Broken Love (Broken 4)

He lifted a brow. “It depends. If I deem it something she doesn’t need to know, then yes.”

“Well, how do I know if you will deem it something she needs to know or not before I tell you?”

He shrugged. “Don’t know. Guess you’ll have to tell me to find out.”

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I shook my head. “Never mind. I’ll deal with it.”

The papers he had been looking at dropped to the desk. “Would it make you feel better if I promised not to tell her?”

“Yes. It really would. I’m not even sure I should be telling you.”

He leaned back in the chair and rested his chin on his fingers like he always does when he is intrigued. “Well hell, now I want to know.”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure you do, but I feel like I need to tell you.”

He dropped his hands. “Ryder, is everything okay? You look a bit lost.”

Swallowing hard, I took in a deep breath. Was this right of me to be telling my father Kate was pregnant when she died? I’d hardly slept a wink last night thinking about it. If it would have been my daughter, I think I would have wanted to know. My mother on the other hand, I didn’t think she should know. It would only make the loss that much more.

“I am, Dad. I’m so conflicted on if I should say anything or keep this to myself.”

“Only you can decide.”

I nodded. “Ava found a diary hidden in a secret compartment of the desk in the old stone house.”

“Who’s diary was it?”

Swallowing hard, I barely spoke the word, “Kate’s.”

He sat forward. “Kate’s? She found a diary that was Kate’s?”

I nodded.

“When?”

“The same day she found the family Bible.”

He constricted his face. “Why didn’t she tell anyone?”

“She did. She told me and Jennifer and we both agreed because of the very private things written in the diary, and the fact that Kate hid it so well, that she would not want Mom of all people reading it.”

He looked out the window for a moment before agreeing. “I agree. I don’t think your mother should know about it. Has Ava read it?”

“Yes. It’s weird that she even found it, Dad. Ever since the first day we stayed in that cabin, Ava’s been saying she feels a presence there and she swears it’s Kate.”

My father smiled warmly. “They are so much alike. Even down to the designing. It’s as if fate brought her into your life.”

“I know. But Ava told me something last night that she herself has been debating about.”

His eyes filled with worry. “Ryder, is this something Kate would want me to know?”

My heart ached. It would have been something she would have wanted all of us to know … but on her terms.

“I think so … eventually. She’d want us to know in her own little way. Her terms.”

With a chuckle, he closed his eyes. “I miss he

r. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her. Sometimes I think I see her in a crowd and I have to catch my breath.”