Affliction by Marilee Brothers

Author:Marilee Brothers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense, Fantasy, New Adult, Scarred Hero/Heroine
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2016-01-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

For a few seconds, it feels like the world stopped spinning. I stare, speechless, into blue eyes, so like my own. I’ve been totally clueless. Remember my permanent tan? My blue eyes? They are the genetic gifts bestowed on me by the man Sandra always refers to as that damn Spaniard who knocked me up and split? Now, here he sits with a big goose egg on his head, compliments of his daughter and her over zealous boyfriend. Not that I regret it for a minute.

I have a bajillion questions and start with, “How did you find me?” I would save what do you want for later.

“I hired a private detective agency. First, they found your mother. I knew she would not speak to me, not after I abandoned her. Somehow, the detective found out you lived in 3 Peaks. Don’t ask me how he did it. Perhaps it wasn’t even legal.”

I sigh. “And here you are. Why the sneaking around? Why not just come up and introduce yourself? Would have saved you a world of hurt.”

His hand is still shaking as he rakes it through his dark hair. I notice a few threads of silver among the black. “I had to make sure it was really you. I’m sorry if I scared you.”

I glance at Billy who is looking as shell-shocked as I feel. I place a hand on his arm. “Maybe I should talk to, um, Mr. Delgado by myself. You okay with that?”

Billy stands. “I’ll be in the hall. Leave the door open.”

I look into my father’s eyes again. He’d impregnated my mother with twin girls and never looked back. How can his soul look so pure when he’d done something so utterly without scruples?

I blurt, “Did you know there were two of us?”

“Yes. The detective told me your twin sister was killed at age six. I am so very sorry.”

“Seems like you have a lot to be sorry for. Why did you leave?”

His eyes fill with tears. Fake or real? I don’t know him so I can’t tell.

“Because I was young and a damn fool. My parents insisted I return to Spain and marry the girl they’d picked out for me years before.”

“People still do that?”

He nods. “Yes. Certain families still believe in the old ways. My mother and father were among them.”

I brace myself on my elbows, lean over the table and glare. “I want you to know it wasn’t easy for Sandra. You never gave her a penny in support. She had a rough time until she married my stepfather.”

He flushes. “I am very ashamed. Would you tell her for me? And, that I would like to make amends?”

“No. That’s on you.”

He avoids my eyes and sighs. “Yes, you are right.”

After an uncomfortable silence, I ask the biggie. “Why did you hire somebody to find me? What do you want?”

He lifts his hands helplessly. “I very much fear you will not be sympathetic to my situation.”

“What situation?”

He glances at the ceiling as if looking for an answer from above.

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