Michael's Father (Harlequin Super Romance)

by Melinda Curtis

  Michael shook his head. Jen appeared in the doorway, panting as if she’d run the entire way.

  “I was mad at your mom because I loved her so much and I thought someone else was your father. So I was mean to you and your mom. We both know that being mean because you’re angry is wrong, don’t we? But I forgot.” It pained him to admit he was an ass, but Blake wasn’t going to keep his family without admitting his weaknesses. He could feel Cori’s eyes on him, but he couldn’t look away from Michael. If Cori couldn’t forgive him today, at least he’d have mended things with Michael.

  “Oh,” Michael said in a little voice.

  Salvatore Messina sank awkwardly into a chair. Blake prayed the old man would learn the value of an apology, or, at the very least, keep quiet.

  “Then later, when she told me I was your dad, I didn’t believe her.” Man, Blake really sounded like a loser. “So I was still mad. Pretty bad, huh?”

  Michael nodded, eyes still on the carpet. His hands stilled.

  “Then, just when I was starting to believe you were my son, I thought your mom only told me about being a dad because of your Big Grandpa. So, I was mad all over again, which is why I didn’t wait for your mom this morning when I told you I was your dad. I’m one hundred times sorry for doing that. I should have waited.”

  “You’re mad a lot,” Michael said, risking a glance at him.

  “Not all the time. Just lately,” Jen observed.

  Blake tossed her The Look. “You’re not helping.”

  Jen shrugged, but she was grinning.

  “What I’m trying to tell you is that I was so busy being mad, I missed the fact that your mom loved me enough to have you. I was wrong. So wrong.” Blake shook his head and blinked back the tears, not daring to look away from Michael. At this point, he needed his son’s acceptance as much as he needed air. Only the fact that Blake’s adopted father had had the patience to win Blake over gave him the courage to keep trying. He could do this.

  “I love you, Michael,” Blake said raggedly.

  “I’m mean to you sometimes,” Michael allowed.

  “I think you owed me some.” Blake reached out and tugged one little ear, instead of following through on his need to hug him. He wanted desperately to feel the little guy in his arms. “You and I are learning a lot about each other, and we may not always agree on how to do things. But one thing I do know. You always love your family, no matter what. You can get mad or frustrated with someone in your family but you’ll always love them.” Blake risked a glance at Cori. Tears rolled slowly over her cheeks and her nose was red. She looked a mess, but Blake loved her, anyway.

  “Well said,” Mr. Messina whispered.

  Cori glanced at her grandfather and then back to Blake. A sprig of hope swelled within Blake’s heart at the wonder he saw in her eyes, but he wasn’t finished making peace with Michael yet. He turned back to his son.

  “Do you know what I love about you already, Michael?”

  Michael shook his head.

  “I love how your ears look just like mine when I was a kid. I love playing soccer with you in the vineyard. And I love how smart you are. You know all about bugs.”

  “And worms.” Michael’s brown eyes finally raised to Blake’s, wide and accepting, answering half of Blake’s prayers.

  “And worms.” Blake nodded. “So I’d like you to reconsider having me for a dad, because you’ve taught me that I can’t be mad all the time. And that I need to say I’m sorry when I hurt somebody’s feelings.”

  “You still want to be my dad? After what I said?” Michael actually looked surprised.

  “With all my heart.” Blake smiled and held out his arms. “Please?”

  There was a moment when Blake doubted Michael was going to accept him. In that moment, Blake’s heart seemed to stall and his breath catch. And then the little guy flung himself into Blake’s arms and wrapped himself tightly around Blake’s neck. They both drew in ragged gulps of air. Tears stung the back of Blake’s eyes. He finally knew what it felt like to have his son hug him.

  Wonderful.

  Michael smelled of baby shampoo and fresh-washed clothes. He was a warm, soft bundle with a strong grip and a heart that was willing to forgive and teach a dad how to love. Blake pressed a kiss to the silky hair on top of Michael’s head in thanks and love, not letting go of his son.

  When Blake met Cori’s gaze, he saw she was still crying. A tear slipped over his cheek, but he didn’t care. His dream of family was going to come true.

  Blake whispered to Michael, “Can you keep a secret?”

  Michael nodded.

  “I’m going to marry your mom.”

  Michael giggled and bounced twice in Blake’s arms.

  “I just need to ask her, so I’m going to put you down for a minute. But then I’m going to want you right back, okay?”

  Michael grinned and practically sprang out of Blake’s arms. He clambered onto the couch and bounced his bottom against the back over and over again, a huge smile on his face.

  With a deep breath, Blake turned to Cori, well aware that he still had his audience. He needed to tell Cori he loved her, too. But first, as with Michael, he had to clear the air.

