by Rose Harris
Cal blinked several times. “You have a daughter? I thought Felicia and I agreed to say you had a son.”
This last bit of information revealed the true nature of this man, who had helped set up the fake baby scandal. He was a despicable human and made Jace grateful for his own amazing dad. “That explains a lot. I had no memory of Felicia and could not put the pieces together on how she knew me. How did you pick that weekend or know I was home? No, forget it. I honestly don’t want to know any details. Just have her stop the paternity suit and leave my family and me alone. The media only knows what is given to them or what they ferret out of weasels who call themselves friends. Family sticks by your side through thick and thin and keeps your best interest at heart. So if you will excuse me I have a family to get back to.”
Jace stood and landed his final blow. “I want to lay you out flat here in this diner. The need to pummel you until you forget your name is almost overpowering my common sense. I am glad we met, but I hope in the future you keep your distance from me. Don’t contact my mom, dad or even my publicist. There will be no information given to you about my life. I wish you luck, and I hope life treats you well as you deserve.”
His first step from the diner into the sunshine made him feel free of all past burdens. Jace pulled out his cell and called Sandy. Not only was the conference a huge success, apparently Felicia Frampton had a moment of clarity and contacted his attorney to drop all paternity claims because she was lying. Jace gave Sandy instructions to contact his financial manager to send Cal Johnson a check.
He told her it should be for twenty dollars, with a note stating it was for the condoms Cal should have been wearing. “Yes, I really do want it to say exactly that.”
Chapter Twenty-One
The last eight hours seemed to have stretched on endlessly. Jace hadn’t felt this much anxiety since he was waiting to find out what team would select him in the draft. Ironically, he came home during the stress of that time, and now as he drove down familiar streets, he only hoped and prayed it would again yield such miraculous results.
His first stop was to his parents. In the driveway of his parents’ modest home, Jace looked around the yard his dad took meticulous care of and the flowerbeds his mom prized. The memories of throwing his first football in this very yard and running his dirt bike through the spring flowers assaulted him in a rush of nostalgia. He was raised with love, and now he finally was willing to admit acceptance as a real son.
He could still picture his parents on the sidelines cheering and sometimes criticizing his efforts on the field, loyally attending every home game and most of the away ones. When he threw his first touchdown, he heard John yelling, “That’s my boy!” The name on the back of his jersey was just that, a name, not the definition of a father/son relationship.
This was what he wanted his kids to feel when they came back home after they began their lives. Walking around back, because he knew only company used the front door, he stepped into the kitchen where his dad was making a sandwich for his dinner.
Normally he would just give a casual “how’s it going” and walk through, but today he had to let his dad know what he did. He momentarily felt like the boy who had to explain how he accidently broke the window in the garage door with a wayward basketball.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
Just when I think I’m grown up, I revert.
“Son, it’s good to see you. Your momma was wondering if you were going to make it here this weekend for Mother’s Day. I told her you hadn’t missed one yet, didn’t expect this to be the first one.” John stood in his stocking feet, torn jeans his mom complained about constantly and a stained shirt that had seen one too many Sunday football hoagies.
“Don’t tell Mom, but I forgot it was Mother’s Day. I’ve been distracted lately.” Guilt washed over Jace for almost forgetting his mother on such a special day. He would have to give her a great present tomorrow.
When his dad finished making his sandwich and placed an identical one on the counter in front of Jace, the truth came out in a flurry. “I have a daughter! I met with Cal Johnson this morning, and I never thought of you as my real dad until now.”
Of every possible scenario he played out in his mind, the smile that crossed John’s face was the most shocking. “I know. Well, I knew about the first and the last. The meeting is a surprise but not a shock.”
“How could you know about any of it? I just came to the realization about our relationship today, and your easy acceptance of my having a child doesn’t make sense.” The sandwich forgotten on the counter, Jace stood up from the stool and paced around the kitchen. It wasn’t far to go, just ten steps back and forth.
“I have been fighting a paternity suit over a little boy quite publicly, and you can accept I have a daughter? Don’t you want to know who she is? Where she is? Who her mother is?” Turning to look out the window that led into the backyard where Ashlyn’s play yard was set up, it hit him like a lightning bolt. Rubbing his calloused hand roughly up and down his face, he asked, “How long have you known?”
“Well, until this moment we were never one hundred percent sure. Your mother and I suspected, but Ava was adamant we did not know the father. We questioned her when Ashlyn was a few months old. One look at Ashlyn’s eyes and the way whenever you came home, Ava had to be somewhere, anywhere but at family gatherings where you would be, kept us with lingering doubts.” John walked over and placed a hand on Jace’s shoulder.
“Ava and Ashlyn are special members of our family. Ava was never just Roxi’s best friend or Lia and Howard’s daughter. She carries a special spot in our hearts. When she blessed us with a grandchild but never admitted her paternity, your mom and I knew she had her reasons.”
