I pause for a moment.
“Maybe a part of her is ashamed of the behavior.”
Faith shrugs sadly.
“Maybe. I’d be shocked to find out my mother is capable of shame, though. You saw how she was just now. Ripping off her clothes like that in public? Who does that?”
I put my hand on Faith’s leg. “Yeah I know. But even more, I hate what Samantha’s done to you, and the way she throws your life into turmoil at every turn. If you want her out of your life, I’ll respect that.”
Faith sighs.
“I don’t know if that’s what I want, but it’s definitely going to take some time to figure this out.” But then the beautiful woman turns to me, her brown eyes searching. “But what about us, Hunter? What are you thinking when it comes to us?”
I pause. This is the make-or-break moment, and in a flash, I decide to lay my cards on the table. Faith is worth it, even if she decides she no longer wants to be with me.
“I was hoping we could stay together,” I say in a low voice. “I love you baby girl, and it was a shock finding out that you’re my ex-wife’s daughter, but it doesn’t really matter. You’re an adult. We’re not related, and I’ve been divorced from your mother for years now. I’m hoping,” I say on a deep breath. “That we can continue going the way we have been.”
She stares at me searchingly.
“Is that what you want?”
My heart’s pounding so loud now that it rings in my ears.
“It is,” I say in a low voice. “I love you Faith, and I’d be devastated if this broke us up. I know I deserve whatever’s coming to me, but please honey. Please believe me when I say I didn’t know.”
With that, tears begin to pour from my girlfriend’s eyes and she throws her arms around my neck, sobbing.
“I know you didn’t know,” she murmurs. “Because it’s such a strange turn of events! But it doesn’t matter now, Hunter. I love you too, and I want to be with you, crazy family or not. Plus, we’re having a baby,” she finishes in a rush.
My eyes go wide with shock and my back stiffens.
“A baby?” I whisper reverently.
“Yes, a baby,” she cries into my shoulder, wetting the fabric with her tears. “And please say you want the child because I want to have your baby, Hunter. I think you’ll be a great dad, and that our son or daughter will be a blessing, even if they were unexpected.”
With that, I toss my head back and laugh openly, the first joyous sound in what has been a hellish couple of hours.
“A baby,” I marvel. “Holy shit!”
At that, Faith lifts her eyes to look at me, red-rimmed and teary.
“Does that mean you want the child?”
With that, I pull her into my embrace, crushing that curvy form against my hard chest.
“Yes,” I murmur fiercely into her ear. “Nothing would make me happier. I want this baby with you, Faith Randall, and this is the perfect ending to all of this.”
“All of what?” she sniffs, wiping away at a tear although there’s a smile on her face now.
I shake my head.
“All this incredible chaos, because it just shows that life is unpredictable. This started out the shittiest day ever, but now, I have you, honey, and I have a child on the way. I couldn’t be a happier man.”
With that, I capture the beautiful brunette’s mouth with my own as Faith sighs and melts against my chest. After all, we’re not really related. We’re not a father-daughter duo, nor are we step-related in any way. Instead, I’m going to be the father of her child, and that’s what’s most important to me. Not what other people think or what’s happened in the past. Instead, I have a glorious future ahead of me now, and everything begins with this gorgeous woman.
Epilogue
Faith
* * *
One year later.
I ruffle the black curls on Charlie’s head. My son looks just like his father with the same dark hair and bright, blue eyes. He’s got my smile, though, which makes him the perfect mix of Hunter and me.
“How are my two favorite people doing?” Hunter growls as he enters our living room.
I laugh because we’ve come a long way from the stacks of boxes in this house when Hunter first arrived a year and a half ago. After we declared our love for one another, Hunter invited me to move in and I got right to work decorating the space. He’d barely been able to unpack, so most things were left up to me, and I took advantage of the opportunity. Now, our place is nice and cozy with comfy furniture, brightly-woven rugs, and family photos all over the walls.
“We’re doing great,” I laugh. “Charlie is due for a nap, though.”