“But he wants to be alone?”
“Yes.” I gesture to the pile of papers on my desk. “I would’ve taken the time. Whatever he needed.” I hope Rock knows I didn’t choose work over Marcel.
“It’s not you, hon. He needs to be alone and sort it out. Maybe when he gets back, you two could take off together for a bit.”
That would be nice. “I hope so.”
“Everything okay with the house?”
The question has the flavor of fatherly concern, and for the first time it hits me, really hits me, this man isn’t just Marcel’s MC president—he’s going to be my father-in-law. “It’s fantastic. He’s in his country-boy element. He and my brother were discussing buying baby chicks and building a coop.” My voice falters. Why am I rambling about chickens? “Before the news.”
“If you need something while we’re gone, don’t be afraid to call Murphy or Z.”
“I will.”
He stares at the stack of files on my desk. “You ever deal with a case like this?”
“Like this?” A long list of the cases I’ve handled spins in my mental filing cabinet. Nothing seems to match. “An adult discovering paternity? Not quite. Children, one or two teenagers. But not an adult.”
“How does it work out?”
Holy shit. My earlier unease returns. What do I say that won’t offend him? “It’s hard. If the father already has another family, sometimes his first reaction is denial for fear of angering his wife or losing his family.”
“Marcel doesn’t have to worry about that. Hope already treats him like a…younger brother.”
“Yes, but you’re getting ready to have a baby. I think he’s worried this has lessened that experience for you somehow. To find out you’re already a father.”
“It hasn’t lessened anything,” he insists. “I’m worried he’s pissed that I didn’t figure it out sooner.”
The admission frees me to give my honest assessment. “Sometimes the children are angry. They feel abandoned. But I don’t think Marcel feels that way at all. I think he’s almost…embarrassed? He already has no love lost for his mother, and this only multiplies that hatred.” And oh, how I understand Marcel’s hatred.
“Shit, yeah. I don’t blame him there. But I can’t really blame her either. I doubt she knew. If she was with someone else…”
I refuse to point out that Marcel’s mother took advantage of Rock. Nice to me or not, he’s still a biker. Giving any indication that he’s a victim in the situation won’t be received well. “You must’ve been a kid yourself,” I say.
“Not that much of a kid, apparently.” The dark humor coloring his words reminds me so much of Marcel.
“Don’t take this the wrong way...”
“Speak freely, Charlotte. You’re not going to offend me.”
I’d like to believe him, but life experience has taught me to be careful with my “smart mouth,” as my uncle always called it. “I know you’re rather…stoic and don’t share your emotions. Especially with the brothers. Your role as their president doesn’t really afford you that luxury.”
His gray eyes widen and he nods slowly, encouraging me to continue.
“What do you want?” I ask.
He doesn’t even hesitate. “I want to make things up to him.”
“Rock, there’s nothing you can do about the past. But going forward, I think if you want to develop this…new relationship, you’re both going to have to be honest with each other about your expectations and emotions surrounding being father and son.”
He blinks as if I’d slapped him.
My body tightens with fear. Maybe I said too much.
Slowly, he stands. “Thank you for letting me drop in on you unannounced.”
I stand as well. “Anytime.” Did this conversation help or hurt the situation?
Either way, it’s only the beginning of what’s to come.
And nothing will ever be the same.