The Marine's Secret Daughter

by Carrie Nichols

  Meg pushed the bowl away before she mixed the batter too much. “Not as much as they love to gossip. I don’t want Fiona hurt.”

  “Oh, I’m sure it’s not that bad. You’re a wonderful mother and everyone knows it.” Doris gave a discreet cough. “And you can’t expect someone like your Riley Cooper to go unnoticed.”

  “He’s not my anything,” Meg said, but after last night, her assertion had lost its vehemence. She sighed and her shoulders drooped. “He’s not staying. He’ll be gone as soon as his leave is up.”

  “What about Fiona?” Doris set a platter next to the griddle. “Surely he wants to be a part of her life.”

  “You know?” Meg’s jaw dropped. “But...how?”

  Doris gently squeezed her arm. “Anyone seeing them together would suspect. And observing your nervousness clinched it for me.”

  “That obvious, huh?”

  “I’m afraid so.” Doris nodded.

  Meg plopped scoopfuls of batter onto the griddle. “I’m sure he’ll want to be involved once he finds out.”

  “Good Lord, you mean he doesn’t know?” Doris shook her head. “It’s none of my business, but these things have a way of coming out anyway. And it’s hard not to miss, dear. There’s a striking resemblance.”

  Meg had always considered the resemblance between Fiona and Riley to be obvious, but she wasn’t sure if that was all in her head. Doris confirmed it wasn’t. “I’m trying to figure out how. Liam knows, but I swore him to secrecy. Do you think my dad suspects at all?”

  Doris glanced out the window. “I have to assume Tim hasn’t put two and two together yet. Riley’s still in one piece out there. Huh, I always thought Fiona looked like you until I saw them together.”

  “I know. Mini Cooper, right?”

  Doris laughed. “If you’d like, I can suggest Tim and I take Fiona for a walk down by the lake before we leave.”

  “Thanks.” Meg flipped the first batch of pancakes. “That would help. I don’t know what his reaction will be and I wouldn’t want Fiona around.”

  “That might be best. We can keep her occupied for a bit longer.”

  “Thanks.” Meg slipped the pancakes onto the waiting platter. “I hate to disappoint Dad yet again when he finds out.”

  Doris tilted her head. “Disappoint your dad? Whatever do you mean, dear?”

  Staring down at her feet, Meg tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “I know how much I disappointed him when I got pregnant at nineteen and then dropped out of college.”

  “I can assure you, Meg, you did not disappoint him.” Doris laid a comforting hand on her back. “He’s told me over and over how proud he is of you, how hard you’ve worked to finish your education and what a wonderful mother you are.”

  Meg blinked against the burning in the back of her eyes. “Really?”

  Doris rubbed Meg’s shoulder blades. “Yes, of course.”

  Meg sniffed. “But...”

  “If anything, he’s upset with himself. He’d told me more than once how he let you down when your mom died. I know he fell apart and you stepped up.” She shook her head. “Instead of letting you lean on him when you lost your mother, Tim said both he and Liam leaned on you and he admired how strong you are.”

  Meg flipped the last batch of pancakes. “But...he never...”

  Doris set the silverware next to the plates. “Of course he didn’t. Tim—your dad—is pretty old school, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

  “But he told you.” Meg winced. She sounded like Fiona when she whined about fairness.

  “Because he knew I wouldn’t get all emotional when he did. He could say it in a very matter-of-fact way.”

  “Yeah, when you put it like that.” Meg set the platter of pancakes on the table as the tension knotting her stomach relaxed. “Better let them know breakfast is ready.”

  Meg’s stomach knotted again when Fiona insisted on sitting next to Riley. Her dad was watching the two of them, seated side by side, and the resemblance was unmistakable.

  After studying the two of them, her dad turned to Doris. A silent communication passed between them and when he turned back to Riley, his eyebrows crashed together and his expression turned grim.

  Meg’s stomach rolled. Surely, her dad knew better than to say anything in front of Fiona. Thank goodness her daughter was too excited about being home to pick up on the sudden tension.

