Barrett called me every day for the next week. In complete polar opposite, Aria was barely speaking more than two words to me every day. Try as I might to get her to understand that I was doing my best to protect her, she didn’t believe me.

She insisted I tell her the truth of her day and let her meet him. How could I explain that I didn’t want her to see the lying bastard who had broken my heart. I wasn’t willing to let him do the same to her.

Along with the calls I didn’t pick up, Barrett had also sent a steady stream of text messages. I couldn't say what they were about since I refused to open them. I wasn’t going to let him make excuses.

The week was utter dread. I didn’t know if it was because a complete come down after the euphoria I had the week before, or the fact I had tricked myself in believing that things would have ended up so perfectly for my little family.

Either way it was stupid of me to get so involved with Barrett. I should have known better. I should have realized that I knew nothing about him and never let him in our lives. We were doing just fine without him.

Of course I really didn’t believe my own words. I mean we were getting by. I guess I could say perfectly. Even without Barrett entering the picture things were already getting hard keeping up my false paternity story.

I would have found a way though, and it would have turned out a whole lot better then things between Aria and I right now.

“Aria, dinner’s in five,” I called down the hall.

She rarely left her room now aside from going to school and coming back home. I kind of feared she might actually hate me for the rest of her life. I deserved it.

I had given her false hope of a father who loved and cared for her from heaven. In her mind her Daddy would have been here with her if he could. Now she was coming to the realization that her father was a presence in this world and someone who she would never see, and who would never even know to care about her.

A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. I wasn’t planning on Emma coming over, but she was the only one that did, so I just sampled hollered out for her to come in.

I leaned over the kitchen bar and froze in place when instead of Emma’s usual frame it was one of a tall dark and handsome man.

“Barrett,” I said surprised.

“You said come in,” he said motioning to the door.

“I thought you were Emma,” I explained coming around the kitchen bar to stand before him with my arms crossed.

“You wouldn’t pick up your phone, or return my calls so I thought if I came by I might get a chance to explain.”

“I don’t want to hear your explanation.”

“Is he my dad?” Aria blurted out from the hall.

I couldn’t fault her for being there, I had called her out for dinner after all. I was at a loss for words. Barrett still had no idea who Aria was to him. I didn’t want to lie to Aria but I also didn’t think Barrett deserved to know.

“Yeah, I am,” he said shocking me even further.

“And you figured it was cool to just walk right in like no big deal. You probably weren’t going to ever tell me either,” she said before storming off to her room.

I debated going after Aria. Instead I turned to Barrett.

“You knew? How long?”

He took my hand and walked us over to sit on the couch.

"I thought it might be true after that first time we met. When I saw her picture on your desk at work I knew for sure. I didn’t want to say anything. I figured you would tell me when you were ready.”

“And good thing I didn’t,” I said crossing my arms again.

“Lilly, I know you heard my mom. She isn’t my fiancé though. We never even discussed marriage before I left for the Red Cross. It was just all what my parents wanted and convinced Sophia that it was what she wanted too.”

“But that is your life, and this is ours,” I said trying my best to shrug off his words.

“No,” he said scooting closer to me and taking my hand. “You. I want you to be my life. If I had only known from the start. You don’t know how many nights I went to that club after hoping to find you again. You stole my heart then.”

“Barrett, I don’t know.” I hesitated. “This all sounds lovely but I have Aria to think about and…”

“And I want the chance to worry and think about her too. I never believed in fate, but Lilly, I know it’s what brought you to my office that day. I never did forget you because maybe a part of me knew that you were here taking care of my baby.”

“You don't understand. I don’t even know if Aria is going to forgive me, let alone accept anyone else. The thing I told you about the Navy SEAL. It’s the same story she heard her whole life and up until yesterday she believed it.”

“I couldn’t tell her what really happened. That I didn’t even know her father’s name. What kind of mother would I be? I just don’t know what to do now,” I gave out in a defeated huff.

I never expected parenting to be easy. It wasn’t a lie when people said it should come with a manual. For the most part though I had gotten along pretty well. This was the first time that I truly had no idea how to fix the situation.

Barrett lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my palm breathing me in. I had to admit that instantly, my body calmed at his touch.

“We go in there and tell her the truth. It may not be pretty, but it is what it is. And now we are all here together. I know we are meant to be together, to be a family. So that is how we will work this out.”

I nodded my head in agreement. I never once thought I wished I had Aria’s father in our life. In that moment as I leaned into his touch I realized how much I had missed not having his support here to help me.