A/N: Thank yous to Team Spiderward for all you do, and to a special pre-reader for this chapter, AgoodWITCH. xx
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. The NHL owns anything that sounds familiar. I'm here having fun.
/ /\ (oo) /\ \
Chapter 56
Driving to King Tower in the early morning hours is probably not my best idea, but I know sleep will be impossible at this point. My arrival prompts security to spring into action, ushering me through their procedures and into the elevator. When the doors open to the penthouse, I'm not surprised to find Winston waiting.
Dressed in a dark suit and tie, he nods curtly at my arrival. "Madam."
"Jeez. Doesn't he ever give you any time off?"
"My work here is a labor of love."
"We're going to circle back to that thought at some point in the future. Where is he?"
Winston points in the direction of his office.
"Thank you."
Moving down the hallway quickly, I pause in the doorway, taking a minute to catch my breath. He's as still as a statue, leaning against the edge of his desk, and looking out the wall of windows at the city sleeping below.
After releasing a measured breath, I enter the room, shuffling quietly until I'm standing at his side. Filled with uncertainty of how or where to begin, my eyes follow his profile, looking for any noticeable resemblance.
My heart pounds vigorously while the words, "You're awake," slip from my lips. Before I can continue, my phone vibrates with a call. Removing it from my pocket, I check the screen.
Edward
He must be home.
"I need to take this," I say softly.
Roy nods.
Tapping the screen, I accept the incoming call. "Hey."
"Hey. You're not at home," Edward states. His voice is laced with worry.
"No. I'm not."
"Are you okay?"
Am I? Running my fingers through my hair nervously, there's no containing the truth. "Physically, yes. Everything else . . . I don't know."
"Where's Mom?"
"Um. She's spending the rest of the weekend with Rose and the kids."
"Where are you?"
"King Tower," I whisper.
There's a long pause before he asks, "Do you want me to come get you?"
Do I? We haven't even begun this conversation yet. I have no doubt my husband is exhausted, but without me at home, I'm positive he won't be able to sleep either. I hate to ask this of him, but it wouldn't hurt to have him here in my corner.
"Yeah. I think I do."
"I'm on my way," Edward states without hesitation.
"Thank you."
"Bella, I love you."
My whole body fills with warmth at his words, and a tear trickles down my cheek. After my visit with Mom and Dad, I thought I was all cried out, but I guess I was wrong. Brushing it away, I smile. "I love you too."
"I'll be there soon."
"Okay. I'll see you then." Ending the call, I look up to find Roy watching me. "My husband is on the way."
His head bobs with understanding. "Good."
I pause, returning to my perusal of him. Even though it's the middle of the night, he's dressed in perfectly crisp business casual, wearing a dark button-down shirt and dress pants without a hair out of place.
Tilting my head in question, I ask, "Do you know why I'm here?"
He frowns. "I don't want you . . . to hate me."
I shake my head. "That's not the overriding emotion at this point."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it to me."
His shoulders sag slightly. "I've lost so many people I love or have loved. I don't want that list to include you too. I'm treading carefully where you're concerned."
"Okay. Let's start here. What do you know about a man named Brandon Kelly?" I ask pointedly, then wait.
The silence builds, and his brow furrows. "I think . . . I'm more interested in what you know about him."
I lift my hands in frustration. "Dear heavens! Will you ever answer my questions directly? Why do we always have to play this . . . game?"
"I'm not playing any games."
"Right. Fine. I'll go first. What do I know? Um . . . let's see. I uncovered a . . . I don't know . . . a snag when my doctor performed routine tests on my blood recently. The results of my blood type were inconsistent with what I thought they should be. I questioned my mother about our family's medical history, which prompted her reluctantly to reveal that she didn't know the identity of my biological father. A man she was never able to find," I add.
He fails to reply with even the slightest flicker of acknowledgment, so I continue.
"Imagine her face when I shared your photo with her over an hour ago. Shock doesn't begin to describe what we're all feeling . . ." I trail off, then stumble through my overwhelming thoughts. "I-I don't know if this is some sort of crazy dream or really happening."
His eyes shift to mine. "Would you prefer to sit down?"
"I don't believe I can." Wiping away another stray tear, I expel an unsteady breath. "How long have you known?"
Roy clears his throat, taking great care in choosing his next words. "Over the past few months, I had a suspicion after viewing the photos included with your background file, but I began thinking that maybe it was simply wishful thinking on my part. While possible, not probable. Then I received some . . . let's call it, preliminary data that confirmed my suspicions."
"Preliminary data? When did you receive that?" I prompt.
"Recently."
"Were you planning to share that with me?"
He shakes his head. "I don't know. I didn't know where to begin that conversation. You're an amazing woman, and I had absolutely nothing to do with who you are today."
"Nothing?" I doubt he needs my ten-second lecture on reproduction or genetics.
"You didn't think twice about standing up to me and denying my requests." Roy chuckles. "Which is so . . . Pete. Just being near you—I thought that could possibly be enough. You're the best combination of Pete and Kel. It was as if I hadn't lost them at all. Then I began to realize what revealing this truth could do to the life you have built—a life you love." He waves toward the door. "Ask Royce. He would undoubtedly wish to have traded lives with you in a heartbeat, given the option."
"I don't have to ask him to know that isn't true," I reassure.
"Again. You offer kindness and grace, which is all Kel, but what do I have to offer you? Hmmm? Without knowing what your mother has shared with you, I've been trying to help wherever I can—help that you are always quick to refuse. So, I've waited, thinking maybe it's for the best that you never know, but here you are."
"Why didn't you give her your real name?"
"When I was younger, I used a variety of aliases when I traveled, for many reasons, mostly to prevent my father from learning what I was doing. Brandon Kelly was one of them. It was the biggest mistake I've made in my entire life," he admits sadly. "I'm sorry. So sorry. I have no idea how to make it up to either of you."
"You were divorced?"
"Yes. The last thing Renée needed was to become caught up in my mess of a life," Roy replies.
"That wasn't your decision to make," I point out. "What were you doing in California?"
"A friend of mine and Pete's, he was planning to do something he wasn't supposed to do—a stunt. It was all top secret. He had been training for years. We had a bet that he wouldn't do it. At the last minute, Sydney didn't want Pete to go. So, he bailed on the trip and the bet, but I went anyway, staying longer than I planned."
