"What did youdo?" His gut rolled as he looked at her.
"I raised heralone. It was damned hard, but I had no choice. Dad would have killed both ofus if he'd known." She sniffed and grabbed a tissue. "I managed and,now I'm back home, I thought you should know."
"Thank you verymuch, Rooney. That’s so damned irresponsible, you know? You could have calledme. I would have come to you, helped you out." He ran his hand through hishair and turned from her, the hurt burning through him like a knife.
"What could you havedone? You had no money, no job, no future. For all I knew, you could have beenin jail yourself. You weren't exactly the model citizen back then,Stevie."
Ashamed of thechildhood he’d had, he snapped at her. "I was a stupid kid, I get that,but I think I deserved better. I would never have turned you away, Rooney,never."
She looked at him herlips trembling and uncertainty in her eyes. She twisted her fingers in the hemof her shirt watching him for a reaction. He almost relented, but he was hurthimself beyond measure. This was going to take some getting used to. Afather. "I wish you’d told me." A deep pain was churning in hisstomach and butterflies were beating against the inside of his chest making hisbreathing uneven and strained.
"I'm sorry, Ididn't do it deliberately. By the time I realised I was pregnant, I had adecent job and people who cared about me. It seemed more important to make ahome for my baby and make sure I could earn a decent living than try and telleveryone. I didn't even get to tell Mum. She died the day Tamara wasborn."
"I wondered whyyou didn't come home for her funeral. I'm so sorry. I know how much you lovedher." He stepped closer now he’d calmed down. Tentatively he reached out ahand and she fell against him, her tears running fresh again.
"I'm sorry Ididn't tell you."
"We can fix thingsnow you're home." Stevie leaned down and kissed her hair, rubbing circleson her back. "When can I come and see her?"
"Can you let metalk to her first? You can come over tomorrow after work and get to knowher." She smiled at him through her tears. "I don't want to throw itat her in a hurry and have you waiting by the door. It might freak herout."
"I think that's agreat idea."
***
As he drove up thedriveway the next afternoon, Stevie was a bundle of nerves. Going into a raidnever left him feeling as anxious as he was now going to meet his daughter forthe first time. He pulled up outside the old stables and parked his car. Therewas nobody in sight and he stepped out, looking around as he shut the door. Theplace hadn't changed much since he was here last. The only difference was theold man not glaring at him as he asked for Rooney.
The sound of a puppyyapping drew his attention and he walked around to the back of the house. A dark-hairedchild was swinging in the old tyre hanging in the fig tree by the old milkingshed. As she swung in the air, the pup tried to catch her and missed. It yappedeach time it jumped, dragging its injured leg.
Stevie stoodtransfixed, looking at the face of the child—his child—as she laughed at theanimals’ antics. The sound of her laughter, the high pitches squeals of delightshot through to his heart. Pure joy radiated from her face, the huge grin shewore hitting him with a rush of paternal pride he never expected. She looked somuch like him, it almost broke his heart. There was no mistaking he was herfather. A well of emotion rose in his throat and he coughed to avoid tears. Nowwasn't the time to lose control.
Tamara looked over and smiled,her features her mother’s, her colouring his. "Are you here to seeme?" She jumped off the swing and took a few steps toward him, the pup ather feet.
Stevie crouched down onthe ground and waited for her to come closer. "Yes. I guess if you are Tamara,then it's you I want to see."
"I like to becalled Tam. Tamara is such a girly name." She titled her head to one sideand gazed over him. "You're my father, aren't you? Mum said you werecoming. Where have you been? Fathers are supposed to be there to help motherslook after their children."
"Sometimes thingshappen in strange ways, Tam. Things don't always work out the way you thinkthey will. But I'm here now and I'd like to get to know you, if that'sokay?"
"Of course it’sokay, silly, you're my dad." She grinned and sat down on the grass,grabbing the puppy and pulling it on her lap. "He has a broken leg but itdoesn't stop him running around. Mum said I have to be careful and not let himget too excited because he might hurt it more."
"I think your mummight be right. She is a vet after all." Stevie reached out and scratchedthe pup under the chin and the needle-like teeth latched onto his finger,making Tam laugh. "What have you called him?"
"Well, I'm stillthinking about it. I like Sid but Uncle Cade said he needs something betterthan that. Sid is too silly for a dog. I think what he called his dog issillier."
"It's your dog,call it what you want."
"You are apoliceman, aren't you?" She pinned him with an intense gaze.
"Yes, I am."
"Can you tellUncle Cade I'm calling him Sid then. He won't argue with a policeman."
"Tam, hey. Oh, hiStevie, I didn't hear the car." Rooney walked out and glanced betweenthem. He gave her a reassuring smile and saw the tension leave her jaw. Shewalked over and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"I hope you aren'tletting that puppy do too much, Tam. He needs more rest before he'll be up toracing around the yard after you."
"I am, Mum."She looked up at Rooney and cast a quick look to her father before meeting hermother's gaze again. "Is my father staying here now?"
"I live intown." Stevie spoke up, mindful of the way Rooney gripped his shoulder atthe question. "I
