Make You Mine, page 3
part #1 of Fireweed Harbor Series Series
I didn’t think much of it. After she left, Mimi Smith—a friendly but nosy elderly woman everyone in town knew, or so it seemed—met my eyes in the mirror. “That’s her,” she said.
“Who?”
“Cathy. The woman who claims Rhys is the father of her son. Smart move on your part.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t give her the time of day. She’s nothing but a money-chaser.” Her brows arched up as she tore the paper towel off and dried her hands.
Later that night, I curled my feet under my knees on the couch, idly flipping through the channels on the TV. If Cathy was that woman I’d seen in the bathroom at the restaurant, she was a clear reminder of why I thought Rhys was out of my league. She was the kind of woman he would date. She could be a model. I didn’t think I was ugly, but my looks were less classically beautiful with my strawberry-blond hair that tended toward messy curls, my freckles, and my decidedly not-tall-and-willowy figure.
It was better for us to break up now than for me to fall even deeper in love with him. Even if doubts were clamoring to be heard in my mind, I wasn’t going to be foolish. Again. If Rhys and I were to have a chance to work things out, he really did need to resolve the situation with Cathy. Despite his insistence that he didn’t believe he was the father of her son, her willingness to do a paternity test kept the questions and doubts swirling in my mind.
Chapter Seven
Rhys
“Good to see you, Rhys,” Colin Blackthorn said.
After a quick handshake, he gestured to the chair across from his desk. “Have a seat.”
“I took care of the DNA swab at the lab yesterday,” I offered as soon as I sat down.
“I heard. We should have the initial results in three to five business days. I requested the more in-depth analysis, which may take another week.” Before I could ask why, he continued. “Meanwhile, I had a call from Cathy’s attorney based out of Seattle. Apparently, she’ll be here soon with her son.”
Anxiety clenched in my chest. I’d been trying to ignore it, but this whole thing was stressful.
“Let me explain why I’m the guy who handles all the family cases. I don’t mind being aggressive when my clients want to look reasonable,” Colin offered with a light shrug. “I’ve mastered the art of being aggressive and assertive while making my clients look reasonable and friendly. Fortunately, in your case, this is a blast from the past. Your family has a lot of money, and I have no problem making her look greedy and pointing out that she did not notify you of her child for years. We’ve already done some digging. Were you aware she was also involved with your brother Jake?”
“What?” My tone was sharp and startled.
“Yes. On her old social media accounts are photographs of them at parties. She deleted it, the account that is, but we still found it. This is why I requested the additional testing. There’s a possibility the markers could confirm you as the father, but extra testing can clarify if it’s you or a sibling. She was seeing you and Jake around the same time. Was she aware of your family’s business at the time?”
“Not from me. I’d like to say not from Jake, but I don’t know. He tended to be private about it, but he also had a serious alcohol problem, as you well know. He died from it. I have no idea what he might’ve said to her when they were partying together.”
“That’s my concern. Of course, signs point to her finding out recently as she’s only now reaching out. While we wait for the results from the paternity testing, we need to cover your bases. If this child is yours or your brother’s, how do you want to handle the situation? Does your family want a relationship with the child? I’m assuming money is not a problem.”
“If it’s my child or even Jake’s, we will provide financial support. Of course, if it’s my child, I’d like a relationship with him. If it’s Jake’s, I know all of us will consider him part of our family.” Pausing, I leaned my elbows on my knees and ran my hands through my hair. As I dropped them, I muttered, “Fuck.”
“That’s how we got here,” Colin replied with a low chuckle.
I rolled my eyes, and a bitter laugh slipped out. “True enough.” Leaning back in my chair, I asked, “What do you think she wants?”
Colin cocked his head to the side as he shrugged one shoulder. “Money, probably. I don’t think she would be willing to do a paternity test if she didn’t think the child was yours or your brother’s. What was your relationship like with her when you stopped seeing each other?”
“I wouldn’t call what we had a relationship. I was a junior in college, and we spent a few nights together. I wasn’t looking for commitment, and as far as I could tell, neither was she. We parted on friendly terms. Or so I thought.”
“What happened? My questions may seem nosy, but it helps me to know the context for how we approach things going forward.”
“I understand. Nothing dramatic happened. We weren’t exclusive. I met her at a party, nothing unusual about that, and we hooked up. I didn’t see her for a weekend or two and then ran into her again. We spent a few more nights together, and that was it. The semester ended, and I came home to Fireweed Harbor for the summer.”
Whenever I thought of my older brother, it was like a gust of cold air. Not the crisp, refreshing winter air but clammy, damp cold air. The kind that, if you stayed out in it too long, you were miserable when you came in.
“Jake died at the end of that semester,” I added.
Jake’s death was no secret. Anyone who knew our family in Fireweed Harbor knew Jake had died of alcohol poisoning in college. Some knew more. Specifically, that old rumors had turned out to be true—that our grandfather had physically abused him. Our grandfather had been an asshole to all of us.
