“You said that you tried to contact me?” He genuinely looks confused. Could it be that he didn’t know anything about the letters?
“Yes, the letters that Charlotte responded to. I really tried to get in touch with you. I wanted you in Daniele’s life. She needs a father. I’d never be that cruel to my own daughter to keep her from her dad.”
“I can’t wrap my mind around Charlotte being involved. She’s just my PA. Why the hell would she keep news of my own child from me?”
I shake my head. That’s something I can’t answer for him. He sits down on the couch and I decide to cautiously approach him. When he seems calm, I sit down next to him.
My eyes wander over his strong features. He was attractive in college, but now that he’s become a man and a powerful CEO, he’s disturbingly handsome.
“She’s three?” he asks. When he makes eye contact a piece of my heart breaks for him. Tears are shimmering in his eyes. I’ve never seen Carter so vulnerable.
“Yes. She’s healthy, Carter. I really did my best. She never went without food and I always made sure she was warm. I promise.”
He grinds his teeth and the action makes me sit back.
He reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze, then he breaks down right before my eyes. I place my other hand over his, not knowing what I can do to make this easier for him. I can’t imagine how he must feel.
He covers his eyes with his other hand and cries. I can’t keep my own tears back as I scoot closer to him. I pull him into my arms and hold him. I would also be heartbroken if I found out that I missed the first three years of my daughter’s life.
Tears roll down my cheeks as all the heartache of the past few years overwhelms me.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he whispers when he’s regained some control over his emotions. “I want to see her, Della. I want to hold my little girl.”
“You will. It’s late and she’s sleeping. If you come over tomorrow morning before the diner opens, you can spend some time with her.”
“I have to contact my attorney.”
His words shock me. I didn’t expect to hear them. I thought we would work things out between ourselves. I was stupid.
I get up and wring my hands nervously. “I can’t fight you for her, Carter. You know that. I’m all she’s known the past three years. Don’t do that to our little girl. I’m her mother. Please, don’t take her from me.” I gasp for air as a sob rips through me. I’ll die. I’ll just cease to exist.
When he just stares at me, I start to ramble. “She’s only three, Carter. Her biggest achievement is when she sleeps through the night without wetting the bed.”
He stands up and takes hold of my shoulders. “I’m not going to take her from you, Della. I’m not a fucking monster and I’m not the enemy. I need my attorney so he can get a DNA test done. He needs to get behind what role Charlotte plays in all of this. I need to make sure Daniele is taken care of, should something happen to me. I’m just going to do for her what my dad did for me. It’s all things I have to think of right now.”
I focus on one thing only. “You’re not taking her from me?”
“No. We’ll share custody. She needs both of us.”
I start to laugh and throw my arms around his neck. I give him a tight hug but soon my laughter turns into a sobbing mess. His arms fold around me and he holds me tightly to him as I cry my heart out against his chest.
“Thank you,” I manage to whisper.
He pulls back and frames my face with his strong hands. “Thank you,” he says with tears shimmering in his eyes. “You gave me a child, Della.” He presses a kiss to my forehead.
It’s been one hell of a night and I know it’s far from over. But for now, I feel a sense of relief knowing that my child is still safe with me.
***
CARTER
As soon as I close the door behind Della I phone Rhett.
The second he answers the phone, I growl, “I need you to come to my room.”
“Yes boss,” he growls back. He only calls me boss when I piss him off.
Since Dad passed away, the guys have been looking at me to fill his shoes. Dad took them all in during our high school years. We didn’t give him much of a choice. He once told me that I have a strong group of friends, something he wished he had growing up. That’s why he treated them like his own. It was just another way he ensured my future.