John applied slight pressure to Jace’s shoulder and turned his son to face him. “We both believe Ava has loved you for years and was willing to protect you and your career by forsaking her comfort. Don’t get me wrong. Ashlyn has never wanted or needed anything. Ava is a great mother and always puts Ashlyn first. You can bet your ass if it had been any other way, your mom and I would have stepped in. Of course Lia and Howard would be busting in first, but we would have been behind them. Howard and I both tried to help make repairs on the house, but it took you coming in to make it happen. She trusts you. I think you are ready to accept who you really are now, a son, brother, father and, if you are lucky, her husband.”
Gesturing to his son to sit at the table, John placed the sandwich in front of him again. His dad took the seat at the end of the table, just like he’d done during every dinner throughout his childhood.
“Are you disappointed in me?”
The question had come out on the barest whisper. With his head down as if he were examining his sandwich, Jace waited for a reply that might or might not come.
“I can’t lie to you. I was initially. Then I faced the fact you truly had no idea. Ava hid your identity from everyone, even Roxi. You mother and I contemplated questioning you about the possibility, but you’re both adults and make your own decisions. I still don’t think Roxi has put it together. How that girl can look into those eyes and not recognize you is beyond me.”
The next five minutes were taken up with John and Jace eating their sandwiches. When John broke the silence, Jace almost choked on his last bite. “I prayed every night while your mom was pregnant with Roxi that she wasn’t a boy. I didn’t want you to feel like you had to compete with a brother for attention from your dad. It wasn’t until you got in school that I knew you didn’t accept our relationship. Sure you called me Dad, but you never thought I really loved you like my son.”
Jace knew he should say something, but how did a man apologize to his dad for not believing in him? The burn behind his eyes had him blinking to clear his vision.
John’s voice sounded scratchy, and he had to clear his throat several times before he continued. It helped Jace to know his dad was feeling some of the unexpected emotions surging through him.
“Truth is I loved you first. Your mother was a wonderful woman, and I knew deep down she was the one, but one look at the shy boy she called ‘Jacey’ and my heart was yours. You were my son before I even told your momma I loved her. You are the greatest gift I was ever given. I still thank your mom on our anniversary for making me your dad. She could have walked away, and I would have lost everything.”
Jace could look at his dad now and see the love in his eyes, and it brought tears. He stood so he could pull him into an embrace. He hugged the man who was his father in every sense of the word.
“I love you, Dad. Thank you for everything you’ve given to me and given up for me. I’m sorry it took so long for me to accept your love and acceptance as completely as you gave it. Can you forgive me?”
“Son, you never have to apologize for your feelings. If I didn’t stop loving you when you carved your name into the side of my Harley when you were eight, then I never will.” With a manly pat on the back and a few sniffles, they sat back at the table, and Jace told him all about his meeting with Cal and what he sent him as a parting gift.
****
After two hours at the mall, having bought the items he needed for his mother, Lia, and most importantly for Ava, and fielding hundreds of questions from fellow shoppers about the youth center he was putting in his hometown, Jace finally made it back to his parents’.
He could have stopped by Ava’s to apologize and talk out their problems, but he knew Ashlyn went to bed around seven thirty. He wouldn’t have been able to hold back from waking her. After all, he’d already missed the first years of her life. He needed Ava’s full attention to apologize for being an ass and wanted her explanation as to why she never responded to the note he’d left in the Escalade, asking forgiveness after he lost his temper. He’d have to finagle a private moment tomorrow.
He slept in the twin bed in his old room. It was not ideal, but ironically, he slept like a baby for the first time in years. Except for the nights he had spent with Ava.
****
Walking the floors with a fussy child never got any easier. The last twelve hours felt like an eternity.
The shock of Ashlyn’s bellowing, after only being in her bed for thirty minutes, scared ten years off Ava’s life. When Ava held her, the fever burning up the little body scared another twenty away. At this rate, her daughter might reach adulthood, but she would never see it. How had her parents survived ear infections?
The entire drive to the after-hours clinic Ashlyn screamed, convincing Ava her baby was dying. Fear and panic for her normally healthy, sweet girl left her trembling. Roxi was out for the night with her latest man and her phone was off. After trying to contact her mom and being sent directly to voice mail, Ava attempted to reach Lexi and got the same result. The only other person she would want by her side was Jace, so she placed the call, needing his support.
“This is Jace. If you hear this, leave me a message.”
This had to be God’s way of reminding her she had made her choice.
Two hours and a prescription later, she finally made it home and thought she would be able to lay her princess down and get a few much needed hours of sleep. Of course, in the way of all great princesses, Ashlyn had other plans, resulting in Mommy pacing the floor for eight of the next ten hours, trying to comfort the toddler who slept fitfully.
When her cell rang and startled Ashlyn, Ava panicked, afraid it would wake the beast that had once been her precious baby. God must have gotten some sleep because he was feeling gracious, and Ashlyn continued to sleep peacefully cradled in her mama’s arms.
The caller identification showed Roxi, and Ava was tempted not to answer. When Roxi left the night before, stating she shouldn’t wait up or worry if she didn’t come home, Ava had been happy for her friend. Now she felt jealous of the freedom.