"What was the stunt?"
"To fly a fighter jet under the Golden Gate Bridge."
"Did he do it?"
"No."
"You won the bet?"
"I did."
"What did you win?"
"A winery in Northern California."
"I think that might be the best part of the story." I chuckle. "I love wine. Not at the moment, of course."
"Of course, but I have to disagree. You're the best part of this story. The winery is no consolation for missing out on the past thirty-three years of your life. I know it's selfish, but I don't want to miss anything else."
I nod. "Is the diet a recent change?"
"Yes. My doctor . . . suggested it."
"Are you still drinking and smoking?"
"I'm trying to quit both, which isn't easy," Roy admits.
"Those are big changes."
"I won't live forever, but I want to make the most of whatever time remains, and that includes you."
"And the twins?"
He smiles. "For the longest time, I was resigned to the fact that I would never have grandchildren. I would love to be a part of their lives, but that's up to you as well."
"You're blowing my mind right now." I look out the windows at the city bathed in darkness briefly before returning my focus to him. "I think I need to hear you actually say the words out loud."
His eyes find mine, filled with sincerity. "Bella, I have every reason to believe that I am your biological father, and you are my daughter."
There it is. A pebble of truth that will undoubtedly produce ripples I can't even fathom at this point.
"Holy shit. This is real. I don't know if I should laugh or cry. I was clueless how to begin my search for you given the limited information Mom shared, and here we are stumbling into each other."
"Maybe it was . . . fate?" he suggests.
"Maybe." I shrug. "Have you told anyone?"
Roy shakes his head. "I would like to share our news with Royce, your brother."
"My brother. I have a brother." I laugh nervously. "Of course, I do."
He grins. "Yes, and your grandmother."
"My grandmother. Wow. This is a lot."
"But before we do that, it's important for you to understand that we would need to establish the link between us legally. Once we do, there's no going back. Since Charlie was married to your mother at the time of your birth, he is your presumed father in the eyes of the law. He and your mother will need to deny his paternity legally in order to establish mine."
"Bella?"
I turn, realizing my husband is standing in the doorway. "Edward. Oh, thank goodness. You're here." Hurrying across the room, I throw my arms around him.
He hugs me tightly, then puts a little space between us. His eyes travel over me from head to toe rapidly. "What's going on? Are you okay?"
"I'm . . . I don't know what I am other than a swirling soup of emotions. I went to see Mom, filled with uneasiness at my initial thoughts earlier. My uneasiness was replaced by shock and disbelief at my intuition being correct. I was nervous coming here, but I'm moving toward . . . I don't know. It's ridiculous to think, but . . . some weird form of acceptance?"
"Acceptance of what?"
"You're not going to believe it when I tell you."
"Try me."
"I put it together. I figured out who Brandon Kelly is."
"Who's Brandon Kelly?"
"Me," Roy states, stepping closer to join our conversation.
"You?"
I nod. "I believe he is."
"You're Bella's father?" Edward asks skeptically.
"Yes, I am," Roy repeats.
My husband looks between us. "What makes either of you believe that?"
"For me, Mom. I went to see her after we landed. I showed her two pictures. The first was Roy's brother, Peter, when he was younger. She had no idea who he was and had never seen him before I showed her the photo. The second photo was of Roy close to the age when she would have met him. Instantly, she confirmed him to be the man she knew as Brandon Kelly."
Edward's gaze shifts from me to Roy.
"I recognized Renée from the security background check I requested for Bella. Since that time, my team has gathered additional information that confirms she is my daughter."
I gasp. "Your security team knows who I am?"
"As a collective group, they know you are important since I requested for you to have full access to me and this building. A select few have seen the information confirming our link," Roy clarifies.
"What if you're wrong?"
"I'm not," he states adamantly.
"I want to see the information. What is it? A paternity or genetic test?"
"Yes."
"I still want to see what you have."
Roy looks at me for a beat, then returns to his desk. After opening a drawer, he retrieves a thumb drive, then hesitates. "I—"
"Roy, just give it to me." I hold out my open hand. "I don't need any explanations for how you came about my part in your testing. I can draw my own conclusions, which are probably pretty damn close."
He sets the thumb drive on my outstretched hand. "Let me know—"
"I will." Closing my hand around it, I release a steady breath.
"Bella, I think we should call it a night and take some time to digest this information. We both need sleep. Even though you don't have to work tomorrow, I have to be on the ice for practice."
I nod. "Right. I'm sorry. We need to go home. I—"
"It's okay." Edward reaches for my hand. "You wouldn't have been able to sleep given the nature of this information."
"Before you go, I have something to show you—an . . . option, if you'll follow me?" Roy leads us to the elevator and grins, motioning us inside. "Don't worry, it's a short ride."
Once we're inside, the doors close, and Roy inserts a key before selecting a floor.
"We've shuffled a bit over the years, but I'm on fifty-three. Alice is on fifty-two. Royce is on fifty-one. And you will be on fifty."
"Me?"
"Yes."
The doors open and we step into the entry. Wide-eyed, Edward and I exchange a look before he releases my hand to explore the expansive living space. As I walk around the area, I notice the furnishings—large, cream-colored sofas dominate the living room with soft, fluffy pillows in rich, warm colors of caramel, terra cotta, and rust. The dark woods, which contrast the light, textured walls and gray-green accents remind me of . . .
"The entire floor is yours to do with as you please. Of course, you can make your own design choices, but in its current condition, the space should meet your needs with plenty of room to grow. A pet relief area was added recently, in case you couldn't be without your pets."
He must have added that after our dinner together. Damn, he works fast.
"This is . . ." I don't want to love it, but I do. "Excessive. I have a home in Dallas. I don't need another one."
Roy's smile fades slightly. "Understood, but this is also an option. It's close to the arena. And me. You may find use for it on occasion. Royce lives full-time in his unit, while Alice and Jasper stay in theirs whenever either needs a place to stay when they're not in Houston."
"Interesting neighborhood."
"I like it." Roy's smile returns briefly. "This floor was mine until I moved to the penthouse, but I won't keep you. I just wanted you to . . . know your options, and now you do. Let me escort you downstairs."
