Chapter Four
Alyssa
My hands wrinkled from the warm water as I rinsed the last dish. I stared out the window, watching Holly as she ran through the backyard, and then heard the slam of the back door. Like a tornado, she rushed into the house and into the kitchen where I finished cleaning dinner dishes.
Her hands rose to her hips, stern and stout as her lips pursed together with an accusing look. What now?
“Where have you been?” I questioned as my eyes gave her a once over.
“Down the street,” Holly smirked, something odd about her behavior.
“You know I don’t like you taking off like that,” I scorned.
My tone didn’t change Holly’s expression of seriousness. I sighed at the sight of my eleven-year-old daughter, far too grown for her own good, and an attitude already matching most teenagers.
“When were you gonna tell me, or weren’t you?” she snapped, her hands tightening around her hips.
My heartbeat fastened, and my wrinkled hands began to tremble.
“Is that where you were?” I gasped, suddenly fearing that she’d met the man who had no idea he was her father.
“Yes,” she snapped.
“Holly, you can’t just show up there. Did you see him?” I questioned.
“Tina told me he was back. I wanted to see for myself,” she insisted.
Tina was her best friend, and the nosiest little ten-year-old I’d ever met. Why did she have to stick her nose into everything—into this?
I leaned against the counter, mainly to brace myself against the weakness in my knees. I’d never kept Liam a secret from Holly, telling her the truth about our relationship and the fact he knew nothing about her. Why would she go there?
“He didn’t see me,” she said softly, her eyes shifting to her feet.
I watched as her hands fell from her hips, and her entire demeanor changed to the more familiar, sweet little girl I knew and loved. I hated this for her. I hated that she didn’t have her father in her life, but I hated more that he was here now, and he knew nothing about her.
“But you saw him?” I inquired.
Her head nodded, and it was obvious she was holding back tears.
“I didn’t think he’d ever come back, but he did,” she beamed.
The hope in her eyes made my heart ache. I had no plans on telling Liam about her—none.
“Holly, you know he has no idea you’re his daughter,” I scolded.
“He will. One look at me, and he’ll know,” she insisted.
I knew those words were ones she’d heard time and time again from her grandmother. Mom didn’t know how to keep her mouth shut.
“It’s not that simple,” I explained.
“What’s not that simple?” my mother’s voice questioned.
I looked up, past Holly and saw Maria standing in the doorway. She held a brown bag from the diner in one hand and a wind chime in the other.
“I want to meet my dad,” Holly quickly piped up to answer.
Maria’s arm wrapped around Holly’s shoulder as she placed the items in her hands onto the table. Holly was almost as tall as her grandmother, and as I looked at her it was clear that she was right. One look and he’d know.
“I think she should get to know her dad,” Maria agreed.
I was shocked. She hated Liam. Why would she want him in her granddaughter’s life, in her life, in mine?
“She went over there without asking,” I informed my mother.
“The girl is curious; wouldn’t you be?” Maria argued.
I would. I couldn’t deny that.
“That doesn’t mean she can defy me, break the rules, and try to handle things on her own,” I demanded.
“You should’ve told me he was here,” Holly persuaded.
“Holly, your mother was going to tell you,” Maria came to my rescue, her eyes heavily on mine to ensure she wasn’t lying to her granddaughter.
I was going to tell her. I think. Maybe. Probably.
“I was. We don’t even know if he’s staying,” I protested.
“He said he was,” Maria quickly jumped ship to my daughter’s side.
My eyes narrowed as they peered towards my mother. I hated that she wasn’t backing me up the way I thought she would have.
“He’s staying?” Holly exclaimed excitedly.
She’d asked so many questions about her father over the years, and I’d done my best to answer each one honestly. She’d begged and pleaded with me to let her contact him, to tell him she existed, but each time I found an excuse not to. Now, I had no excuse, no good reason, and with him just around the corner, no real way to avoid it at all.
“I think it would be a good thing for Holly to have her dad in her life,” Maria suggested.
My mother started unpacking the food from the brown bag she’d carried in and set on the table as if the conversation were an ordinary one. I watched her as she pulled out the paper plates, placing them in front of each seat, and then opened containers of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and biscuits.
“Please, mom. I want to meet him,” Holly pleaded, her big blue eyes batting in my direction.
How could I refuse?
“Let’s eat,” I said, taking my seat at the table.
Holly’s eyes were piercing into me as she sat across from me, and my mother’s were filled with sympathy as she stared in my direction.
“Please, mom,” Holly begged once more.
I placed a drumstick on her plate and then scooped out a heaping pile of mashed potatoes next to it. I knew this wasn’t going to be over until I agreed.
“I’ll contact him,” I smiled.
My heart fluttered in my chest, with anxiety filling me quickly at the thought of actually seeing Liam, let alone speaking to him about Holly. What would he think of me not telling him for all these years?
Holly’s grin widened, and she bounced in her chair before getting up and wrapping her arms around my neck. She gave me a tight squeeze, kissed me on the cheek, and thanked me over and over.
“I can’t guarantee he’ll be onboard to meet you,” I warned.
“Nonsense. He’ll be ecstatic to find out he has a beautiful daughter,” my mother proclaimed.
I wasn’t so sure. I was heartbroken when he left, and things didn’t end smoothly. The last thing I remember saying to him before he left was that I hated him, and I hoped he never came back. I didn’t mean it, of course. I spent months during my pregnancy hoping and praying for his safe return. When he didn’t come back, but others did, such as Aiden, it broke my heart all over again.
Well, he was here now. But now I wasn’t certain I wanted him here.
“Bruce is gonna flip,” I sighed, placing my head in my hands.
I didn’t have to look up to know my mother’s face was scrunched up in disgust. This may have been one of her reasons for agreeing to tell Liam, to get rid of Bruce once and for all.
“Bruce knows Liam is Holly’s father,” Maria stated firmly.
“Yes, but he didn’t think he’d ever have to deal with him,” I chuckled.
Holly smiled, more of a smirk really. She wasn’t a fan of Bruce, so I knew she was content with him disappearing from our lives.
“When can we see him?” Holly asked eagerly.
“I’ll contact him soon. But, until then, you stay away from his house—and from him,” I insisted.
Holly looked disappointed at my orders, but I knew she’d obey them. She was a good kid, curious, but good.
We finished eating, and thankfully, Maria changed the topic to the upcoming church event. They were still determined to have a bake sale, but she mentioned that the idea for the fall carnival was now being entertained. Holly was excited, spouting out ideas for booths, prizes, and games. When she cleared her plate from the table, she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and then her grandmother a hug before disappearing into her room.
“Do you think Aiden’s told him?” Maria whispered as she peered through the kitchen entry to ensure Holly had closed her door.
“I don’t think so. He promised,” I replied.
“They were best friends,” Maria warned.
“I know,” I sighed.
“When are you going to do it?” Maria pushed.
I wasn’t sure. My stomach twisted and gurgled with stress.
“I guess sooner than later, especially if there’s a chance Aiden might tell him,” I assessed.
“Here,” Maria said, pushing a piece of paper she’d pulled from her thick denims towards my hand.
My eyebrows pushed downward as I stared at the paper. Numbers were scribbled on the torn order slip from the diner.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Liam’s number,” she smiled.
“How did you…”
“I ran into Aiden at the diner. He was waiting for Liam to get there. He looked serious, like maybe he was planning on telling him tonight,” Maria warned.
I shoved the phone number into my pocket. “I’ll call him after Holly goes to bed,” I promised.