“Yeah.” Luke wondered how she knew that for certain. Did she have spies watching his parents’ house? He clung to Mar’s hand and felt his anchor steady him. Whatever Tracey wanted couldn’t hurt him. He had Mar by his side. He wasn’t going to fall for Tracey again.
“I had no reason to come back,” he said. Maybe it was a shot directed at her, but it was true. He’d avoided this place because of her and his broken heart. No more.
She looked away and murmured, “You left me and ditched your responsibilities. Now that you’re here, I think you should see what you missed out on.”
Luke’s stomach turned while his neck tightened. He hadn’t ditched his responsibilities. She’d lost the baby. Did she think he should’ve married her because they’d made a mistake one night? She’d chosen Mike Birmingham over him. He couldn’t puzzle out what she was intoning or what he may have missed out on.
“Lacey!” Tracey called.
A girl, maybe eight or nine, popped out of the back seat of the red Jeep Cherokee parked in the driveway. She bounced up the sidewalk and the stairs, stopped next to Tracey, and smiled curiously up at Luke and Mar. “Hi!” she said brightly.
“Hi,” Luke and Mar murmured back at the same time.
Luke’s palms were sweating, and he felt like he was losing his grip on Mar. He darted a glance at her, but she was staring at the little girl.
Luke focused on the child. She was a beautiful girl with long, blonde hair, a heart-shaped face, and blue eyes. Luke’s own eyes narrowed. Those weren’t Tracy’s pale blue eyes; they were brighter, deeper. Could they possibly be … the Jewel eyes?
“Tracey?” he asked, begging her to tell him the truth with that one request.
“Lacey love, this is your daddy,” Tracey said, a genuine, loving smile curving her lips.
Luke couldn’t swallow past the lump in his throat. He wanted to hurl all kinds of questions and accusations at Tracey. She’d told him the baby was gone. Had she lied to him? Could this little girl be his? It was unfathomable. Somebody would’ve said something to his parents or contacted him. Tracey should’ve contacted him. She had to know he was successful and could provide for her and their daughter. Their daughter? He released Mar’s hand and leaned heavily against the doorframe, feeling like his legs would collapse.
The little girl blinked at her mom as if confused and looking for signals.
“It’s okay, love.” Tracey’s voice became even gentler. “He’s a nice guy. He won’t hurt you.”
Luke’s stomach hardened and he felt like he couldn’t catch a breath. “Has someone hurt her?” he demanded. This could easily be true. Tracey had lied to him, and he’d disappeared for ten years. This truly might behisdaughter. If any person had dared lay a hand on her, he would kill them.
Tracey seemed to realize her mistake. “Her daddy—I mean Mike, the man she thought was her daddy, my ex—he would never hurt her. I promise he never laid a hand on her or me, but sometimes he … yelled a lot. Especially the last few months we were together. It was rough.”
Luke had so many questions, so much confusion rushing through him.
“Run back to the car while I talk to your daddy,” Tracey instructed.
“Okay.” The little girl gave them one more sweet smile and then pranced to the car.
Luke couldn’t pull his gaze from her. When she shut the door, he couldn’t view her anymore through the darkened rear windows. Was that truly his daughter? Could he be a part of her life? All the hopes and dreams he’d felt as an eighteen-year-old rushed back, but now he was imagining him and Mar raising his child. “She’s beautiful,” Luke murmured.
Tracey smiled confidently. “She’s the best part of me; that’s for sure.”
Luke felt Mar retreat. He looked over at her. What would she think of this? They were just forming a relationship, and he feared this might rip them apart.
“I’ll let you two talk alone,” Mar said.
Luke didn’t want to be left alone with Tracey. He wanted Mar’s help, insight, and advice.
“Thank you,” Tracey said quickly.
Mar gave a forced smile and jogged across the foyer and up the stairs. Luke watched her go, feeling ripped apart. He wanted his daughter in his life, but he wanted Mar too. Could both be possible? Maybe. But not right now.
When he focused back on Tracey, she tilted her head and asked, “Can we sit on the porch? I don’t like to have Lacey too far away.”
“Sure.” He stepped out and stiffly sat in the wooden chairs on the porch. At least she seemed like a good mom. “Is she … really mine?”
Tracey glanced sharply at him but then nodded.
“Why did you tell me you lost her?” His stomach was churning. If this was true, he had a daughter. Yet if it was true, Tracey had stolen nine years of being with his daughter from him.