“We’re going to get through this.” He held my face in his hands. “I promise.”
“I hope so.”
40
Asher
I couldn’t believe it. Guilt rose up inside me for the way I treated her. We walked back down to the ballroom and the moment we stepped inside, Diana came running over.
“Where were you?”
“We just couldn’t help ourselves, so we had a quickie in the suite.” Everly smiled as she gave me a wink.
“Oh. Okay then.” Diana grinned.
I was worried. Not about tonight, but what was yet to come. Richard was an amazing guy, and we were becoming friends. I trusted him and now my girlfriend just may be his daughter. Did he know about her and abandon her? Or maybe he never knew her mother was pregnant. Everly did say her mother was going to tell him that night.
We took our seat at the table across from Richard and Christina. I kept a close eye on Everly to make sure she was okay.
“So, Everly. I hear you’re a life coach?” Richard spoke.
“I am.”
“I should hire you for my oldest daughter, Emily. She could use some life coaching right now.”
“How old is she?” Everly asked.
“She just turned twenty and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. It’s a constant battle with her.”
“She has time to figure it out.”
“Now my eighteen-year-old, Laurel, is all set to attend NYU to get her MBA. She has her life all planned out, and we couldn’t be prouder of her.” He smiled.
The last thing Everly wanted to hear was about her two sisters, so I changed the conversation quickly to business, and I could tell she was grateful. When it was time, I got up on the stage, welcomed and thanked everyone for coming and gave my speech. When I was finished, I sat down next to Everly and we enjoyed a nice dinner. Once dinner was over, I needed to go mix and mingle with the guests. Everly stayed by my side and I was proud to introduce her to everyone as my girlfriend.
“I’m going to head over to the dessert table,” she spoke. “Do you want anything?”
“I’m good for now. But go ahead. Are you doing okay?”
“I’m doing fine. Stop worrying about me.” She kissed my lips.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” I smiled at her.
The band started to play Unchained Melody, so I walked over to the dessert table, grabbed Everly’s hand and led her to the dance floor.
“What are you doing?” she asked with a smile on her face.
“I’m dancing with my beautiful girlfriend.” I stared into her eyes. “Tell me what going on in that pretty little head of yours?”
“I don’t know, Asher. I’m just so confused.”
“I know, baby. But I’m here for you, and I promise I always will be.” I brushed my lips against hers. “We’ll figure this out.”
When we arrived home, we immediately went upstairs to get ready for bed. After I was done using the bathroom, I came out and saw Everly sitting on the edge of the bed holding a picture in her hand.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I sat down next to her.
She handed me the picture without saying a word.
“Is this you and your mom?”
“Yeah.” She nodded and I saw a tear stream down her face.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” I hooked my arm around her.
“I’m just so mad at her.”
“Why? Because of your father?”
“That and because she was so weak!” she spoke in an angry tone as she stood up from the bed. “She ran from everything. She drank herself to death, abused pills, and she was an unfit mother! She didn’t even say goodbye.” She placed her face in her hands and began to cry.”
I got up from the bed and wrapped my arms around her. I hated seeing her like this and I felt helpless.
“She never said goodbye, Asher.”
“I know, sweetheart.” I held her tightly against me.
“The one person in the world I wanted to see, and she couldn’t even bother.”
“Did your grandmother ever see her?”
“No.” She shook her head as she broke our embrace. “At least that’s what she always told me.”
I walked over to the nightstand, grabbed a couple tissues and handed them to her.
“Now you know I have mommy issues,” she said as she blew her nose.
“Maybe she was ashamed for how she lived her life and just couldn’t face you.”
“I don’t care. She was still my mom and I loved her.”
I grabbed hold of her hand and led her to the bed. After we both climbed in, I pulled her into me. All I wanted to do was heal her and protect her.
“I love you so much, baby. I don’t ever want you to doubt that. Even when I act like an asshole sometimes.”
“I know, and I love you too, Asher.”
Everly
I sat on the terrace and watched the sunrise as I held a cup of coffee between my hands. Asher was still asleep because he’d been up with me most of the night. I didn’t know what to do. Should I tell Richard? If I did, it would disrupt his life. From the little bit I talked to him and his wife, I could see they were wonderful people. Richard already had a family, and he didn’t need me complicating things.
“Life can be very complicated at times.”
“Not now, Curtis.” I brought the cup up to my lips.
“He has a right to know he has another daughter, Everly. And you have the right to get to know your father. He was kept from you for twenty-eight years, and now he’s right here working for my son and the man you love.”
“I don’t want to cause problems.”
“No, darling. The truth is you’re scared of rejection. You’re afraid of being rejected like you’ve been your whole life.”
“No, I’m not.” I glanced over at him.
“Yes, you are.”
“Please tell me you’re talking to yourself,” Asher spoke as he stepped out on the terrace and kissed the top of my head.
“Unfortunately, no. Curtis was just here.”
“Again?
