“Hi, Dad.” I clasp his hand and pull him into a big hug.
“Come on,” Mom says after releasing Luke from a death grip. “Dinner is ready.”
Inside the dining room, the table is already set for four. I pull up my usual chair across from Luke as Mom delivers a roast with potatoes to the dinner table. I haven’t had Mom’s cooking in ages. My stomach growls loudly and my mouth waters as she brings a green bean casserole and sweet rolls.
“So, Blake, anything you want to share with the ol’ parents?” Luke says with a smug grin across the table. If looks could kill, my dear little brother would be bleeding to death on my mom’s expensive rug at this exact moment.
My parents both look from him to me expectantly. You could hear a pin drop in the room as everyone waits to hear whatever is going on. Not exactly how I wanted to tell my parents about their granddaughter, but I guess it will do.
“I have news,” I tell them before taking a big gulp of ice water. There’s no easy way to do this. Just rip the band-aid off. “Mom, Dad, you have a granddaughter.” For several seconds, my announcement is accompanied by silence before being quickly followed by laughter.
“Oh, Blake. That’s not a very funny joke,” my mom scoffs as my dad tries to get his fits of delight under control. Luke smiles broadly at me from across the table. Bastard.
“I’m not joking,” I tell them, looking from left to right until they both see the seriousness in my face and hear it in my voice. “I have a daughter. Her name is Natalia, and she’s fifteen months old.”
“You’re serious?” Dad asks, his mouth gaping open.
“As a heart attack,” I confirm as I gulp the rest of my water.
“Why in the world are we just now learning this, Blake Andrew?” my mom asks, the confusion written all over her face.
“I didn’t know it myself until recently. I met a woman, Carly, two years back right before I went undercover. Without getting into any details, I spent one night with her and we agreed to part ways. While I was undercover, I reconnected with her and learned that I have a beautiful little girl. She has the darkest hair, the color of midnight. She has big curls in her hair just like I did when I was younger, and her eyes are the same green as ours,” I say looking at my dad. That’s where Luke and I get our bright green eyes.
“I was a little shocked, to say the least, but I instantly fell in love with her. She’s perfect in every single way,” I tell them, unable to keep the pride out of my voice.
“That’s wonderful, son. I’m sorry we thought you were joking, but it’s not like you’ve ever talked about a girlfriend or anything.” My dad smiles broadly, excitement evident in his sparkling eyes.
Mom takes a drink of her white wine. “I have a granddaughter? Really?” she asks, her eyes twinkling with delight.
“Yes. You’ll love her.”
“We already do,” my dad adds.
“When do we get to meet our granddaughter?” Mom asks with a eloquent look.
“Soon, I promise,” I say, hoping I can keep it. I haven’t talked to Carly since I left her apartment Thursday morning. I’m giving her the space she has requested, but I’m about at the end of my rope. I’m about to run in there, both guns blazing.
“So, her mother. Carly, is it?” my mom asks before diving back into her dinner. Luke grins from across the table, which results in a swift kick from my steel-toed boot straight into his shin. The grunt brings me a little satisfaction.
“Yes, her name is Carly.”
“Tell me, what kind of woman sleeps with a man she doesn’t know?” Mom asks, her tone anything but pleasant. Accusing. Critical.
“Mom, it’s not like that. There was something different about her that first night we met. The only reason I walked away was because I was going undercover the next morning. I couldn’t exactly start a relationship with someone on the outside, could I?” I’m instantly irritated that my mom is judging Carly. She’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met, and I’m not about to let my mother degrade what we shared. “I made the choice. I walked away. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. If it weren’t for that damn job, I would have woken up that morning, taken her to breakfast, and never let her go. I would have been with her every step of the way through her pregnancy. She would be here right now.” My voice comes off clipped. I’m aggravated at her line of questioning, but mostly because I want nothing more than to have Carly and Natalia here with me at this exact moment.