Quietly, we return to the elevator and begin our descent.
"I . . . I don't know what else to say other than thank you. This conversation could have gone a lot of ways."
"Bella, I didn't know." Roy's glassy eyes search mine. "Had I known, I would have moved heaven and earth to be there for you. Probably to a point where you wished I wasn't."
"We can't change the past."
"I understand. I'll try to do what I can now—what you'll allow me, but it's up to you how we move forward."
Once we arrive on the main level, the three of us exit the elevator.
Looking up at Roy, I smile. "I think we should hug."
Roy's face fills with relief and his smile matches mine. Opening his arms, I accept his embrace. Once we part, he offers his hand to Edward, then pulls him into a one-armed hug, patting his back lightly.
"Good seeing you again, Edward. Maybe we can do this during normal daylight hours next time?"
My husband grins. "That would be great."
"Have a good night." Roy nods.
"You too."
We turn to leave.
"Bella?" Roy calls out.
"Yeah?"
He hesitates for a moment. "Do you think your mom . . ."
"I have no idea what she will want."
"Of course." Roy nods, then waves. "Good night."
After watching the elevator doors close, Edward leads us past security at the front of the building where my SUV waits just beyond the windows.
Looking for his truck, I wonder. "Did you drive here?"
"No. Marcus was still awake, and I asked if he would give me a ride." Edward shrugs. "He dropped me off. No questions asked."
"We have great friends."
"We do." He opens the passenger door, helping me inside.
"What a night, huh?"
"Yeah. And here I thought our only agenda item would be to celebrate our win." My husband wiggles his eyebrows, then kisses my lips.
"DTOW?" I smile.
Edward laughs heartily. "Yes. DTOW. I'm not the only believer."
After closing my door, he walks around the vehicle, slides behind the wheel, and begins our drive home. I sigh heavily while my thoughts swirl and the realizations of the past few hours sink in.
Edward laces our fingers together, then leaves a kiss on the back of my hand. "Still okay?"
"It will take my mind a while to process everything. Is it weird that it sort of feels . . . I don't know, right? Or that it makes sense? That's such a strange thing to say, but this series of events brought me to Texas and Dallas . . . it's like a guiding hand. Maybe everything happens for a reason."
"Do you believe everything he and your mother said?" Edward asks.
"Why wouldn't I? Do you think they're lying?"
"I don't know. All of this began with a lie about his name. While he's clearly remorseful, I wonder if he can truly be trusted. Your parents lied by omission all these years until you pushed for answers."
I shrug. "Maybe I wasn't ready for the answers before, and I am now. Do you know how many people probably try to establish a link to the King family for their own financial gain? That's definitely not me. I wasn't even trying. On the plane, Bonnie mentioned—"
"Who's Bonnie?" Edward's brow furrows with confusion.
"She is—or was—a friend of Kelly King, Roy's sister, and is a flight attendant on his plane. On one of our first flights, she mentioned that due to my mannerisms I reminded her of a friend she lost. I had been meaning to ask the name of her friend, then on our flight back tonight, I asked, and she told me. Bonnie also said that I could be Kelly's daughter based on the resemblance between us."
"Kelly King? I don't believe I've ever seen a picture of her."
"Yeah. Roy has a few in his office, but I need to look at them more closely next time I'm there. Anyway, the last time I heard the name Kelly was recently from my parents: Brandon Kelly. It felt like a long shot, but I began thinking that even though I'm not Kelly's daughter, maybe there could be a connection of some kind."
"Brandon?"
"Yeah, I thought the name was completely random, but I remembered Roy telling me about Alice's mom, whose surname was Brandon. I began thinking that maybe I stumbled onto something that could tie me to either Roy or his brother. It just felt too . . . coincidental? With the way Roy has been more noticeably present in my life, I always thought it had more to do with Victoria or even Alice than me."
Edward nods. "There's definitely a difference."
Thinking back on the conversations I've had with Roy, I wonder if he was consciously or unconsciously feeding me clues all along, as his knowledge of our situation materialized. I recall his perspective on my situation with Sam:
"There's nothing like a woman with a vendetta. Slow and steady. Carving him up like a turkey at Thanksgiving. Bravo. You remind me of Alice's father. She's not there yet, but you are."
Roy was taunting me that day to see how I would respond and how far he could push me. He said that I reminded him of his brother. Dear goodness. I think we now know why. Was that a slip? How much did he know then?
"I'll tell you what I don't need . . . and that is you working against me when I thought we were on the same team. Alice isn't ready."
He thought we were on the same team. His words. But are we on the same team? If I'm the only one who is willing to stand up to Roy, things could become . . . bumpy or strained for everyone involved. Not exactly how I want to begin this new phase of our relationship.
His overwhelming determination to provide anything for me . . . from my loan, to our office building, and now . . . floor fifty in King Tower?
"What about that apartment?" I ask, breaking the silence between us. "I mean, can it still be called an apartment when it's an entire floor of a building?"
"Did you see his face when you were all, 'I have a home'? He didn't like that one bit." My husband chuckles. "The place is incredibly nice, but do you know what it reminds me of?"
I grin. "If you say the suite we stayed in, in Las Vegas, when we eloped, then we're going to match."
"I am. Do you think that was a coincidence?"
I release a small sigh. "There are no coincidences where Roy is concerned. He is definitely deliberate. I wouldn't put it past him to create something like that with short notice. And a pet relief area? I didn't go farther to see the bedrooms, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was already a nursery to accommodate twins."
"He somehow got a hold of your blood sample from your doctor," Edward concludes.
"Or intercepted it on the way to the lab. Or at the lab. Those were the only recent sources, which means he's known about my pregnancy for a while too."
"This is a lot."
"That's exactly what I said." I laugh.
"What's next?"
"Well, even though I haven't looked at whatever is on this thumb drive, Roy is confident in the test results. If he wasn't, we wouldn't be this far in our discussion. I guess there really isn't any other choice."
"There's always a choice," my husband reassures.
"Right. I'll just say, 'Thanks, but no thanks, Roy. We're all good.'" I chuckle. "You know I won't be able to do that, but it also won't be easy to ask Dad to deny paternity legally. That's the next step."
Edward nods his understanding. "Your dad is smart. He probably suspects something of that nature will be on the horizon."
