“Mel? What about the text messages Mindy said I sent you, telling you I no longer wanted her?” It was time he knew all the truth.
“Who leaves their phone in their vehicle? You made it too easy.” She sighed.
He couldn’t find words to respond.
“Creed, I know I’m the last person you want to take advice from, but if it’s worth anything, don’t waste another nineteen years living in a memory. You’ve always loved her, and I’d bet my next role that she loves you too.” She gave him a weak smile.
The driver stepped out of the Escalade. “Ma’am, can I help with your bags?”
“Yes. Come get them.”
Melody didn’t look back as she climbed into the back seat of the SUV.
Creed stood there for the longest time. So, this was the letter.
He folded it and shoved it into his back pocket for later.
Going back inside, he took the stairs two at a time, and knocked on Livvy’s door. He felt relieved when she called out, “It’s unlocked.”
Stepping in, he found her sitting on the edge of the bed. Her face was pale and her eyes were red rimmed. “You okay?” he asked.
“Did she leave?”
He nodded and took a seat next to her. “She’s gone.”
“I hate her.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes I do.”
“She’s still your mother.”
“Barely.”
What could he say? “She wanted me to tell you that she loves you dearly.” He lied. But some lies were needed to make someone feel better.
Livvy looked up at him with a hurt gaze. “You’re just telling me that.” She was a smart kid.
“Not everyone lives up to our expectations, Liv. At times the dream is a lot better than reality.”
Livvy rubbed the back of her hand across her nose. “Dad, I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I heard what Mom said to you last night. What did she mean?”
He swallowed hard. “You know it’s not right to eavesdrop.”
“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t, but she woke me up getting out of bed.”
“There are a lot of things you wouldn’t understand—”
“Stop treating me like a baby. I have a right to know the truth.”
He realized he couldn’t ask for honestly from someone else if he wasn’t willing to give it. “You know I’ve told you that Mindy and I were once very close. I loved her, dearly. I found out that Mindy’s daughter, Jane, is my daughter too.”
Livvy’s gaze narrowed. Her mouth slipped open and she slammed it shut. Several seconds floated by. “That means I have a sister?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Does she want to meet me?”
“Honey, I don’t know. I’m not sure she even wants to meet me. This is all new to me too.”
“But if you and Mindy get married, we can all be a family.” Her eyes twinkled with a vulnerability that struck Creed with the velocity of a lightning bolt.
He didn’t want to hurt her more than she already was, but he didn’t want to keep things from her. “Livvy, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
She jumped up from the bed, shaking her head. “Why? You said you loved her. She loves you. Why not?” she demanded.
“It’s complicated.”
“It’s always complicated. That’s what parents say when they’ve fucked up!”
“Livvy, watch the language.” He stood. “I know you’re hurt but—”
“But what? We can be a family, but you’d rather be alone for the rest of your life keeping me a baby!”
“Livvy—” He reached out.
She stepped back. “I want to be alone.” She turned her back to him.
“Let’s talk,”
“No. Leave,” she said softly.
Respecting that she needed time to absorb all that had gone down, he stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Going back downstairs, he sat at the kitchen table then took out the letter. Opening it, he smoothed the folds from the sheet of paper and read…
“Dear Creed,
I hope I’m doing the right thing but leaving Cooper’s Hawk without telling you the truth would only break my heart more than I can bear. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before I left that I love you. Not like a brother. Or a friend. But I love you deeply.
The night we slept together we created a child. It’s a girl. I’ve already named her Jane Elizabeth.
I know you and Melody are getting married and I’m not asking you to not marry her, but I guess I was hoping you loved me too. I needed to take a chance.
If you don’t want me—and our baby—please, don’t come. Please stay away. I will take your absence as an answer. I will never burden you with any of this. But if you love me, want our family, come to the rink. I’ll be waiting.
With much love,
Mindy.”
Dropping the letter to the table, he lowered his head as tears blurred his vision. It was the first time he’d cried in years. He cried for Mindy. For Jane. For all the years they’d wasted on pride.
How many more years would he waste?
“You okay?”
He found his mother standing in the doorway. “No.”
“The walls of this place are thin.” She tightened the belt of her robe and stepped over to the coffee maker. “I’m sorry.”
“I am too.”
“So, you and Mindy have a child together. That’s a lot to absorb.”
He didn’t respond. He was tired.
“Coffee, son?”
“No.”
“Some advice?”
“Ma, I—”
“Stop. I need to say what I need to say.” She sat down at the table, placing her palms on the wood. “People make mistakes. I’ve made mistakes too.”
“You?” He’d never known her to do anything wrong.
Her skin paled. “Your father and I went through a very rocky time years ago. He spent so