  * * *

  Riley glanced around the table at the others, sensing the sudden tension. He’d attempted to gain Meg’s attention, but she refused to make eye contact. This had nothing to do with their spending the night together. He was sure of it, despite that being the most obvious explanation of her avoiding looking at him.

  “Mr. Riley?”

  He turned his attention to Fiona. She was looking at him with eyes the same shade of gray as his. But that wasn’t possible. Meg would never do that to him. Sweat beaded above his upper lip. And if someone had asked him, he would’ve sworn he’d never do something as shameful as abandoning the mother of his child.

  Thoughts whirled around in his head until it felt as though that frag grenade had exploded inside his skull. He rubbed his temple, trying to ease the ache.

  “Mr. Riley? Can you pour my syrup? It comes out too fast.” She leaned closer. “Mommy says I’m not ’sposed to drown the pancakes.”

  As if on autopilot, he managed to smile and pour the correct amount of syrup. His heart stuttered when she smiled her appreciation and he knew he would fight to his last breath to protect this child.

  My God, was it possible? Could this precious little girl be his? His and Meg’s? But, no, Meg wouldn’t do that to him. Would she? He glanced at Meg but she ducked her head.

  That would explain Mac throwing daggers at him every time he looked his way. But Mac had been his usual self when he’d first arrived. So he must’ve seen something after he’d arrived. Something like father and daughter standing side by side.

  And he couldn’t blame Mac for being angry. Thinking that he’d abandoned the mother of his child, even if it was unintentional, filled him with burning shame.

  Fiona drew his gaze again. He hadn’t noticed it at first because her curly red hair had blinded him to her individual features. But those eyes and those dimples...

  “So, about the roof. I—” Meg began.

  “It’s all sorted,” her dad said, his tone cool.

  “I’m going to buy the shingles and some of your dad’s firemen friends will put it on,” he heard himself telling Meg and willed her to look at him.

  Meg shook her head. “But I—”

  Mac speared another pancake and plopped it on his plate. “You’ll need to feed ’em and lay in a good supply of beer.”

  Meg stared at her plate. “Riley shouldn’t have to pay for my roof.”

  “Maybe it’s time the boy stepped up,” Mac muttered.

  Okay, here it comes. But no, Mac wouldn’t say anything in front of Fiona. And neither would he, despite the growing need to demand answers.

  Doris laid her hand on her husband’s arm. “I was telling Meg that you and I would take Fiona down to the lake after breakfast. I want to see the princess tree.”

  Mac frowned at Doris. “A princess tree? What the—”

  Meg interrupted, “Don’t you remember when I was little, Dad? The poor tree was struck by lightning and grew all misshapen. I was so sad, you made up a story how it was waiting for the prince to come back to his princess.”

  Mac scowled. “That was ages ago. Don’t tell me that gnarled old thing is still there.”

  “Yup and still standing.” Meg glanced at Doris, but still refused to look him in the eye.

  Fiona bounced in her seat. “It’s still waiting for the prince, Grampa Mac.”

  Mac shook his head. “Well, I—”

  Doris squeezed
his arm. “Fiona wants to show it to me, don’t you, sweetie?”

  Fiona wiped her mouth. “I found it and Mommy told me how the king put it there to keep his princess safe while he was fighting the dragons. Are you coming, too, Mommy?”

  I’m Fiona, like the princess. Her words came back and took on new meaning. His heart squeezed into his throat, choking him. Is that what Meg had told her to explain his absence in her life? Fairy tales instead of the truth? Instead of telling him so he could do the right thing?

  Doris leaned over and hugged Fiona. “I think your mommy and Mr. Riley are going to clean up the dishes while we go.”

  Oh, yeah, they were going to clean up some things, but it sure as hell wouldn’t be dishes.

