Perfect Bastard (Mason Creek)

“Do you have to go?” she asked.

It broke me seeing the worry on her face. If my brother didn’t show up, I would stay or bring her with us. “I wish I didn’t, but I have a job to do. Do you know what a job is?”

She nodded. “Mommy works at the diner.”

“Yeah. Like that. I play baseball. But I’ll be back.”

“Mommy said she’d be back.”

Damn, I was ready to break my contract if I could bring a smile to her face. “Your aunt Avery says your mom would do anything to be here with you. Do you believe that?”

She nodded. And, like resilient kids did, she switched topics. “Can we bring my dollhouse here?”

“Absolutely.” I’d have to pass that duty onto my brother because it was looking more and more like we were going to be late getting to our flight. “Your dad will get it for you.”

“Will he like me?”

The sincerity in her face put a dagger in my heart. “Of course he will.” Then I heard a car pull in. “That should be him.”

Her eyes went wide, and she ran upstairs. I didn’t call her back. The kid had a lot to process, and maybe she needed a few minutes. Besides, I had to have words with my brother alone, anyway.

I stood and took Avery and my suitcases out onto the porch. We were piggybacking on Mitch’s car service. The driver would drive us back to the airport.

My brother stepped out of the car. He wasn’t his normal impeccable self. It appeared he hadn’t shaved in days. I might have felt bad for him, but I was too mad for that.

I met him halfway when the driver asked if the suitcases that were on the porch were going with us. I gave him the go-ahead before laying into my brother. “What the hell, bro? You haven’t answered my calls.”

His eyes were bloodshot, and he smelled of whiskey. “Is she mine?”

Mitch

Nate looked unsure. “You really didn’t know?”

I shook my head slowly. I’d spent the past day or two replaying my memories. There had been rumors that the girl I’d been hanging out with at a summer party before I went back to college was pregnant. But when she hadn’t come around looking for me, I’d assumed the rumors weren’t true or it wasn’t mine.

“I didn’t. I swear,” I said. Dad had a lot of explaining to do.

Nate eyed my carryon bag, the only thing I’d brought. “You know you can’t leave, right? Her mother is missing, in case you didn’t read all my texts. I’ve sent you all Haley’s contact information, including her mother’s name and address and that Agan guy’s cell and sat phone information. Jean has done a lot of digging, but we need boots on the ground. Did you hire the private eye?”

I shook my head because I hadn’t been thinking clearly since his call. I’d cancelled all my appointments and hadn’t left my apartment until today.

“Fine. I’ll get Jean on that, but you have to answer his calls, bro. This is your problem, not mine. Your daughter wants her mommy. Oh, and the dollhouse I got her.”

I aimed a narrow gaze at my brother. “You bought her a dollhouse?”

“Long story. One I could have filled you in on if you’d answered your damn phone. But yes, and she thinks Santa got it for her. Leave it that way. It’s at Haley’s and Avery’s got a key. She won’t give it to you. You’ll have to get with Haley’s mom to get the dollhouse and bring it here. Do you know your daughter has lived in a tiny trailer all her life while you’ve been in your six-million-dollar condo?” He didn’t give me a chance to answer. “Of course you don’t, because you haven’t read my text or emails and probably haven’t listened to my voicemails either.”

I glared at him. “I didn’t know.”

“Whatever. We are late.”

The door opened, and Avery walked hand in hand with my daughter. I’d met Avery briefly when she was in Chicago with Nate. And I’d felt so righteous giving him shit for knocking her up. Now here I was an instant father.

Looking at Zoe’s innocent eyes, wide with fear of me. There was no denying she was mine. She had my eyes, the ones I’d gotten from Mom. And like Nate said, Zoe looked very much like a picture of our mom when she’d been around Zoe’s age.

Nate nudged me in their direction. When we reached the porch, Avery bent down and said to Zoe, “You can call me anytime, and I’ll come back if you need me.”

I needed Avery. She was the only one who’d spent a good amount of time with Zoe. But Nate’s stare warned me not to say anything. I wasn’t given a chance.

Zoe looked at me and asked, “Are you my dad?”