"Maybe, but it will still sting, and the last thing I want to do is to hurt him."
/ /\ (oo) /\ \
I wake to the sound of Edward in the bathroom getting ready to leave for practice. After we returned home, I couldn't wait to view the contents of the thumb drive. Despite my husband's determined lips distracting me, I found reports on the drive from three different labs. The findings leave no doubts about my connection to Roy.
Without any plans for this morning, I reach for my phone, wondering if I can coordinate our schedules.
Good morning,
Are you available for brunch?
I don't have to wait long for a response.
I can be.
I'll come to you.
Casual dress.
How does 9:30am sound?
Perfect.
See you soon!
At the sound of the bathroom door opening, I look up from my phone.
"Hey, you're awake." Edward smiles, moving to sit on the edge of the bed next to me. "Good morning, beautiful." After a kiss to my lips, he leaves two on my growing belly. "And my little pumpkins."
"Good morning." I comb my fingers through his hair, then rub them along his beard-covered jaw. "I love this beard. And you. Why can't playoff beards be a year-round thing?"
"You know why."
"I know. Old school hockey. Blah, blah, blah," I tease. "It's my favorite part of the playoffs."
"My favorite part is that you're still naked under there." He grins. "You're too tempting to leave, but I need to get going or I'll be late."
We both know the only time Edward is late, is when he's late for being early.
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Doc. But it's only for a few hours. How about we make a date to nap together this afternoon and swim later? I'll make you dinner."
"You're such a sweet talker. How can I resist an offer like that?"
"Is that a yes?"
"It's a hell yes." I grin.
"How are you feeling this morning?"
"Good."
"Only good?" His eyebrow arches in challenge, knowing our private celebration of his win in the early morning hours will leave a smile on my face all day.
"I'm feeling great thanks to you," I confirm with a huge sigh.
He chuckles, then leaves a kiss on my tattoo. "That's better."
"Look at us, DTOW, and it isn't even game day."
"Doesn't hurt to be consistent." He winks. "Or double down and bank a few."
"I think I'm going to get ready and have brunch out this morning," I share my plans vaguely. "But I promise I'll be home when you return."
"Okay. Do you want me to take Scout and Shadow on a quick walk before I leave?"
"No, I'll take care of them."
Edward leans close and kisses my lips once more. "Have fun. And don't get into any trouble."
There's no containing my giddiness at the thought. "I will."
He pauses, tilting his head in question. "You will?"
"Not?"
Edward shakes his head. "Doc, what am I going to do with you?"
"I'm sure you have a few ideas." I giggle. "Save them for this afternoon."
He stands, walks toward the door, and blows me a kiss before departing our bedroom. Shadow leaps off the bed, following him, but Scout looks over at me.
"Maybe a little unexpected trouble, which will be fun," I whisper. "Roy didn't tell me there would be others at our dinner the other night, and I think it's time to return the favor this morning."
Scout whines his disapproval.
"No complaints. You're going too. We'll do a long walk after we return. I promise."
Once I'm freshly showered and dressed, I wrap a gift for Roy, then call in a carry-out brunch order from a nearby restaurant. After loading Scout and Shadow into the SUV, I drive to my townhome, picking up my VIP guests. They are the picture of concern about this morning's meeting before we even back out of the driveway.
"It's only brunch," I reassure.
"I doubt I will be able to eat or drink anything." Mom's voice trembles, while looking out the passenger seat window with Shadow on her lap. "My stomach is a wreck."
"We need to do this, Mom. If he wants to move forward together, then it starts with both of you. You're the cornerstones of my village."
"I don't know, Bella. I just didn't expect we would meet so soon." Mom strokes Shadow's fur. She pauses, lightly touching the colorful scarf wrapped around her head. "Do I look okay?"
I didn't give her time to fuss over her appearance, as I knew she would, knowing who we're meeting. Had I given anyone a heads-up, they all would have made a million excuses about why they aren't ready to see one another, which would only prolong the inevitable.
"You look great. I told him to expect casual."
She sighs. "I did an internet search and there are so many photos of him. He's . . . and I'm . . ."
"Mom, it will be fine. He knows what you're going through. This isn't some sort of pissing match of how either of you weathered the past three decades. Remember, comparison is the thief of joy."
"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier." Her worried eyes find mine.
Reaching for her hand, I hold it in mine while I drive. "All the money in the world hasn't provided him with what you and Dad share. The way I look at it, he did you a favor. You were free to live and love how and who you wanted. You found the perfect man for you. Yes, there were bumps along the way. There still are, but that's part of the journey." I glance at Dad in the rearview mirror and smile as I meet his eyes.
"And me? I was raised by a devoted father who didn't hesitate to be the first man in my life. A high standard that I've held every man to ever since. For my entire life, he has loved me without reservation, and I'm incredibly lucky for that."
I hear Dad sniff quietly from where he sits in the backseat with Scout before he clears his throat.
"Are there any tissues back here?"
Releasing my hand, Mom reaches for her purse. "I have some." Once she locates a travel pack, she hands them to Dad.
"I didn't realize we were crying today," I tease.
Dad chuckles. "I've cried more in the last six months than in my entire life. I believe it's from being around you two saps."
I grin. "Sounds like gratitude to me."
He nods. "You're right."
"Shouldn't we bring something at least?" Mom asks.
"We're picking up some food I already ordered."
"I'll pay for it," Dad declares, leaving no wiggle room for arguing.
After stopping at a vegan brunch spot to pick up my order, which includes an assortment of pastries, breads, salads, and fresh fruit, we arrive at King Tower earlier than expected. I suspect there's a touch of scuttlebutt going on in the penthouse right now, which only adds to my excitement. While Dad helps Scout, Shadow, and Mom exit the vehicle, I grab my gift with a different goal for this visit.
Even though Roy's employees know me, I don't know them, and if we will be interacting more frequently, it's important that I do. There aren't many working on a Sunday morning, but I plan on making the most of the time I have with who is here. After each introduction, I break the ice with brief conversations, asking things like, how long they've been employed, if they like hockey, or when was their last trip to the dentist.
