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“I have missed you, my sweet girl.”
“I’m so sorry I haven’t been around. I didn’t know you were sick. Are you doing okay?”
“It’s to be as expected, but I don’t want to discuss me. I need to tell you some things and wanted to do it in person.”
Still holding his hand, I leaned in closer and rested my other hand over his. “Okay, what do you want to tell me?”
Richard studied me closely and took me in, and I kept a slight smile as I waited for him to get his bearings.
“Well, I don’t know where to begin, so I’m just going to say it, and you can ask all the questions you want.”
“Okay?”
Richard took a breath and started coughing. I stood and grabbed his cup of water, and guided the straw to his mouth. When he settled, he thanked me, and I resumed my seat.
“Chan, there’s no easy way to say this, sweet girl, but I’m your father.”
The air in the room evaporated as I stared, trying to compute what he said. “I’ve wanted to tell you as soon as I found out, but circumstances prevented me from doing so.”
Everything around me froze, and I began to look at everything through a lens. I became so disconnected. I had always wanted to know who my father was, but my mother always said it was some guy she never knew the name of, then pushed whoever she married at the time and told me they were my father because they put a roof over my head and food in my belly.
“I’m sorry. I’m a little confused. You mean you were my stepfather years ago. You married my mother when I was six or seven years old. You can’t be my father.” When my mother married Richard, I had hoped he would become my father. He had always been kind and spoiled me. I had fun with him as he took me to carnivals, the movies, the toy store, and the candy shop. Blake would join us, and we always had the best time.
“That’s true, but the thing is, I had an affair with your mother when I was married to Blake’s mother, my wife.”
“Wait, you’re quite a bit older than mom. She was fifteen when she got pregnant with me.” I sat further in my seat as I didn’t like what he told me.
Richard’s eyes welled slightly, and I worried about stressing him too much. “Trust me. I didn’t know her age. I put a stop to it when I found out. It was one night, and the next morning, I learned her true age, and I walked away. I was ashamed of what I had done and for cheating on my wife. We met at a party my friends hosted, and a group of women showed up. Your mother accompanied them and was her wild, fun self. We hit it off. Years later, we crossed paths. Blake’s mother had died the previous year. I was lonely, and your mother had still been as beautiful and charming as ever. I fell in love with her instantly. When I met you, I fell even more in love. You were such a smart, funny, lovely little girl. I didn’t know you were mine, but I wanted to become your father.”
The words were a struggle for me, so I sat and soaked everything in, letting my leg jackhammer as I worked through the nerves. Richard stared into my eyes, pleading to let him continue talking. I had to know more so it wouldn’t be a problem.
“What happened then?”
“I found your mother doing drugs with a few people while I came home from work. Her drinking had gotten out of control, but I hadn’t seen her do drugs. I told her never to do it again, but it didn’t take long before I caught her once more. Your mother loved me, and I loved her, but she wasn’t willing to care for herself, and I had a son to think about.” Richard choked up, and tears streamed along his cheeks. “My sweet girl, if I had known you were mine, I never would’ve forced her out. I would’ve fought to get custody of you. I stayed with your mother as long as possible because of you, but in the end, I had my son to prioritize even though it pained me to lose you. If only I had known you were mine.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I stood and walked to the windows and looked out at the beautiful landscape with the changing colors of the season. It was a perfect autumn view, but I struggled to appreciate it.
All my life, I’d never looked at it as lacking. Everything happened the way it was meant to, and there was no fixing it, but for once, I realized how cheated I had been. It would’ve been a dream come true to have a real dad who wanted and protected me from my mother. Richard would’ve been the best father.
Blake, though, with what I’d known of him now. Life with him might’ve been torturous, and I’d have hated living with him. It would’ve been horrible if he treated me like he treated me now.
Abel came to mind, and our acquaintance was rocky, but I loved my history with him because I knew a different side of him. I wouldn’t have had this more profound connection with him if we didn’t have our history. The only thing, it was a shame I missed out on a proper relationship with my dad.
“Chan?”
I wiped the tears from my cheeks, turned around, hugged myself, and stepped closer to the bed.
“How come you didn’t tell me this sooner? Why now?”
Richard pointed toward the chair, and I sat again.
“I had to wait until you were eighteen. Even with my best lawyers, I had to protect you from your mother ever getting her hands on your inheritance.”
“Inheritance?”
Richard chuckled then began coughing again. I launched toward his table and grabbed his cup and straw again, bringing it to his mouth. He smiled his thanks.
“You know about the blood seat now. Do you really believe I’d only have left you that? I wanted you at Malum Kings Academy to prepare you for your future. I want you taken care of and never want or need anything from anybody. This house, the cars, the paintings, all the personal belongings, and a hefty nine zero bank account are all yours. I want you to have a foundation while you forge your way into the future.”