  Chapter Ten

  Meg stacked the plates and brought them to the sink. Turning on the hot water, she held her hands under it, hoping to warm her chilled fingers. Her heart was beating so hard it hurt. Her mind whirled so fast she couldn’t separate her thoughts. Oh, God, she needed more time. Yeah, as if that would make a difference.

  He reached around her to shut the water off. “Does everyone on the planet know it but me?”

  How dare he! She ground her teeth in anger and frustration. She crossed her arms to keep from reaching out and clocking him.

  His eyes went hard and he stepped farther away from her. “Damn it all, Meghan, how could you?”

  “How could I...?” She pressed a hand to her chest, leaving a wet palm print.

  His nostrils flared. “You heard me. I expected better of you.”

  “You expected? What would you have preferred? That I didn’t have her?” She choked on the last word.

  “Of course not. I—”

  “Or maybe I should’ve given her up. Would that have suited you and your life plans better?” The mere thought of life without Fiona shredded her and she choked back a sob. “My parents said they’d back me whatever decision I made and—”

  “See? That’s it right there.” He leaned closer. “You talked it over with your parents and not me.”

  “They were there for me and you weren’t. So you can take all that self-righteousness and moral superiority, Riley Cooper, and stuff it,” she told him through gritted teeth. Her eyes burned and her vision blurred. “I did everything I could to contact you and all I got was silence. So don’t you stand there now and blame this all on me. What the hell was I supposed to do?”

  She uncrossed her arms and poked a finger in his chest. “I did everything I knew to get your attention. Your lack of response told me all I needed to know, and I had a child to think of. I had to focus on Fiona and not some guy who couldn’t be bothered.”

  “You knew where I was.” He took a step back. “What about the Red Cross? They could’ve—”

  “Excuse me, but I was a little busy having a baby. Your baby, Riley Cooper, yours.” She stepped closer and poked him again. “When and how was I supposed to gain your attention? Huh, can you tell me that?”

  She swiped at her wet cheeks with the back of her hand. Damn. She hated crying in front of him, but the Band-Aid had been torn off and she was bleeding as if the wound was fresh. “What about all those letters I sent you?”

  “I spent a lot of time in places without access and I—”

  “And I was taking care of a newborn and a dying mother.” She gave up trying to stop the tears, but she hated that they were even flowing. “And after she died my dad and brother looked to me as if I had the answers. Well, guess what? I didn’t have a freakin’ clue. So I gave up trying to reach you. I figured you couldn’t care less whether you knew about it or not.”

  “Exactly how hard did you try?”

  She planted her hands on her hips. “You may not have read any of those letters you returned, but you saw how many I sent. I mentioned my pregnancy in more than one. The last one said you had a daughter and I intended to do my best by her. Care to explain why you chose to return them instead of reading?”

  “After I left, I realized you were still so young. You had college ahead of you and your dream of being a teacher. Hell, I didn’t even know if I was going to make it back in one piece. I didn’t want to rope you into a life-changing commitment before you—”

  “Try having a child. I consider that the ultimate in lifetime commitments.”

  His eyes were as cold and hard as flint. “She’s not some trophy you get to keep because you disapproved of my behavior.”

  He was right, but that fact fueled her anger. “Did you even bother to read any of them?”

  He rubbed a hand over his face. “The first one. That was enough for me to know I couldn’t put you through the hell my life might become. By the time I got that letter, I’d already seen enough to change me forever.”

  “So did I and I didn’t even have to leave home to do it.”

  He flinched and she hoped her barbs had managed to hit an artery. Or two. She’d gladly stand here watching him bleed out and—Oh, who was she kidding? They needed to work together for Fiona’s sake. What would happen to her baby if they couldn’t come to terms with what they’d done?

  She heaved a deep sigh. “The important thing now is Fiona. She didn’t ask to be born to two screwed-up parents.”

  He flinched. “You don’t need to lecture me about the parent lottery.”

  She brushed the fresh tears off her face. “What happens between us now is only important because it affects Fiona.”

  “I may have screwed up, but that doesn’t compare with what you’ve done, Meghan.” He covered his mouth with his hand, his fingers and thumb digging into his cheeks as if he were locking his words inside.