While everyone is surprised by my questions, the security team members refer to Dad as "Chief," which prompts some of the first carefree smiles I've seen from him this morning. Most can't resist interacting with Scout or Shadow and say they have never seen a cat ride on a dog's back in the manner they travel. When I ask, everyone proudly shares the names and photos of their own pets.
Once we're through the standard security procedures and arrive at the elevator, it's a quick ascent to the top of the building. The doors open to reveal Winston, wearing his suited attire with a smirk, and this time, a casually dressed Roy, wringing his hands while trying desperately to conceal his nervousness.
"Good morning, Bella."
"Good morning, Roy. Winston."
"Madam."
"I was surprised to hear from you so soon." Roy smiles. "I trust you slept well."
I chuckle. "I would imagine that we all slept about the same. Mom, Dad, I would like to introduce you to Roy King. Roy, these are my parents, Renée and Charlie Swan."
There's a beat of awkwardness before Roy steps forward and shakes Mom's hand gently.
"You're as beautiful as I remember."
Her cheeks flush at the compliment, then he turns to Dad, offering his hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Charlie."
"You too."
Roy turns. "And this is Winston. He is my house manager and personal butler."
Dad offers his hand, shaking Winston's while Mom smiles and says, "Nice to meet you."
Accepting our carry-out bag from Dad, I offer it to Winston. "We didn't want to arrive empty-handed. All freshly prepared and plant-based options. I hope they are acceptable."
"I'm sure they will be." He nods before giving Roy an unspoken look that I catch.
I offer my wrapped gift to Roy. "This is something I thought you would enjoy, but it's on loan from me. No rush to return it."
"Should I open it now or wait?"
"It's up to you."
"I'll wait until later, and who is this?" He bends lower, petting their heads lightly.
"Scout and Shadow. Before we get too comfortable here, I should probably take them to visit the pet relief area that you mentioned on fifty."
Winston nods. "I'll be happy to escort them. Give me a minute to leave this in the kitchen."
"Thank you."
Roy stands, motioning toward the living area behind him. "Please, come in."
Mom leads the way. "This is a lovely home."
He smiles at her praise. "Thank you."
"Do you live here alone?" she asks, taking a seat on the sofa, with Dad settling into the spot next to her.
"Unfortunately, with the exception of Winston, I do." Roy chooses to sit on the sofa opposite of them.
Once Winston returns, I offer him Scout's leash and a little advice. "Shadow normally rides on Scout's back everywhere we go, but there's an easy release buckle from his harness. When you're ready to return, she will need a little help, getting back into position."
"Thank you for the information."
"You're welcome." I sit in the chair between the two sofas.
Lifting a pitcher from a waiting tray on the coffee table, Roy pours four glasses of what looks to be juice, offering one to each of us.
Sniffing my glass, I ask, "What is this? Orange something?"
"I believe Winston said that it's a pineapple, banana, and orange smoothie."
After a small sip, I lick my lips. "It's delicious."
Roy smiles. "It's one of my favorites."
"Were you at your club this morning when I messaged you?" I wonder.
"Yes. I had trouble sleeping after you left and eventually gave in to an early round of golf, which I thought might help."
"Did it?"
He shrugs. "A little. I was on twelve when I got your message and returned home. Charlie, do you golf?"
"No, but I like to fish," Dad shares. "We enjoyed our time at Whitlock Ranch. Jasper has some dandy lakes for fishing. I caught an eighteen-pound, largemouth bass with Edward."
"Mmmm," Roy replies, clearly not as impressed as Edward and Dad were with such a catch.
While Roy does his best to keep his expression politely indifferent, I suspect there's more than a seed of jealousy being planted here where Edward is concerned, which is not my intention. I just need to keep them talking, and in time, we will move past the small talk to something more substantial.
Before I can shift the conversation into a different direction, Roy asks, "Renée, are you excited to become a grandmother?"
Her expression fills with surprise at his knowledge and her eyes meet mine. Oh, mother. This man is incredibly invasive when he wants to be. I believe you dodged a bullet.
"Yes, I am. We're very excited for the twins' arrival."
"I am too." He smiles, glancing my way.
I chuckle. "I'll be the first to admit that I'm not looking forward to the delivery."
The sound of the elevator doors opening draws our attention, and Winston returns holding Scout's leash, but carrying Shadow.
"Everything okay?" I ask.
"Miss Shadow did not wish to leave fifty," Winston explains, then sets her down on the floor while he unhooks Scout's leash.
"I don't blame her. It's very nice on fifty. Thank you for taking care of them."
When Scout sees me, he saunters to where I'm sitting while Shadow chooses her spot next to Mom, jumping onto the sofa.
"My pleasure, Madam. Brunch will be ready shortly."
"Do you need my help?" I offer.
"While appreciated, it isn't necessary."
I grin. "Okay. Got it."
I don't miss Winston's slight arch of his eyebrow in question or Roy's look of resolve with a minute bobbing of his head before Winston departs for the kitchen. There's a lot of unspoken conversation going on between these two, and now I'm wondering what I missed on my previous visits.
"Before brunch is ready, I would like to say something," Roy begins. "Renée, Charlie, I want you to know that I appreciate this opportunity to meet privately today. It took an incredible amount of courage to come here, but I doubt Bella gave you much choice."
Mom chuckles. "True."
"I want you to know that your effort isn't wasted on me. It isn't easy to right wrongs from our past. I'm not certain how we should move forward together, but I hope that we can as parents, and most importantly, grandparents."
I'm not in any need of parenting, but I keep my opinion to myself, taking another sip from my glass.
"I can only share my deepest and most sincere apologies for my decisions to conceal my identity when we met. Even if I had told you my real name, I doubt that it would have mattered to you, but to many . . . opportunists, it did and still does."
"Roy, it only mattered in the sense that you would have met your daughter at her birth, if not before, during my pregnancy," Mom states.
"And I only have myself to blame for that." Roy turns to me. "Before I continue, I just want to double-check. Are you prepared for our next steps?"
I smile confidently. "I am."
There's a brief smile of elation as Roy struggles to contain his happiness at my confirmation, but he returns his focus to the details of our conversation.
"While we don't have to worry about matters of custody, I owe you eighteen years of child support, and in my position, I also need to be mindful of things like inheritance. Being my daughter will come at a price. Bella will be thrust into a world of expectation and obligation, but there will be the opportunity to leave her own mark with her safety always being paramount. And yours as well."
