Rock was the owner of The Blue Spot and another one of my clients—but maybe I should say ex-client after he revealed my location.
“I’ve been here taking a break from life. Why would you call Jocelyn? You know what’s going to happen now, don’t you?”
Hamish turned and stood in the middle of the room, sighing. “Yes. All hell will break loose.”
“She will not only come after me, but she’ll turn on everyone in her path. I really believe she’s the spawn of Satan.”
“You both have the same parents.”
I went and sat on the edge of the bed before scooting back, causing the silk blue bedspread to wrinkle. “I’ve always wondered if she was switched at birth.”
“A Changling? I thought you were a rational person. You don’t believe in those things.”
I rubbed my brow. “With all that’s happened over the past week and a half, I don’t know what I believe anymore.”
“Something happened at the estate. Eric said he had to come up from his hiding place in the basement after you ran off with the client still there. I don’t know why he was hiding to begin with, but I have learned not to question his motives anymore.”
It was all too much. I couldn’t keep these secrets anymore. It felt good to get my secret relationship with Lola off my chest when I told Hamish last week. He told me to talk to her, and I took his advice.
When she mentioned having a daughter, I followed her to find out if she needed help. To see if the father was there for her. I wouldn’t abandon her like my father left me, yet when I found out the truth, I did exactly what my dad did to my family.
Maybe it wasn’t that I didn’t want children—it wasn’t that at all. I realized I had my dad’s genes in me and would end up a terrible father like him.
And I proved it at the hospital.
“You remember how I told you I kissed Lola?”
“Yes. I advised you to find her and talk to her.”
A chuckle spilled out of my mouth. “Well, I didn’t have to find her; she found me. She accompanied the owner of Hard Grind, the client I was to meet at Hudson Estate on Monday. Apparently, Lola is a barista there.”
Hamish’s eyes grew. “She has a job?”
“That’s the least surprising thing about her now.”
I rubbed my eyes, trying to get my child’s face to disappear. I knew she was too young to understand, but I swear I saw disappointment in her gaze as she waved at me.
“What happened?”
“Apparently... I’m a father.”
Hamish looked like I felt—shocked, disappointed, and lost.
“Father, okay.” Hamish thinned his lips. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Just stop. You know my feelings about fatherhood.”
“What’s the child’s name?”
“Jenni.”
“So, Lola named her after you.”
That hadn’t occurred to me at the time, but I guessed Hamish was right. The shock of instant fatherhood was all I was thinking about.
“Yes, I guess so.” I smiled for the first time in days. A strange feeling bubbled up inside me, pride mixed with happiness.
Hamish sat there for a moment, not saying a word. I turned my attention to the large flat screen television mounted to the wall in the background.