  “I know that.” Her anger was spent and in its place was a sadness that pressed down on her.

  “I had every right to know... Do you have any idea how I feel when I think about all the things I’ve missed?” He dropped his hands to his sides ands blew out his breath. “You should’ve done everything in your power to tell me.”

  “I tried and you didn’t care enough about me to open a letter.”

  He jerked back and tugged on his hair.

  Regretting her harsh words even if he deserved them, she attempted to clear her clogged throat, failed, but managed to croak out, “You can get to know her now.”

  “Oh, you can bet on that.”

  She clasped her shaking hands together. He couldn’t take her baby away...could he? No, her dad and Liam wouldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t let that happen.

  “Has...” He swallowed. “Has she asked about me at all?”

  “Only in the abstract, but I expected that to change once she starts school.”

  “Did...” He swallowed. “Did you tell her that story about the king fighting dragons for the princess?”

  “I know it doesn’t make up for my bad choices.” She closed her eyes against the pain. “But I’ve made sure she had male role models in her life.”

  “Your dad and Liam?”

  She nodded and wiped her face on her sleeve.

  “Here.” Riley held her chin in his hand and used the kitchen towel to wipe her face.

  “Thanks,” she whispered, but he shook his head.

  He held up the towel. “Where do you want this?”

  “Give it to me and I’ll put it in the laundry.” She grabbed the towel and set it aside, getting a fresh one from the drawer and setting it on the counter. “Thanks.”

  “For what? I haven’t—”

  Voices on the porch prevented them from saying anything more. Meg plastered a smile on her face as Fiona burst through the door, followed by Doris.

  “Mommy, I saw a frog.”

  “You did?” Meg didn’t dare look at Riley, but felt every inch of his presence as she wiped her hands on her jeans.

  Fiona nodded, her pigtails bouncing like marionettes. “Uh-huh, but Mrs. Grampa Mac wouldn�
�t let me kiss it to see if it was a prince.”

  “Thank goodness for Mrs. Grampa Mac. We don’t need any princes cluttering up the place.” She straightened Fiona’s glasses.

  “But, Mommy...”

  “But, Fiona...” Meg smoothed her flyaway hair and asked Doris, “Where’s Dad?”

  Doris glanced from her to Riley, who was staring at Fiona, his expression a mixture of longing and awe. “He’s checking Matilda before we leave.”

  “Matilda?” Riley asked.

  Fiona giggled. “That’s what Grampa Mac calls his big camper. Isn’t that funny? Don’t you think so, Mr. Riley?”

  “Yes, I do.” Riley smiled at Fiona and nodded to Doris, but he held himself stiffly. “I’ll go see if he needs any help.”

  Fiona started to follow. “I wanna help.”

  Doris called her back and said, “You promised me some of those cookies your mom made.”

  Meg mentally shook herself and prodded her daughter toward the kitchen. “Good idea. Milk and cookies. It’s been practically an hour since we ate breakfast.”

  Doris laughed. “We did get some exercise.”

  Meg tried not to think about her dad and Riley in the yard, but that was impossible. She got out the cookies and milk and sat at the table with Fiona and Doris but didn’t hear a word they said.

  She jumped up and excused herself when the door opened. Her dad came inside alone but his face didn’t look as grim as it had been when he’d left for the lake.

  She wrung her hands. “Where’s Riley?”

  “Don’t panic. I didn’t finish him off. He was going over to his place. He said to tell you he’d be back over in a little bit.”

  She silently thanked Doris for keeping Fiona occupied, but she still kept her voice low. “So now you know the truth.”

  Mac stepped back onto the porch and she followed, pulling the door shut.

  Mac glanced over to Riley’s cottage. “He had the guts to face me. I have to give him points for that. He says he wants to make it right.”

  “What if he goes back to Afghanistan?” She and Fiona weren’t enough for him. Riley was going back to his life as if nothing had changed.