Inheritance? I'm not here for any money. Neither are my parents. Expectations and obligations? We will need further clarification on those whenever it's only the two of us.
"Fortunately, due to her chosen spouse, she's experienced a taste of that inquisitive and sometimes intrusive spotlight. We will be able to contain the truth for a while, but not forever as we establish our connection. To do so, we must ask for you, Charlie, with Renée's corroboration, to forfeit your rights legally as her presumed father."
Shifting his gaze to mine, Dad's eyes fill with uncertainty. "Bella?"
"It doesn't change anything between us. You know that I love you. You will always be Dad to me and Grandpa Swan to the twins," I reassure. "But I need to give Roy the chance to be someone he wasn't."
Roy nods. "Make no mistake, I am forever indebted to you for your commitment to both Renée and Bella. This in no way minimizes your relationship with her. I will always respect and honor your bond."
When Dad's eyes shift skeptically between us, I explain. "I have a brother who I already know, but he doesn't know our connection yet. And a grandmother, who I'm excited to meet. I want you both there with me. We're in this together. We always have been."
"And always will be." Dad struggles to match my smile.
"That's right. I can't do this without you."
"Bella, we both know you can," he admits sadly.
"But that's the difference. I won't."
/ /\ (oo) /\ \
Our hopes are riding high Monday night at American Airlines Center. Leading the series with Nashville two-zero, my husband is busy on the ice, while I'm on autopilot and settled in Deedee's suite. After a full day in the office, Rose continuously brings me water and plates of food, but I suspect they both can tell something is on my mind even though neither has said a word.
As the game continues with the crowd's cheers and jeers at every goal or bad call, I struggle to remain present while still distracted by the wild revelations of my weekend. My thoughts return to my visit with Roy and my parents yesterday. After we finished eating, Roy opened the gift I brought for him.
"Any guesses?" I ask.
"It feels like a book of some sort." He grins, carefully unwrapping the surrounding paper.
"You're close, but not just any book."
With the paper removed, Roy removes a pair of glasses from his shirt pocket, slides them on, then studies the cover for a moment. After flipping through the first few pages, his glassy eyes find mine. "Bella."
I smile. "I thought you would enjoy reading through my baby book."
"You have no idea how much this means." He reaches out to hold my hand, giving it a light squeeze. "It could be my favorite book ever to exist."
Mom chuckles, as its creator. "I was into scrapbooking at the time. So, it could be a little over the top. Ignore all the pink."
Removing his glasses, Roy's grin returns. "I'm certain it's perfect."
"While we agreed that we can't change the past, it doesn't mean you should miss out on seeing some of the keepsakes from Mom's pregnancy, my birth, and those early years. I also have a book with mementos from my school years if you would like to see that one as well. It includes my annual school photos, grades, and some of the awards I received."
"A sequel about my favorite subject." He winks. "I can't wait to pore over it too."
What a day.
And what a weekend.
Roy King is my father.
My biological father.
It isn't easy to sit on this information, but we aren't sharing the news until the paperwork is finalized, which in Roy speak, "shouldn't take long." While it didn't surprise me, it did catch my parents off guard that Roy had a lawyer prepare the necessary documents ahead of time, which were simply awaiting their signatures. He suggested they have a lawyer look over them on their behalf before signing, but they didn't, taking the time only to read through them briefly.
By the end of this week or next, we could share the news with Royce. My brother. Well, my half brother, but my brother regardless. My older brother. I'm a sister. His younger sister, not by much, but the whole idea puts a smile on my face. I'm not an only child, even though I was raised as one. I guess he had a similar experience as well.
And now, we'll have each other.
My eyes shift to his suite, where he stands at a long, high-top table surrounded by other men in suits while watching the ice intently. I know so little about him, but I'm hopeful that will change in the coming months. There isn't really anything that can prepare someone for this kind of news.
As a new brother-in-law, Royce will have someone again who shares his love for hockey. Maybe similar to the bond he shared with his uncle, if not stronger. And he will be an uncle to twins. Royce seemed excited and happy about our news, when it was shared by Edward at dinner, but I hope it will hit differently, once our connection is revealed.
My husband is cautiously optimistic about everything. And I should probably follow his lead. I will admit that I'm worried about others' reactions. There's Rose and Alice, but also Al and Garrett. While Roy and Royce weren't on our guest lists for the wedding reception, they need to be added. And I have no doubt Jason will flip when I share the news with him.
While I'm excited to meet my grandmother, I'm also saddened to know that I will never meet my grandfather. Or uncle. Or aunt. Family members, who in Roy's eyes, were larger than life. I'm also curious about Alice's mom. Technically, she's my aunt too. And then there's Royce's mother. I think meeting both of them should be a priority, and the best way could be for them to receive invites to our wedding reception.
It's all . . . weird and surreal.
And the only other person in this entire building of over eighteen thousand screaming fans who is aware of my situation, is battling on the ice. Refocusing on the game, there are about three minutes left in the third period, and Edward's team is up by one goal with the score, five-four.
My eyes follow Nashville's goaltender as he hurries to the bench for an extra player to step onto the ice. There is a frantic frenzy in front of Edward, but Tyler clears the puck, sending it to the other end of the ice just missing the goal. With an icing call, the puck is brought back to the face-off circle to the right of Edward. We're on the edge of our seats as we watch James win the face-off, but Nashville regains control of the puck.
The Nashville players pass the puck quickly around the zone until one of their players bobbles the puck, forcing it past the blue line and outside the zone. Tyler rushes toward the loose puck and sends it straight into the goal. The crowd goes crazy as we extend our lead, and everyone celebrates with high-fives shared around our suite. Deedee and I hold hands while we watch the time on the clock expire, and game three is another win, six-four.
Edward won't be happy about so many goals—ten combined, but these have all been close one and two goal games. We're at least on the right side of this one, giving us a three-zero lead in the series. Deedee mentioned earlier that Nashville is missing a few key players from their roster due to injuries, but she suspects others are playing injured.
Either way, Edward's team is on a six-game winning streak, which means the validity of DTOW is growing stronger with each win.
