Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Chapter Five
EMMETT
I blink a couple of times at him. “She’s here?” It is almost in a whisper. “You said she was in foster care.”
“Technically, that is where she should be. However…it’s a small town. She was going to go to the emergency foster care family, but I spoke with the sheriff, and he also knew Paige. We both thought it would be a good idea for her to stay here with us since we were her emergency contact. Especially since I got in touch with you and you were coming down.”
“Does she know he’s coming?” Charlie asks for me because I’m just staring at Mr. Graham and blinking. I feel like my body isn’t even here. I’m on the outside looking in.
“We didn’t tell her yet,” he admits. “She had a very emotional day yesterday, as you can understand.” His bottom lip quivers. “She lost the only person she’s ever known. We were close with her, but Paige was her world as she was Paige’s.”
“I want to see her.” The words just come out, and my tone is tight.
“We have a couple of things to go over,” Mr. Graham says, “but I’ll go and let my wife know you want to meet her.” He gets up, walking toward the doorway.
“Did you not think I would want to meet her?” I ask, and he stops in his tracks and turns back to look at me.
“I had no idea what to expect, to be honest,” he replies softly, his eyes staring straight into mine.
“She never told me she was pregnant.” I stand and Charlie does also, but I think he’s standing up to make sure he can stop me in case I do something stupid. “I had no idea seven hours ago that I had a daughter.”
“I’m fully aware of the story,” Mr. Graham states. “Paige told us you didn’t know, and I told her then that I thought it was a mistake and she should tell you.” He looks at Charlie and then back at me. “It wasn’t anyone’s decision but Paige’s as to why you didn’t know. I’ll be back.” He turns and walks out of the room.
“You need to reel it in,” Charlie finally advises. “You are pissed at the wrong person.”
“I’m not pissed at all,” I lie to him, and he raises his eyebrows. “Jesus fucking Christ, Charlie, I have a daughter who is eight years old.” I run my hand through my hair. “Me, the one who was never going to have a child,” I hiss. “What the fuck is going on in my life right now?” I put my head back and fight the tightness in my chest that spreads to my stomach. “Charlie, I can’t take care of a kid,” I tell him my deepest fear.
He puts his hand on my shoulder to stop me from shaking. “You’ll be fine.” I glare at him. “We’ll meet your daughter and go from there.”
“Charlie, I don’t think you’re listening to me. I don’t think—”
I stop talking when Mr. Graham comes back into the room. “My wife just went up to check on her. It took a while for her to settle last night.” He walks back behind his desk. “I texted the lab technician, and he is on his way over to grab a swab from both of you.”
I nod. “Where were they living?” I suddenly want to know everything.
“Paige had just gotten them a townhouse,” he announces with pride. “I will give you the address, and you can go over there and pack up what you think Lucy will want. I don’t suggest taking Lucy. The trauma might be too much.”
“We’ll do that without her, then,” Charlie answers for me again. “What does Emmett need to do to get this process sped up?”
He looks over from Charlie to me. “I’m assuming you are going to take responsibility for her?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” I’m sure I surprise even him with the answer.
“That’s good,” he replies. “I have Paige’s last will and testament, which has been filed.” I don’t hear anything else he says, because I hear footsteps coming closer to us.
“She’s awake,” Mrs. Graham says from the doorway, and I turn to see her face is streaked with tears. “She wants to know if she can go and see Paige today.” A gush of breath escapes me, and I have to hold on to the chair next to me. “I told her that we had visitors first.” She looks from her husband to me. “She’s in the living room.”
He gets up from his desk and walks around it. “Here we go.”
I wish I could say I was ready for this moment. I wish I could say it was a moment I’ve dreamed of my whole life. I wish I could say, at this moment, it was the happiest day of my life. But I would be lying. I’ve never been more scared of someone in all of my life and I’ve had to sit face-to-face with my mother in court, pointing the finger at her for killing my father.