  “Thank you,” Cori said quietly, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

  Blake shook his head. “Again with the good manners. I think I’ve always envied your poise.” True enough, even when he felt it drive a wedge between them.

  “You said it makes you crazy.”

  He took Cori’s arm and led her out the front door into the warm spring sunshine, leaving everyone else inside. “I think what drove me crazy was the way you told me just enough of the truth to be honest, yet withheld just enough of the truth to protect yourself. Eventually, it was my downfall, because I didn’t know what to believe, so I thought the worst, just like you said.”

  As soon as he let her go, she stepped away, putting distance between them. It wasn’t a good sign. With effort, Blake held on to his smile, but inside he faltered.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  Cori glanced down at herself and then cast a doubtful gaze on him.

  “Inside and out.”

  Cori tugged on her pink T-shirt, shifted her feet and tried to redirect the conversation. “Did you want to schedule your first visit?”

  “I’m not scheduling any visits.” They were going to live together as a family. Blake wouldn’t let go of that goal. He needed to experience the world through the joy and wonder of his son, and he needed Cori’s warm, giving spirit by his side.

  “Oh.” Cori’s face fell. “But…”

  “I want you to stop breaking my heart.” Blake’s voice sounded like gravel crunching beneath his feet, because he was again giving Cori the power to wound him. This time, he was pretty sure she wouldn’t crush him.

  “What?”

  Hope flitted briefly across her face. Blake saw it in the sparkle in her eyes and the upturn of her beautiful mouth.

  “It’s getting to be a habit with you.” He allowed himself a small smile. Blake wanted to enfold Cori in his embrace and never let her go. But there was the risk of not clearing the secrets away.

  After a moment of consideration, Cori waved her hand dismissively. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but you shouldn’t punish Michael after the progress you’ve made.” Her words had an angry edge.

  “He won’t be punished.”

  Cori looked confused.

  Michael popped out onto the porch. “Did you ask Mommy to marry you?”

  Blake laughed. “Nope. Go back inside.” So much for his son’s ability to keep a secret. He’d have to remember that come Christmas.

  “He didn’t ask her yet,” Michael yelled, running back inside.

  Cori’s eyes flashed. “If this is some scheme of yours and Grandfather’s, you’d better think again.” She pushed past him into the house, heading for her suitcase. “I won’t let him buy you.”

  “Wait a minute.” Now who was thinking the worst? He
’d been so close. He couldn’t lose Cori, now that he had Michael’s love and support.

  Cori yanked up the suitcase handle and stomped back toward the door, wheeling the black bag behind her, bouncing it off the steps, and seemingly over his heart. Blake needed to convince her this wasn’t a joke. Groveling seemed the best route.

  “I admit, I asked your grandfather to mend things between you two. I suggested he apologize.” Blake stood in the entry, watching Cori practically race out of his life. “But what goes on between the two of us doesn’t concern anyone else.”

  Cori’s sandals slapped angrily on the paving stones.

  “Everything I said to Michael applies to you,” Blake called before launching himself down the steps after her. “I’ve been an ass.”

  “Understatement of the year,” Cori tossed over her shoulder.

  “I know I’m not good enough for you, but I’m going to take care of you and Michael, I promise.”

  “I don’t know where you hooked this inferiority complex of yours, but I’d throw it back. Grandfather told you he doesn’t hire idiots.”

  Blake’s frustration snuck past his best intentions. “Fine, Cori. I’m the best damn thing that ever happened to you and if you don’t listen to me now, I’ll just follow you to L.A. and prove it. I suddenly have a lot of time on my hands.” He wasn’t about to let her leave him again, not without a fight. He stopped next to her at the Mustang’s trunk.

  Cori struggled to put the suitcase handle down before giving up and tossing the bag in the trunk with the handle extended.

  She’d reverted to the Messina silence. Blake took a deep breath, reaching for humbleness. “Please. I couldn’t trust you before. Every time I did, you crushed me by not telling me everything.”

  She kept her face averted. “And what happened in the past hour to change your mind?”

  “Michael’s baby book.” Blake reached past her and slid the handle home.

  She spun on him. “Did you call a psychic hotline? You’ve never seen Michael’s baby book.”

  “No, but Jen has.”

  Cori tossed her hands and headed back for the house, huffing dramatically as she stomped around the back of his truck. Blake dogged her, then swung Cori around to face him before she reached the steps.

  “Why did you write my name in his book? You owe me that much, at least,” Blake paused. “No. That’s wrong. I owe you. My career. My livelihood. A home for Jen.”

