“Now?”
“Yes, now! Jesus, how heartless are you?”
She inhaled a shuddering breath. “Yes, of course.” She looked toward the house. “Alyssa, baby, can you come here for a minute?”
Alyssa trotted across the lawn. I looked away, working to pull my emotions together.
When she reached us, I turned to her, noting the worry in her expression as she looked from Sinclair to me and back again. “What’s wrong?”
To her credit, Sinclair mustered a smile. “There’s nothing wrong, baby. In fact, it’s good. I think you’ll be happy.”
“Then why do you both look so sad?”
Sinclair looked down. “Because I made a mistake and I hurt Wyatt. And…it might hurt you too. I’m sorry for that. I really am.”
Alyssa’s brows furrowed together. “What’s going on?”
Sinclair took a deep breath. “Remember when I told you that your father was gone?”
“Yes. He didn’t know about me otherwise he’d have stayed.”
Sinclair looked at me, probably because she wanted brownie points for not painting me as a fucking asshole.
“Yes, that’s right. Well, he’s back.”
Alyssa’s face looked stricken, and my heart fell.
“Is he going to take me away? I like it here with you and Wyatt.” Alyssa looked up at me. “Can’t you be my dad?”
Jesus, how much could a heart take.
Sinclair put her hand on Alyssa’s shoulders and bent over to look her in the eyes. “Honey, Wyatt is your father.”
“What?” Her brows furrowed together as she looked between us both.
“When I learned I was having a baby, he’d already left and I couldn’t find him. But now he’s here and he wants to be your father.”
“Like adopt me?” She didn’t seem to be grasping what Sinclair was telling her.
“No, baby. He’s your real father.”
She still looked confused. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, looking at me.
“Wyatt didn’t know either. Not until now. I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
Alyssa stood quietly, apparently processing everything. She looked at me. “Does that mean I can call you Daddy?”
I choked up at the well of emotion that bubbled up. “I’d be honored if you called me Daddy.”
Then she smiled. “We’re a real family.” She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me. I finally had what I wanted, except now, it was tainted. I couldn’t imagine ever forgiving Sinclair.
30
Sinclair
My dreams were crashing and burning. I could see it in Wyatt’s eyes. Whatever he’d felt for me before was gone. Now, he felt resentment and loathing toward me. The only sweet spot in this moment was Alyssa asking him if she could call him Daddy. The emotion that swept over his face was so raw and real. It was the final confirmation that I was a terrible, terrible person.
“What’s going on out here? Supper is getting cold,” Peggy called from the house.