
“Exactly,” she said. “And now that I have a full-time job, I’m ready to move forward with my personal life too. I’m not dating anyone right now, but wish I was.”
I sipped some tea as she started to make some for herself. “What kind of guy are you interested in?”
“Oh, you know. Stereotypical tall, dark, and handsome. Which is hard to find around here.”
“Well, you can find them, but they’re usually jerks. The kind you shouldn’t get involved with, but inevitably do because they’re so charming.”
Crystal sneered. “I’ve had my fair share of bad dates. I just want something normal, you know? Nothing too crazy, just a guy to go out with and have some fun. Maybe splurge on the occasional cheeseburger.”
She and I laughed. “Remember all of the junk food we used to eat in high school? I’d give anything to have my old metabolism back.”
“Me too. I think I’ll join one of those dating sites tonight. Put myself out there and see what happens.”
I shook my head, casually glancing at my phone, only to be surprised that Richard still hadn’t texted me back. “Those are
nothing but trouble, Crystal. I say, do things you enjoy doing and see who you meet. Let it happen naturally.”
She nodded and sat back in her chair, scrolling through her phone. As soon as I turned around to face my desk, I received a text notification.
My heart started beating wildly as I stared down at Richard's name on the screen.
“Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Busy at work.”
There was something off about his tone, even through text. I could feel the insecurity rising in my stomach, suddenly regretting everything I had said to him at the coast. I put it all out there, telling him that I wanted a commitment, and now he’s scared.
“That’s okay,” I texted back.
I didn’t want my insecurity to show. If Richard wanted to see me or carry on the conversation, let it be on his terms.
“How about dinner at my place tonight?” he asked.
My insecurities went away, just a little bit, knowing that I would see him. “That sounds great! What time?”
“Sevenish. See you then.”
I locked my phone and shoved it into my purse, wanting it as far away from me as possible. Something was off with Richard, or I was being neurotic. Either one was possible.
“Is everything okay, Annie? You seem upset.”
I kept my head down, pretending to look over some information for my lifestyle brand. “Yeah, just tired.”
There was a long pause, and I knew Crystal was eyeing me. “I’m not buying it.”
I let out a sigh, knowing she wouldn’t believe me. We’d been friends for far too long. I swiveled around in my chair to face her.
“Richard invited me over for dinner tonight,” I said, sounding just as depressed as I felt.
“That’s a good thing, Annie. Why are you so down? I thought you liked him.”
I nodded. “I do. That’s the problem. I could tell that something was off with Richard, and it’s probably my fault.”
Crystal placed her phone down on her desk. “Why would that be your fault?”
I explained everything to her, going into detail about our day trip to the coast. How I had fallen asleep at his house, he carried me to his guest bed, we got lost in each other. And then I told her how I had made a fool out of myself by saying I wanted to be in a committed relationship with him.