Our father died unexpectedly from an epidural hematoma after a fall while he was out hiking. I still recalled the afternoon. He’d come home and appeared fine, but he had a headache. He went to rest and never woke up. I still missed him. After he died, our grandparents had been around a lot more. Our grandfather was abusive, and Jake had been his primary target. Unbeknownst to all of us until a few years ago, he had also sexually abused Jake.
That horrifying detail had only come out recently when our cousin Archer, who had witnessed it by accident once, finally told me what had happened.
It explained so much. Knowing that Jake had been my grandfather’s main target for physical abuse, I had assumed that was the reason Jake drank so heavily. But there was even more behind it, and that knowledge was a painful splinter in the wound left behind by Jake’s death.
While I had told the rest of my siblings and my mother what Archer saw, nobody in town knew that detail, not that I was aware of. The tragedy of Jake’s death was enough as it was.
Colin’s gaze was somber. “I’m so sorry about Jake.”
I swallowed, taking a quick breath. “Thank you.”
Colin was quiet for a few beats before he continued, “I’m assuming if you didn’t know that Cathy was also involved with Jake that you have no idea the status of their relationship, or what kind of terms they were on?”
I shook my head. “Not a clue.”
“I will let her attorney know that financial support is not an issue. I will also let him know we are aware of her relationship with Jake. I don’t know if that’ll change anything. I’ll make it clear that the family wouldn’t dispute financial support in either case.”
“Is there anything else I need to do while we wait?”
He shook his head. “We wait. As soon as we get the results, I’ll call you.”
After I left Colin’s office, I headed to my childhood home, where I had stayed for a little while when I returned to town. My mother had been traveling, but she was back in town now. Although I had told several of my siblings about the contact from Cathy, I had asked them to wait so I could talk to my mother privately. With this new information about Jake and his relationship with Cathy, I had more to carefully navigate.
I didn’t know why, but I sensed Jake was the father. If my hunch was accurate, it would be a gut punch for my mother.
Chapter Eight
Rhys
“Rhys!” My mother held the door open and leaned up to dust a kiss on my cheek.
“How many times do I have to tell you it’s not necessary for you to knock?” She tsked when she smiled up at me as I walked through the door.
“Habit,” I replied.
“Come into the kitchen.” She gestured for me to follow her as we walked through the open-style living room area into the kitchen. My childhood home was open and airy with a modern feel. The ample windows and earth-toned colors created a warm feel to the space.
I took a seat at the counter, sliding my hips onto one of the stools there. A charcuterie board with small sandwiches, slices of cheese, fresh vegetables, and meats sat in the middle.
“Anything to drink?” She tossed the question over her shoulder as she walked toward the refrigerator.
“Just water.”
I took a bite of one of the triangular-shaped sandwiches. “Really good,” I said after I finished chewing.
“It’s smoked honey turkey with pesto and cranberry cream cheese. Simple but delicious.” My mother put a glass of water on the counter beside me and sat down across from me.
I had another small sandwich and a few slices of cheese before taking a swallow of water.
“You said you had something to talk to me about,” she finally said, her gaze expectant.
My mother’s dark hair had liberal streaks of silver, and she had wide gray eyes. Age had graced her well with her features softening. Today, she had her hair up in an artful twist and wore a simple white cotton blouse with loosely fitted navy-blue slacks.
I mentally braced myself. “I did. I’m glad you’re sitting down.”
My mother, Clara, arched her brows. “Please just tell me.”
“I’ve been served court paperwork for child support.”
My mother’s breath drew in sharply as her eyes widened. “Is this even a possibility?”
“It’s a woman I saw in college, but not for long. The math would add up. I definitely used condoms, and she claimed to be on birth control. She’s willing to do a paternity test. I’ve already spoken to Colin Blackthorn.” Now came the even trickier part of this conversation. “His team has done some digging and discovered she was also involved with Jake around the same time based on her social media photographs.”
My mother blinked, sadness passing through her eyes like clouds blocking the sun for a moment. “Oh,” she finally said. “So if Jake was alive…” She began before closing her eyes and pressing her palm to her chest. She took a deep breath as if she could contain the pain of my brother’s loss.
When she opened them again, I replied, “It was his last semester of college, my junior year.”
Jake and I looked startlingly alike—same coloring, same height, and so on—and we’d often joke that we were twins. We were similar enough that people could’ve been convinced we were twins if they didn’t know us well. We had been one year and seven days apart. I missed him so fucking much.
“How old is this child?”
“His name is Matthew, and he’s ten. Cathy Miller is his mother. I don’t know why she waited to share this. I already told Colin, obviously if the child is related to us, whether it’s Jake’s or mine, we’ll provide support.”
“Of course!” She drummed her fingertips on the table as she looked at me.
“I have no basis for this other than a gut feeling, but I think Matthew is probably Jake’s and not mine.”
She studied me quietly, the sound of her drumming fingertips coming to a stop. She laced her hands together, resting them on the counter. “I trust your gut. At least now that you’re more mature.”
“What’s your point, Mom?”
She shrugged lightly. “Young men in college aren’t known for their judgment.”