/ /\ (oo) /\ \
Watching game four from Deedee's suite at American Airlines Center on Wednesday night, I struggle to get comfortable in the seats overlooking the ice. My appetite is off today, and I pass on the food selections. Nothing sounds good. Sipping from a bottle of water, we wait for the game to begin. I wave off Rose's offer to get me something from outside of the suite, promising I'll eat something later.
Every day it feels as if something is a little tighter or just doesn't fit anymore. My rings barely move on my fingers, and it wasn't easy to jam my feet into my shoes for tonight. Edward's app said nothing about my feet growing bigger with the pregnancy, but clearly, there are changes happening down there. It's only a matter of time before I can't reach or see my feet any longer.
Holding the bottle against my cheek, the coolness feels incredible, as I'm running hotter these days too. I lift my hair, shifting the bottle to the back of my neck. Edward hasn't said a word about my adjustments to our thermostat at home other than he loves the cold. Watching my husband douse himself with water, I wonder if anyone would question a goaltender's wife doing the same.
With pregame activities complete, the referee drops the puck at center ice, and our team is on the attack with several great chances in front of Nashville's goaltender. When Nashville is called for a cross-checking penalty in the middle of the first period, tempers boil over in frustration from everyone in yellow, hoping to draw additional penalties. While James and Caius typically don't pass up a fight, their restraint pays off when two Nashville players are directed to the penalty box.
About fifteen seconds into the five-on-three power play, James buries a rebounded puck into the goal, sending the crowd to their feet. As the players celebrate, the building erupts, and fans shout with our goal scoring music. Once play returns to full strength, Edward faces a handful of shots that he blocks or stops, and we end the first period, leading one-zero. After making an urgent trip to the restroom at the beginning of the intermission, I nibble on a small container of popcorn while watching the Zamboni drivers and building crew tend to the ice.
When the second period begins, Tyler is called for a questionable tripping penalty. On the power play, Nashville shifts the puck around the ice, looking for any opportunity. Edward blocks two shots and one rings off the post before he loses sight of the puck. With several players in front of him, Nashville scores, silencing the crowd. We watch the replay on the overhead screen, and the puck sails over his shoulder into the back of the net, evening the score, one-one.
Once play continues, our players continuously drill pucks toward the net, but Nashville's goaltender makes incredible saves with each one. During a Nashville line change, Caius steals the puck from one of their defenders, quickly passing it to Marcus charging into the zone, who shoots and scores. Everyone leaps to their feet, celebrating the goal and taking the lead. As the remaining time expires, Nashville's players are unable to maintain control of the puck or take a shot on goal.
After another quick trip to the restroom, I choose a soft pretzel, deciding to eat with Edward after the game. Returning to my seat, the gravity of the next twenty minutes begins to settle onto the faces of everyone in our entire suite. When Edward's team takes the ice in the third period, it's clear they have a single-minded plan: drain the clock. To execute that plan, they don't take shots, but keep the puck in play. We watch as our players use their brute strength, trapping the puck against the boards and in the corners with their sticks and skates.
Shift after shift, the clock continues counting down until Nashville pulls their goaltender, but the one shot they take goes wide of the goal. When time expires, the building goes wild and we win two-one, eliminating Nashville from the playoffs. Hugs are shared freely in our suite while we watch as our players line up congratulating Edward. Afterward, they meet Nashville's players at center ice for another round of handshakes.
Earning their spot in the Western Conference finals, we learn that Edward's team won't play again for over a week. They will wait to find out who their opponent will be in the Vegas and Vancouver series, which is even at two games a piece. Regardless of who they play, they won't have home ice advantage and will have to travel for the first two games of the next series. I hope the week off will give all of the players, especially my husband, the chance to focus on rest and recovery.
It will be nice for Edward to be home, but I have no doubt he will continue to follow closely the other series' still playing.
/ /\ (oo) /\ \
Thursday evening, I'm on my way to the airport with Esme to pick up Leah. While Edward left for a team dinner earlier, he gave me a stern warning not to lift any of Leah's bags, which is why Esme volunteered to ride along, offering her help.
"How are you doing Esme?" I ask, when we're stopped at a traffic light. "We've all been so busy lately that we haven't had the opportunity for the two of us to talk and catch up with each other."
"I don't know, Bella. I'm doing as good as can be expected, I suppose." She shrugs. "They can't find Carlisle to serve him."
I gasp. "Serve him? You filed for divorce?"
"Yes." She shakes her head sadly. "I have no other choice."
"Do Rose and Edward know?"
"I haven't told them yet. Rose will be angry with me, and this is not the time to share something of that nature with Edward. I don't want to take anything away from either of their focus right now. My sister knows, and now, you." Esme shifts in her seat then sighs. "If they can't locate Carlisle, the divorce will continue uncontested, but my lawyer says that we have to make every effort to find him."
"Understood. For what it's worth, he's on my list for access to our suite for every away game that we've attended in Colorado and Nashville," I reveal. "I thought there could be a chance that if he was in any of those areas or made the trip, he would reach out, wanting to be with family and cheer on Edward."
"That's incredibly generous of you and more kind than he deserves." Esme wipes at the corners of her eyes and sniffs away tears. "The end of my marriage fills me with this undeniable sadness that I couldn't fix things or even make it work after all this time together. A part of me feels like a failure, but I need to move on."
"Oh, Esme."
"I know. Don't get me wrong. I will be available to take care of the twins, but I was thinking about getting an apartment or condo nearby. My own space."
I nod. "That will be good for you."
"I have been thinking a lot about my identity lately. My life has always been defined by those around me. I happily took on the roles of wife, mother, and grandmother. Now, it's also about learning who I am and who I want to be."
"Are you excited by the possibilities?"
She grins. "I am."
"Esme, I appreciate your willingness to care for the twins and to be involved with our charity. But I want you to know, if something in your life changes, you always have the option to pursue your own path even if that isn't in Dallas or Texas. I want you to be happy, and we aren't going to hold you back. We will find other people to help us wherever we need it."
"Thank you for saying that. At this point, I can't imagine ever remarrying again. I'm looking forward to putting myself first—for once. But who knows, maybe I could find someone eventually. I don't want to be alone, which is where I find myself while married."
"You deserve someone who will make you a priority," I state.