Guilt washed over her tired body, and she felt like crying. When had she become such a bitch? Hitting the button on the phone, she whispered a greeting and tried to cover the tears that clogged her throat.
“Where are you?” Roxi barked out.
“Shushhhhhhhh! I’m at home. Ashlyn is sick.”
“Oh my God, is she okay?” Panic and fear for Ashlyn was evident in her voice.
“She’s better. I had to take her to after-hours last night for an ear infection and strep throat. Apparently, she caught the infection at daycare last week. I think spending yesterday outside brought it on faster than normal. She’s been restless most of the night, and I’ve been walking the floors. What’s up?”
“Mother’s Day! We were supposed to meet our parents at church and then head to Mom and Dad’s for brunch.”
“I can’t believe I forgot. Damn, there is no way I can make it to church. Will you send my regrets to my mom? I don’t even want to take Ash out today. We both need to catch up on sleep, and I just can’t face reality today.” The scratching of the phone told her Roxi was passing her message on to the parents.
Her mom’s voice replaced Roxi’s. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I did, Mom. I was sent to voice mail, and before Lexi asks I called her too.”
The silence that met this declaration momentarily shocked her. “I am so sorry I wasn’t there for you. We were out with John and Lexi.”
“Everything is fine. No need to be sorry. Ashlyn is fine, just tired. I got her medicine last night, and between the antibiotic and the Tylenol, her fever is down. Now we are both going to spend the day in our pajamas.”
Before her mom could suggest coming over and witnessing the true mess her daughter was, Ava added, “Happy Mother’s Day. I love you! You have given me the best and most magnificent image to mold myself after. I am so grateful for the love and support you have always provided. Please enjoy your day with your friends. I will spend my day being a mom and earning my title.”
When her mom began to press the issue of coming over and helping, Ava politely hung up and pressed a kiss on the top of damp curls. “We are going to make a mother-daughter duo that will be written about one day, but only if we get some sleep. We have to drive back to Nashville tonight so Mommy can get to work tomorrow.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ava woke to a dark room and was shocked. She didn’t mean to sleep so long, needing to get back to Nashville to work the next day. It was four-hour drive. Stretching and slowly easing her tired and sore muscles from the bed, her feet hit the floor and landed on something hard.
The picture of her smiling baby and a “Golden” football hero made her catch her breath. She must have knocked it off the nightstand at some point. Picking it up, she looked into the smiling faces of her two favorite people. The picture represented a time when her life was full of the secrets; now she had the opportunity to replace this accidental picture of a father and daughter with one she had taken in the backyard of his house. She still had secrets but only for a short time. It was time to face her fears and tell Jace the truth. Long past the time to tell him the truth.
Before heading to brush her teeth, she checked on Ashlyn just to make sure she was fine. Ava stepped into the pale pink bedroom. The sight of Jace, this giant of a man, cradling the sleeping child almost brought her to her knees.
The stopping and the ogling were made possible by the simple fact that Jace appeared to have fallen asleep rocking their baby. His cheek rested gently against the top of her head as she snuggled into the crook of his neck. Was it horrible that she was jealous of her own daughter?
Standing in the open doorway and watching the gentle rise and fall of Ashlyn’s back, Ava let the tears flow. This moment in time needed to be cherished. The love of a father and daughter was special, and the bond was inevitable with these two. Ashlyn would never remember this moment, but Ava would never forget it. Stepping out she wiped her eyes and went to get herself together.
In the quiet bathroom, Ava tried to gather her thoughts. She reminded herself she was mad at him for the cruel words he yelled on the last day they spoke. How was it her body could forgot
the cruelty and throb in places only he could awaken with just his scent in the air?
Her evening routine complete, Ava called the principal at the school and explained Ashlyn’s illness. She jumped at the unexpected offer to take the next day off without it affecting her final grade or potential for a job.
She knew Jace had to get back to Nashville for his training, which made it a little easier to stay here and not worry about going home with him. Seeing his protective side shining brightly while he cradled Ashlyn convinced her she had to start the separation now. The decision made, she walked back to the nursery on a mission to get two hundred and twenty pounds of muscle out of her house.
****
The moment she stepped back in the room Jace felt the electricity. Pretending to be asleep might seem cowardly, but he was scared to face her. He wanted to spend just a little while longer feeling the tiny sweet breaths of his angel against his neck.
“I know you’re awake.”
The slight rise of his shoulders and exhaled breath proved her point. When he spoke, the sound of his voice momentarily startled Ashlyn, and she stirred but did not wake. “I love her. She is everything. Everything I didn’t know I wanted. Everything I will ever want, and knowing I made her with you makes her that much more special.” Looking up and meeting eyes that were wide with shock scared Jace to his soul.
“It took me a while to figure out why her eyes seemed so familiar. When I look at her, I just see a miniature you and just want to hold her and protect her from the world. I didn’t understand the connection I felt toward her and thought it was just the feeling I had for you manifesting into love for her. But she had my heart from the moment I saw her chasing bubbles at the playground. I knew before I found out.” The large tan hand that stroked the back of the tiny pink nightgown stilled, and he made eye contact again with Ava.