That elicited a sharp laugh from me. “Fair point. As soon as I know something about the paternity test, I’ll let you know.”
“Is she in Fireweed Harbor?”
“Her attorney told Colin she’d be traveling here soon. We can certainly request to meet him if paternity shows we’re related.”
“Are we concerned she’ll claim we were avoiding involvement?”
“We’ll do our best to prove that if she resists any contact. I’m prepared to fight. I’d prefer not to have to, though.”
My mother took a quick breath. As was her way on sensitive topics, when she was done, she was done. She changed the subject abruptly. “And how is Haven handling this news?”
My mother adored Haven. I silently groaned. “She dumped me,” I said curtly. “Unfortunately, the papers were delivered to her place instead of mine. I tried to talk to her, but she told me I needed to deal with this. Obviously, it’s not a great look that it’s possible I was hiding a child from her.”
“Oh, dear,” my mother said as she shook her head sharply. “I suppose that would be a surprise. Give her a little space. Once you know whether or not you’re the father, fix it.”
I let out a disbelieving chuckle. “I will certainly try, Mom. But I can’t just wave a magic wand and make Haven believe me.”
Chapter Nine
Haven
“Here you go.” I handed a coffee across the counter, a coffee that was, as Hazel would describe it, a serious concoction.
It involved more than one flavor of syrup with skim milk frothed atop it, complete with a heart-shaped design. The woman quickly paid and walked away. She was the last in a burst of customers from the first cruise ship to visit Fireweed Harbor this spring. I began wiping down the espresso machine and tidying up behind the counter.
Hazel popped out from the back, smiling over. “We just made more in that last hour than we did all of yesterday.”
I grinned at her. Spill the Beans Café was popular with locals and tourists alike. We did a brisk business for locals, but the cruise ships that came through town rained money on the businesses when they were here.
She handed me a small muffin. “Taste it,” she ordered.
I looked down at the sugar sprinkled on the top with visible bright berries. “Is it a new flavor?” I asked as I peeled the paper off the bottom.
“Yes,” she whispered in a conspiratorial tone as she slipped her hips onto a stool by the espresso machine.
Before I took a bite, I glanced around the café. The tables were full, but nobody was in line, so I could take a mini break. Taking a bite, I closed my eyes and let out a moan at the burst of wild raspberries that exploded in my mouth, mingling with a subtle sweetness. Opening my eyes, I finished chewing. “Delicious.”
Hazel gave me a satisfied smile. “I aim to please. I have a full batch coming out shortly.”
Just then, the bell jingled above the door, and we glanced over together. The woman I had seen the other day in the restroom when I was out at dinner came walking through. This time, Cathy had a little boy with her. The moment my eyes landed on him, I let out a startled gasp.
When I glanced at Hazel, I knew she saw the same thing I did. This little boy was definitely related to Rhys. Cathy approached the counter. My mouth felt dry.
Hazel, bless her, saved me. Leaping up from the stool, she gave me a hard nudge with her elbow, asking, “Do you mind checking on the oven in the back?”
I absolutely did not mind and fled through the swinging door into the kitchen. I took several deep breaths, attempting to remain calm.
Ha! Who was I kidding? I was the opposite of calm. I felt a little sick. My breath was short, and my fingers tingled and were cold.
Like the biggest idiot in the universe, I’d gone and fallen in love with Rhys Cannon. I’d known better. Back in high school when I crushed on him, he was so far out of my league it was beyond foolish. I knew he was still out of my league when we ran into each other last summer for the first time, but he’d convinced me otherwise.
This woman, Cathy—I knew that was her name solely because I’d seen it in the paperwork demanding that he start paying child support—was the kind of woman I imagined Rhys dated. Tall, beautiful, with a willowy figure and cornflower-blond hair.
The sound of the bell chiming out front snapped me out of my negative train of thought. I’d frozen in place in the center of the kitchen beside the stainless steel table. I forced my feet to move. I was about to open the oven to check on the muffins when I realized a timer was set.
Of course, a timer was set. Hazel didn’t need me to check on the muffins, but she’d given me a good excuse to hide in the back. I crossed the kitchen to the break room and staff bathroom in the back corner. I washed my hands quickly and splashed cold water on my face, trying to snap myself out of this judgy headspace.
I dried my face with one of the clean dish towels stacked on the shelf beside the sink. I took a moment to study myself in the mirror as I lowered the towel. My strawberry-blond curls were pulled up into a ponytail, messy as usual. Several wayward curls had escaped, one pointing straight up and the others out to the side.
I blinked, and my eyes stared back at me, taking in the freckles scattered across my nose and cheeks. I had despised my freckles in high school. I’d grudgingly learned to accept them, but I didn’t think I’d ever love them.
The mirror reminded me of what I already knew. I was nothing like Cathy, not even a little bit. This was the reminder I needed. I’d gone and let my heart get reckless and make foolish choices. Even if this hurt, it was for the best.
Rhys and I had only been dating since last summer. Maybe that was a little while, but it wasn’t like my last boyfriend. We had lived together for two years before I discovered what an asshole he was.
