Then there were his eyes.
Oh my God, those eyes. Not quite turquoise and not quite lapis but lit from behind as though they glowed and offset against olive skin and hair that looked black, but the light highlighted it the color of whiskey. As soon as he turned and I connected with his gaze for a fraction of a second, I turned away watching him in the rearview mirror instead, darting my eyes away every few seconds so he wouldn’t catch me.
My skin felt alive; an odd tension started in my ears and ran down my neck and back and settled in a throbbing lump between my legs.
I didn’t know he was my father until after I dropped the woman back off and my work partner turned in the paperwork for the day, showing the names of the responsible parties. And right there, next to Mrs. Morrison’s name, was his.
Geo Klement. My father.
There’s no way more than one Geo Klement is living in this area. It’s him.
The one I’d come to this city to look for was the man I’d fantasized about all day.
I see him twice a week with Mrs. Morrison. The little lady told me he’s her neighbor, even though she said he lives a block away on the nicer side of the neighborhood. Thank goodness when he puts her on the bus it’s mid-way back where the wheelchair lift is, and my partner does the face to face.
We drive through his side of town to get to her house, and it’s everything I ever dreamed of growing up. I found his address in the files at work as well.
He probably has a perfect blond wife that stays home with the kids. A Tiffany diamond on her finger and they take family vacations twice a year to some beachfront resort. A life I always wanted but will never have. And I don’t want to screw up his life.
I don’t think he’s ever even looked at me.
When I drive, I wear a ball cap and this khaki oversized men’s jacket with my hair up inside the hat so it would be hard even to know if I was a girl.
The worst part is, I’ve been fighting those feelings even though I know who he is.
It’s messing with my mind. Every time I pick up or drop off Mrs. Morrison my belly flips and I blush and do everything I can to not look directly at him. I don’t think he’s ever noticed me, thank goodness. The feelings I have whenever I see him is enough to send a girl running for the nearest Freudian therapist.
“Hey.” Beth’s voice cuts in. “Look.” She tips her head toward the opening in the curtain, and I hear his voice before I see him.
It rumbles like far off thunder. He’s talking to a nurse at the station, and they turn and walk our way.
My heart leaps into my throat.
The nurse is walking ahead of him, and they pass by the curtain without a glance.
I can barely breathe. I’m not sure I’m ready for this.
2
GEO
“DOC.” I TOUCH MY INDEX fingers to my temples trying to process everything that’s happening. “Give a guy a minute. I didn’t even know I was a father until a few hours ago.”
“Yeah.” The salt and pepper haired physician gives me a sympathetic grin. “Heck of a day.”
The nurse that lead me into the room isn’t the nurse taking my blood. This one is young, and I’m clearly picking up the vibe that she’s enjoying having her hands on me even if it’s just my arm.
She swabs the crook of my elbow, and I’m already lightheaded.
“Just a pinch, Mr. Klement.” The blonde nurse smiles and out comes the needle. I grip the arm of the chair and pray I won’t be looking up at the ceiling in the next minute.
Fuck.
The prick of the needle hits my skin, and I look everywhere but down at where she’s working. If I can just keep my eyes away from the actual blood, I may make it through this with some of my pride in place.
I keep my eyes on the clock, counting the seconds until I feel her release the rubber band around my bicep and tape down a cotton ball where she withdrew the needle.
The doctor leans back against the wall in the small lab room as the nurse hands me a Dixie cup full of orange juice, her fingers touching mine longer than necessary.
I grunt, set the cup down on the counter next to me and push it as far away from me as possible. I hate orange juice. I love oranges though. Weird.
The doctor clears his throat and blows out a breath, puffing his cheeks. “Hey, I understand it’s a lot to handle in a short time. But, we’re here now, so I need to know if you want to meet her.”