CHAPTER SIX
Marshall
Reality couldn’t possibly break through the bliss I was feeling after Friday afternoon. Brianna was gorgeous in every way possible—her creamy skin, her curvy figure, and her quivering lips had all put me under a grand spell that I had no intention of breaking.
Until, of course, reality came crashing back into my life on Monday morning.
Lydia called between appointments to confirm that we were still meeting for lunch. I was hesitant to accept the offer for her to purchase lunch, but I did. This was important. I had to meet my son.
With memories of Brianna still circling my brain, I wandered up to the diner with my phone tight in my right palm, anxiety surging through my body. I walked inside, found Lydia, and slowly approached the table, studying the child of five years old who sat in a booster seat next to her.
He gazed at me with wide, curious eyes—eyes like chocolate. Eyes like mine.
His jet-black hair matched my own and he had the makings of my nose as well. The rest of his features favored his mother, but it was so clear that he was mine that I almost decided right then and there to cancel the paternity test.
I sank into the booth across from them. “Hi,” I greeted awkwardly. I held out my hand to Hector. “I’m Marshall.”
“Daddy,” he said while taking my hand in both of his. “Hi, Daddy.”
My lower lip quivered, emotion overwhelming me upon hearing him say that. Lydia didn’t say anything, not yet. She allowed us to acclimate to each other, watching tearfully as the waiter came up to our table. We ordered food quickly and then went back to thick silence, the diner exploding with life around us.
“So,” I whispered. I cleared my throat. “So, about the test.”
“I have the kit right here. I did his swab this morning.”
“Right.”
She handed me a sample swab that was still wrapped in its original packaging. I did the test quickly, hoping nobody noticed me swabbing my mouth in the middle of the diner. She collected the sample, wrapped it in a clean bag, and then gave me a sympathetic smile. “Want to walk with me to the office after this? So you see me drop it off?”
“I would like that, yes.”
Hector perked up. “Daddy, are you going to walk with us?”
I wanted to correct him. I didn’t want him thinking I was his father before it was official. But the way he brightened when he looked at me warmed my heart. “Sure thing, buddy.”
“Maybe we can go to the park.”
“Marshall has to go back to work after we walk,” Lydia replied to my relief, “but maybe we can do that this weekend?” She gazed at me with longing.
I gave a short nod. “How long will the test take?”
“A few days.”
“And then?”
She shrugged. “And we can take it from there.”
“Do you want money? Support?”
She shook her head. “I just want you to know Hector. That’s all.”
Hector beamed as he held up a coloring book. I hadn’t even noticed he was coloring. I was so distracted by the situation that every other detail was fuzzy. But I could see it now.
He looked proud as he said, “I didn’t go outside the lines.”
“That’s a very good job,” I praised with a weak smile. “You did great, Hector.”
“I want to be a doctor one day, but I want to paint, too.”
My grin widened. “What do you want to paint?”
He pointed out the window. “Everything.”
I had never seen my ex-girlfriend look so proud. She used to be super thin, almost weightless, with the kind of sunken features that came from years of drug abuse. But right now, she looked healthy, her skin free of blemishes and her brown hair hanging around her shoulders in waterfall waves.
She nodded. “Hector has big plans for himself.”
“I can see that.”
“He already has his college picked out.”
I chuckled with amusement. “That’s way ahead of most people, buddy.”
“I just want to make sure I’m doing things right,” Hector stated. “Like you.”
I frowned slightly. I haven’t always done the right things, I thought sullenly. But I plan on doing that today.
I turned my frown around, grinning warmly as I said, “I’ll be there every step of the way.”
Lydia hiccupped. Her eyes misted with tears and the tip of her nose glowed red, lips tight in a line.
“I promise,” I said with conviction, my beastly dragon puffing up with sincerity, “that I’ll protect him, Lydia. Even if he isn’t mine.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Positive.”
“That means...so much…” She pressed a napkin to her nose. “He needs a friend. He’s not making a lot of friends at school. And he needs training, too. You know because he’s a…” She glanced around. “Well, he’s like you.”
I smiled. “Budding wings already, huh?”
Hector lowered his voice, saying, “Mommy says it’s puberty.”
“Mommy is right about that. I’ll be sure to teach you everything I know.”
“Thank you, Marsh,” Lydia said while taking my hand in hers. “Thank you for everything.”
I spent the rest of my break with Lydia and Hector before walking them to the clinic. We dropped off the sample, gave the nurse our contact information, and then headed back to the diner, lingering in the parking lot. I gave Hector a tight hug and squeezed Lydia as well.
When I returned to work, I felt like I had aged ten years.
What was going on in my life?
I sat quietly in my office, trying to avoid my appointments. But that was silly. I couldn’t avoid my responsibilities forever—and that included Hector.
I made a promise. And my word was my bond.
Geraldine appeared in the doorway. “Sir?”
I perked up. “Yes?”
“Your 2:30 is waiting for you. Should I delay?”
I shook my head. “I’m on my way. Thank you, Geraldine.”