I’m lost in thought as Kinsley and I walk down Delancey Street toward the Japanese restaurant we agreed to meet everyone at—after Jax assured me Lachlan wouldn’t be there. I didn’t want to go out, but Celeste mentioned going out for hibachi in front of Kinsley at her soccer game—the first game Lachlan has missed—and I had no valid reason to say no, especially since I’ve been sucking lately at the whole parenting thing and she could use a good meal.
So when someone calls out my name, I don’t question it, simply turning around to locate the owner of the voice. And that’s when I come face-to-face with the last person I ever hoped to see again. I’m in such shock over who I’m staring at, I completely forget whose hand I’m holding. That is until she asks, “Who’s this?” and I glance down at the who in question. My heart pounds against my ribcage as my past and present collide. I try to think of a way to turn back time, but it’s not possible.
“I’m Kinsley,” my daughter answers for me, extending her hand to politely shake the woman’s hand. I watch in fear as the woman eyes Kinsley. She’s doing the math in her head, recognizing her bright blue eyes, her button nose, and her lips, the top one slightly fuller than the bottom. Her chocolate brown hair that’s about five shades lighter than my black. She’s putting it all together. I want to run, but I know it will only make matters worse.
I can tell when it all finally clicks. Her sharp gaze meets mine, and her lips—the top one slightly fuller than the bottom—form into a thin line. Her nostrils flare in anger as she says, “You had my son’s child and never told me.”
I flinch at her words, but don’t deny it. Jacquelyn Thompson isn’t a dumb woman. She knows that standing right in front of her, is in fact, Rick’s biological daughter.
“There you guys are!” I hear from behind, breaking me out of my shocked state. Kinsley, having no clue what has just happened, releases my hand and runs over to Jax. Only when I turn around, it’s not Jax she’s running over to. It’s Lachlan.
“Daddy! You’re here!” she squeals. “I missed you so, so much.” My eyes flit from Jaquelyn to Lachlan and Kinsley. I had no idea she was going to say such a thing, but I should’ve known. She flat out said Lachlan marrying me meant he would be her new daddy, and she’s only six. She doesn’t understand being engaged isn’t the same as actually getting married.
Lachlan takes her in his arms and kisses her cheek, not correcting her. I knew he wouldn’t. He would never say something to upset her. As I watch everyone talking and laughing, I feel like I’m on the outside, watching a train plowing forward without any working brakes, and I’m the only one who can see the collision that’s about to occur. But I can’t speak. I can’t warn anyone. Who would I warn anyway? I’m the one on the train that’s about to wreck. Just as I finish that thought, Jacquelyn makes her presence known, right in front of everyone.
“Why is my granddaughter calling that hoodlum Daddy?” She never was one to mince words. “All this time, you’ve had Rick’s baby, and you’ve been hiding her from us, allowing another man to stake his claim on her. How dare you!” Her hand comes up, and I should block her, but I don’t. Instead, I stand in my place as her palm strikes my cheek, and my face whips to the side from the force.
“Mommy!” Kinsley cries out. Damn it! She saw. “Don’t hurt my mommy!” she screams.
“What the hell!” Jax yells, stomping over to Jacquelyn. “You better walk away right now before I call the cops on you for attacking my sister.”
Jacquelyn doesn’t even flinch, her eyes staying locked on me. “You will be hearing from my attorney,” she hisses.
“For fucking what?” Jase asks. I didn’t even realize he was standing on the other side of me.
“For keeping my granddaughter away from me,” she says, and I don’t have to hear what she says next to know where she’s going with this. The entire reason why I never told her about Kinsley. “She’s my blood, and I have the right to see her. Six years lost. I will see you in court.” And with those words, my nightmare has come true. She’s going to sue me for visitation, maybe even custody.
She turns on her heel and walks over to the town car waiting for her, taking one last look at me—or maybe Kinsley—before she slides into the backseat and disappears.
My chest rises and falls, my breaths quickening. My hand reaches up to my throat. It’s hard to catch my breath. I feel dizzy, lightheaded. The world around me is blurry. I try to speak, but my vocal cords are cut off by the huge lump in my throat. I’m going to pass out. I can feel it. I can’t catch my breath. I turn to my brother, trying to tell him something is wrong, but then everything goes black.