As I drown my sorrows, I try to get it together. If I know my father, he will welcome Summer into the family with open arms. The fact that his only blood relative is a girl will make it all the harder. If it had been a guy, it would have been fine but Joey will be insufferable where it concerns her. I know I should back off immediately but already know in my heart - I can’t.
Sighing, I spin on my heels and head back the way I came. It won’t look good if I’m drowning my sorrows in the bar when my dad calls so, I return to wait like the obedient puppy dog I am.
Charlie looks at me with concern when I return and moves across to me swiftly and snarls. “Get your shit together, bro. If Pops see you like this, he’ll guess you’ve got an unhealthy interest in your new sister. What do you think would happen then?”
I nod and lean against the wall and sigh heavily. Lowering my voice, I whisper, “This is a fucked-up situation and I can’t deny I want Summer. In fact, she’s the first girl I’ve wanted to get to know properly in what seems like forever.”
Charlie looks at me sympathetically. “I’m sorry, man. Really, I am but you know it’s never gonna happen.”
He leans in and whispers, “My advice would be to go and get laid and fast. You need to fuck your way out of this until you have no energy left. Either way, you’re screwed brother, so take my advice and fight fire with fire.”
Groaning, I sink to the floor and sit with my back against the wall. “You know, Chas, I wish I could wake up and do this day again. I would probably change every fucking minute if I could but one.”
He sits down beside me and says, “Which is?”
I laugh softly, “I would still meet Summer and there would be nothing standing in our way.”
Charlie shakes his head and whistles. “You’re fucked man.”
I don’t need my brother to tell me something I worked out the minute she told me why she’d come. Now I just need to work out what to do about it.
9
Summer
My father is nothing like I thought he’d be. The man who sits beside me is charming, funny and everything I could have wished to find. He wants to know everything about me and tells me of his family and what happened between him and my mother all those years ago.
I’m not sure how long we spoke for but it only felt like seconds when he says ruefully, “We should call this a night. Rose will be worried and you need your sleep.”
I feel the panic setting in as I fully expect him to shake my hand and tell me it was nice to meet me. However, he just looks at me with so much pride and says hoarsely, “I’ll get one of the lads to take you both home and come and pick you up at lunchtime tomorrow. I want you to meet my wife, Summer because now I’ve found you, I don’t want to lose you again. Your place is with me now - with us and as soon as I’ve squared it with Rose, you’re moving in.”
His words hit me like a thunderbolt and I hear the storm breaking all around me. He smiles as he sees my expression and says softly, “Of course, it’s your choice to make. The trouble is, I don’t want to miss out on another minute of your life when I’ve missed out on so much already. I suppose that’s the selfish bastard in me but you’re the only blood relative I have and I need to know everything about you.”
He reaches across and takes my hand and squeezes it. “You may have heard some terrible things about me, Summer but that’s not who I am with my family. I don’t want you to fear me, babe because you have no need to. Some may call me a fool for taking you in without documented proof. Those eyes and that look are all the proof I need. You’re my little girl, it’s obvious. You have your mother’s looks and my eyes. I see a lot of me in you, sweetheart and I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me what I know in my heart. If you want the DNA proof, we’ll get it but I think we already know the answer.”
I nod and feel the ever-present tears behind my eyes as I say softly, “I knew as soon as my Aunt spoke of you. I don’t know why—I just did. Now I’ve met you it just reinforces what I already guessed. I hope this won’t cause you too much trouble. I just wanted to find answers when I came here and didn’t mean to invade your life.”
The tears in his eyes shock me as he pulls me once again into his comforting hold. “You’re the best kind of trouble, babe. Like I said, I want you with me so I can catch up on every second of the years I’ve missed. I can see your parents brought you up well and I want to play my part in caring for you now where they can’t. Maybe your mum is watching over you and sent you to me—I like to think so.”
Biting my lip to stem the tears, I nod. “I like to think so too.”
Sighing, he pulls back and heads to the door. As he opens it, I hear him say, “Come inside.”
My heart flutters as I see the boys follow Tracey in. Her face is a mixture of fear, awe and concern and I smile at her reassuringly. Charlie’s expression is curious but not angry and I almost can’t bring myself to look at Maxwell but as soon as I do, I know. He’s destroyed. It’s like a swift kick to my heart and I can only think he hates the fact Joey has a child. Maybe he feels threatened, jealous or just plain angry that I came in here and kicked all their feet from under them. The flash of anger I see in his eyes makes me tremble inside, however, despite what my head is screaming at me, I still want him.
My father smiles at Tracey. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting, love. I hope the boys have made you feel welcome.”
She nods shyly and says in a whisper, “That’s ok, sir. I know you had a lot to talk about.”
He nods and looks across at me and I watch his eyes soften. Then he turns to the guys and says in the type of voice that expects no answer, “Take the girls home. Make sure they get there safely and then pick Summer up at 12 tomorrow and bring her to meet your mother.”
They nod and I see the curiosity in Charlie’s expression as he looks at me and smiles briefly. Then Joey says, “Charlie, take the girls to collect their things and Maxwell, I need a word.”
Even I shiver at the tone of his voice but if Maxwell notices anything, he keeps it well hidden.
We follow Charlie out and as we reach the corridor outside; I welcome the change of air and take a deep breath as I walk away a changed woman.
Maxwell
I couldn’t look at her. I knew that one look would be all it took to seal my fate. I just need to work out a way around this and can’t do that staring into her gorgeous eyes that cruelly remind me who she is.
As the door closes behind them, I know what Pops is going to say before he even opens his mouth.
He says roughly, “Look at me, Maxwell.”
I try to look at him with indifference but know that I fail miserably when he says in a sinister voice. “I will only say this once. Summer is family now and tonight you gained a sister. You will treat her with respect and welcome her into the family like the brother you are. Make sure nothing happens to her and I’m including you in that.”
I make to speak but he silences me by raising his hand. “I don’t want to hear it. I see it in your face and that’s why I called you back. You have perfected the blank look over the years. You keep your emotions in check and never play your hand. That all changed tonight which is why I’m warning you. Stay away from Summer because if you touch her in any way other than family, I will kill you.”