but to never even call or check up on them after Sophie was born? To just disappear as if they never existed? Wasn’t he even the tiniest bit curious about his own child? His own flesh and blood?
“I don’t know what to say,” he added, with the same muffled tone.
“Well, you better think of something,” Tessa said, “because Sophie’s got plenty of questions, and now that the two of you have gotten the small talk out of the way, you can expect she’ll be looking for some answers when she sees you next. When will that be, by the way?”
“Well, about that,” Scott said.
Finally … they were getting to the reason behind the email. “Ah yes, the snag you mentioned. So … what’s the deal?”
“Well, the thing is,” he started, sounding a bit more like his old self, “I was hoping to come in a few weeks, but I’m not sure that’s going to work now.”
Tessa closed her eyes and shook her head. No. He was not going to desert and disappoint her daughter again. He was coming to visit her even if it meant finding him and dragging him to Forest Hills herself.
“Let me explain something to you, Scott,” she began, willing herself to keep her cool, “there is a seven-year-old little girl waiting to see you. You’ve already abandoned her once. You’re not going to do it a second time.”
“I know that, but—”
“I’m not finished,” Tessa continued. “Almost eight years ago now, you walked out on me knowing this little person that you fathered was about to enter the world. You didn’t call, you didn’t visit … hell, I’m not even sure if you knew if you had a son or daughter to be honest. And yet, for reasons that I still haven’t figured out, last week you felt compelled to come meet her. So now, I’ve got a daughter who thinks she’s got a father who now wants to be a father . Someone who can keep his promises this time. This is a child we’re talking about … your child. It’s all or nothing, Scott. So what’s it going to be? Because if you walk out of her life again, don’t expect to be welcomed back by either one of us.”
“I know that,” he said. “All of it. And I want nothing more than to be a father to Sophie. That’s why I emailed you initially. What I’m trying to explain is that since last weekend, I lost my job. The company I work for got mixed up in some bad investments and had to make some deep cuts across the board. I was one of the casualties. It was completely unexpected. Anyway, until I figure out my job situation, I can’t spend the money to come out there again, at least not right away. “
“When?” Tessa asked. If it was anyone else she’d feel bad for them, but not Scott. She honestly felt no remorse. He was a college graduate. Surely he could find a decent job. Plus, didn’t he have any savings from the job he’d had? He couldn’t have had much in expenses. He certainly didn’t have payments of child support to Sophie as an expense. Just what had he been doing career-wise with his life all these years?
“I don’t know when,” he replied. “Like I said, I need to get settled with a new job first. It could take a while. Tell Sophie I’m really sorry.”
“No!” Tessa said sharply, without a second thought. Her daughter would not be disappointed again. She’d get at least one more meeting. Sophie deserved a chance to have her questions answered. “I’ll arrange for a wire with enough to cover your travel expenses. I expect you here Saturday at 11:00. Same location. Don’t be late.”
Chapter 22 - Holly
“Three bags?” Ben asked, looking at the arsenal of luggage lined up at the front door. “You do realize we’re only going away for two nights.”
“Which is three days,” Holly added. “It’s a bag a day. So what? You know how unpredictable the weather can be in the mountains.”
“For the record, we’re going to be alone all three days. If it were up to me, you’d be naked the entire time and wouldn’t need
“I don’t know what to say,” he added, with the same muffled tone.
“Well, you better think of something,” Tessa said, “because Sophie’s got plenty of questions, and now that the two of you have gotten the small talk out of the way, you can expect she’ll be looking for some answers when she sees you next. When will that be, by the way?”
“Well, about that,” Scott said.
Finally … they were getting to the reason behind the email. “Ah yes, the snag you mentioned. So … what’s the deal?”
“Well, the thing is,” he started, sounding a bit more like his old self, “I was hoping to come in a few weeks, but I’m not sure that’s going to work now.”
Tessa closed her eyes and shook her head. No. He was not going to desert and disappoint her daughter again. He was coming to visit her even if it meant finding him and dragging him to Forest Hills herself.
“Let me explain something to you, Scott,” she began, willing herself to keep her cool, “there is a seven-year-old little girl waiting to see you. You’ve already abandoned her once. You’re not going to do it a second time.”
“I know that, but—”
“I’m not finished,” Tessa continued. “Almost eight years ago now, you walked out on me knowing this little person that you fathered was about to enter the world. You didn’t call, you didn’t visit … hell, I’m not even sure if you knew if you had a son or daughter to be honest. And yet, for reasons that I still haven’t figured out, last week you felt compelled to come meet her. So now, I’ve got a daughter who thinks she’s got a father who now wants to be a father . Someone who can keep his promises this time. This is a child we’re talking about … your child. It’s all or nothing, Scott. So what’s it going to be? Because if you walk out of her life again, don’t expect to be welcomed back by either one of us.”
“I know that,” he said. “All of it. And I want nothing more than to be a father to Sophie. That’s why I emailed you initially. What I’m trying to explain is that since last weekend, I lost my job. The company I work for got mixed up in some bad investments and had to make some deep cuts across the board. I was one of the casualties. It was completely unexpected. Anyway, until I figure out my job situation, I can’t spend the money to come out there again, at least not right away. “
“When?” Tessa asked. If it was anyone else she’d feel bad for them, but not Scott. She honestly felt no remorse. He was a college graduate. Surely he could find a decent job. Plus, didn’t he have any savings from the job he’d had? He couldn’t have had much in expenses. He certainly didn’t have payments of child support to Sophie as an expense. Just what had he been doing career-wise with his life all these years?
“I don’t know when,” he replied. “Like I said, I need to get settled with a new job first. It could take a while. Tell Sophie I’m really sorry.”
“No!” Tessa said sharply, without a second thought. Her daughter would not be disappointed again. She’d get at least one more meeting. Sophie deserved a chance to have her questions answered. “I’ll arrange for a wire with enough to cover your travel expenses. I expect you here Saturday at 11:00. Same location. Don’t be late.”
Chapter 22 - Holly
“Three bags?” Ben asked, looking at the arsenal of luggage lined up at the front door. “You do realize we’re only going away for two nights.”
“Which is three days,” Holly added. “It’s a bag a day. So what? You know how unpredictable the weather can be in the mountains.”
“For the record, we’re going to be alone all three days. If it were up to me, you’d be naked the entire time and wouldn’t need
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