"I do." Esme smiles. "I'm looking forward to meeting your friend. It's a big deal to move halfway across the country. I can't help but admire her courage and determination for starting over. I guess it can happen at any age."
"Absolutely. Don't sell yourself short. Leah has a new place," I share. "You may want to check it out or some of the others that she considered around Dallas. One of them could be a good fit for you."
She nods. "I'll do that."
Once I park in the short-term parking lot, we make our way to the baggage claim area. Checking the monitors for Leah's flight, it shows as arrived, and my phone vibrates with a notification. After checking the screen, I can feel Leah's excitement in her message.
I'M HERE!
We're at the gate
and waiting to deplane.
YESSSS!
We're at baggage claim.
I can't wait to hug you!
Same!
I have SIX bags.
No problem.
Esme is here to help.
Edward said that I couldn't lift anything, but he didn't say anything about helping to roll her bags back to my vehicle.
Ahh! Doors are open!
See you soon!
We wait patiently for Leah, who arrives in baggage claim with two carry-on bags. I spot her first and wave, prompting her squeals. She hurries to where we are standing.
"I'm here! I'm here! I can't believe it." Leah giggles, then embraces me in a hug, feeling my protruding belly. "Whoa, the baby business is booming."
Ending our hug, I chuckle. "Growth in all areas, especially my ass."
"Oh, please. I wish my boobs looked as incredible as yours. Edward has to be loving the changes."
"He's a big fan. Speaking of Edward, Leah, this is Edward's mother, Esme Cullen. Esme, this is one of my best friends, Leah Clearwater."
Leah grins. "I think we met at the Winter Classic's Family Skate when I was visiting last time."
"Oh, that's probably right." Esme chuckles. "Forgive me for not remembering."
"Not a problem. I believe we were flask friends."
"Well, that explains it."
I smile as they exchange hugs.
"Bella?"
I turn, hearing a familiar voice say my name. "Jason? Hi! How are you?"
He steps forward to hug me briefly, which from his surprised expression clues him in on my growing baby belly.
Whoops.
"Good. It seems as if we have some catching up to do." With a lift of his eyebrows, he smirks knowingly.
"You're right. We do," I confirm, but I'm positive he isn't ready for the Roy conversation we need to have.
His eyes shift, landing on Leah. "I'm sorry. I don't believe we've met. I'm Jason Scott, Bella's lawyer."
"Oh!" I laugh. "Let me introduce you. Jason, this is one of my best friends, Leah Clearwater. After her visit earlier this year, she decided to make Dallas her new home. Tomorrow is day one."
"Welcome to Dallas." Jason grins at Leah, shaking her hand a little longer than necessary. "I'm glad we made a good first impression on you."
Her smile widens. "In all fairness, it was a little bumpy, but I'll admit the second one is shaping up to exceed my expectations."
"Jason specializes in business law, and he was instrumental in establishing our dental practice," I add.
Leah nods with a lick of her lips. "A lawyer, huh?"
"Yes, ma'am." Jason winks.
"It's been a while since I've had a proper cross-exam—"
"And this is my mother-in-law, Esme Cullen," I interject.
Jason shakes her hand gently. "Has your son won his sports trophy yet?"
Esme chuckles. "You'll know when it happens. There will be no containing the news."
"What brings you to the airport, Jason?" I ask.
He grins. "Ah, yes. I'm waiting for my brother's flight from New York. He is visiting for the weekend."
"A brothers' weekend?"
"Something like that." Jason returns his focus to Leah, unable to keep his eyes off her. "So, moving to Dallas, you must have plenty of luggage. In no way would I imply that you are unable to complete the task on your own, but would you accept my assistance locating your bags?"
Leah's eyes shift to mine briefly, and I share a slight nod of encouragement.
"Sure. That would be great." She grins.
While Leah leads Jason toward the moving carousel with bags arriving, Esme and I follow, leaving them with a slight buffer between us.
Esme whispers. "Did that just happen?"
I smile, looking between my two amazing friends and couldn't be happier. Reaching out, I hold her hand, giving it a supportive squeeze.
"I believe it did."
A/N: I have an extra from Winston that happens during the "scuttlebutt" portion of this chapter, when Bella introduces herself to everyone working on the ground level of King Tower. I will post it on my website, kayrichard dot com, if you're interested in what's happening on floor fifty-three at that time. Chapter 56 is the last chapter from Bella's POV. The remaining chapters will be from Edward's POV. FFn is still struggling, which seems to be the norm lately. But if you made it here, hopefully, you were alerted to the update in another way. You are welcome to subscribe to my website at the bottom of the web page, as I always update teasers, photos, and chapters there too.
In case you're just catching up with Spider and haven't heard, I'm hosting an ongoing giveaway for the final chapters of Along Came a Spider in my Facebook group, Kay Richard's Fanfics, with an opportunity for WIP readers to join Team Spiderward as a pre-reader for a chapter. Another winner was announced recently, and it was AgoodWITCH! This was her second win! Woohoo! She was the first to read this chapter and the extra. With this chapter's posting, there will be a new featured/pinned "Guess the Smile" post in my group with information on how to enter. This is my way to thank readers for going on this marathon journey with me, giving you a behind-the-scenes/first-look of the next chapter.
Since last chapter's author's note, we crowned a new Stanley Cup Champion: the Florida Panthers! Now that we're into the off season, there have been a lot of interesting trades, while many players are tying the knot with their significant others. (heart eyes emoji) Is it October yet? lol I just returned from our family vacation to Europe. We had a blast and I shared some photos in my Facebook group. Speaking of travel, I hope that anyone who is attending the TFMU Charlotte Meet Up next week has a wonderful time. I'm sad that I'm unable to attend this year, but I have some big writing news!
I have been accepted into a television and screenwriting program that begins August 1st and will last for the next two years. I'm extremely excited for this opportunity and the writing challenges it will bring. While the executive director was interested in my STEM background, my focus will also include accurately depicting women of all ages and under represented groups through film and television. As for my fanfic, I will continue updating until complete. Spiderward will be first, then I'll return my focus to Jazzward. After those, who knows? If I can bring Spider and Doc to a wider audience, you'll be one of the first to learn the news. Or any of the new characters and worlds I plan on building.
Thank you for reading, for your kind words, and always being supportive. FOUR chapters remain! xx