  Some of the fight in Cori’s eyes dimmed. She looked away, opened her mouth to explain, and closed it. Then tried again. “I couldn’t bear the thought of Michael thinking the worst of himself. Of me. Of his father. Since I couldn’t risk writing his name on the birth certificate, I had to find a place where I could be honest.”

  “You gave up everything to protect us.” Even though Blake had assumed that was the truth, hearing it from Cori caused his heart to swell into his throat. She had loved him once.

  Cori nodded. “But the book was personal. Something just for Michael and me, so that I could tell him one day.”

  “And me. You kept so much from me that I couldn’t trust you, no matter how much my heart wanted to.” Blake’s hands slid down Cori’s arms to her hands. He gave them a gentle squeeze. “It was that one bit of honesty hidden in plain sight that made everything clear to me. You wanted everyone to know the truth. That’s why you brought the book here.”

  For a moment, Cori looked at Blake in wonder. He could see the truth in her deep brown eyes. Her love was still alive. Then she regained her composure and tugged her hands. But he wasn’t letting her go.

  Cori lifted her chin. “Michael brought the book. I didn’t want him to.”

  “Ouch.” He’d been the one to want honesty. “You know what? That doesn’t matter. Marry me,” he said, dropping to one knee. He sensed it was all or nothing, and he wouldn’t settle for nothing. “On one condition. Complete disclosure. No more secrets between us.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t tell you what a burden a secret like that is. I’ve had to keep things to myself before, but—”

  “No more secrets,” Blake repeated desperately. He wasn’t going to lose her.

  She sighed. “Don’t feel like you have to marry me just because we have a child together.”

  “I want to marry you. I’m going to be miserable for the rest of my life if I don’t marry you.” Blake tried to look at her with all the love in his heart, but, hell, he hadn’t had much practice, so he forced out those preciously guarded words, baring his vulnerable heart to her once more. “I love you.”

  Cori studied him, doubt shadowing her eyes. “The other night, you never said anything about love.”

  “I was an idiot, trying to protect my heart because I was sure you’d leave me, because I didn’t understand why you kept Michael a secret from me. And because I always think the worst. But now that I know I’m good enough for you, I’ll make it up to you. I love you.” He stood and cradled her face in his hands, then placed a tender kiss on her lips. “You’ll hear those words about a million more times if you marry me.”

  “Just say yes,” Jen yelled from the front door. “Don’t leave him to raise me alone.”

  Michael giggled, standing in front of her.

  Cori smiled. “How could you even think you weren’t good enough for me?”

  “Because I’m slow and insecure.” He knew his answering smile was goofy, but he didn’t care.

  “You’re not either. Look how far you’ve come on your own.” Cori’s smile faltered. “My job. Your job.” She looked toward the living room windows, then back to Blake. “Him. How can this possibly work?”

  It came down to her family. Nobody was smiling now. “All we can do is try,” Blake said, but his words lacked conviction. He needed a miracle here. Something to convince Cori their love would survive. An image of Sophia, before she became sick came to mind. She’s always been able to make the old man see reason.

  “Would it help,” Salvatore Messina called from the front door. “If I said I wanted you to stay?”

  Cori gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She looked up at Blake and then back to the windows. “I never thought I’d hear him say that.”

  Blake nodded, silently sending his thanks to Sophia. For surely, her influence was at work.

  “We all want you to stay,” Blake said, leading Cori away from the door and farther up the driveway in search of some privacy.

  He had to ask for the words he hadn’t yet heard from her today. “You do love me, right?”

  “You know I do.” And the way her eyes met his without hesitation, begging him to kiss her, Blake knew she’d never stopped loving him. A love that strong could endure anything now that they were on equal footing.

  He kissed her soundly, sealing the pact of love between them, taking her kiss as his answer.

  “We’ll start planning the wedding then,” Mr. Messina called.

  “Do you think I could be in it?” Jen asked.

  “Me, too?” Michael chimed in.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Mr. Messina replied, already taking the helm.

  Cori gently pushed away from Blake, laughing, to ask, “Do you think this is how our family is going to be? Everyone having their own say?”

  “Yes, love. I don’t think your grandfather will be the only one to speak his mind.” No more Messina silences. “It’s not going to be easy. Family never is. But this family has changed a lot in the past week or so, and I think everyone will be on more equal terms.”

  Michael flew down the steps and wrapped himself around Blake’s leg. “Daddy!”

  “Welcome home, love,” Blake whispered against her cheek, one hand on his son’s head, and one hand tangled in Cori’s hair, happier than he’d been in years.

  ISBN: 978-1-4592-4068-1

  MICHAEL’S FATHER

  Copyright © 2003 by Melinda Wooten.

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