Page 47 of The Addendum

“Why the reaction, then? Did he say something to you that upset you?”

“No.”

“But it is Richard upsetting you.”

I drew in a deep breath. “Yes.”

He lifted an eyebrow, waiting for me to speak. I drew my legs up to my chest, the water splashing on the sides of the white tub.

I met his gaze. All I saw was caring and understanding. Concern.

“I think—” I swallowed “—I think Richard VanRyan is my father.”

15

ASHLEY

Luc sat across from me, staring at the shirt I had brought with me. He fingered the yellowed sleeve thoughtfully. He listened to everything I said, not commenting or interrupting. I finally fell silent, waiting for him to process it all.

“Your mom lived in Ontario.”

“She lived in BC for a couple of years. She traveled a lot with her modeling career.”

He lifted the sleeve of the shirt. “She could have picked this up in a thrift store.”

“Or she took it from Richard.”

He studied me. “Your eyes are the same color.”

I held up my hand. “I have the same cowlick. I have incredibly long fingers. So does he. My mom had short ones.”

“These could all be coincidences.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”

He sat back. “Wow. This is unexpected. No wonder you looked so shell-shocked last night.”

“The moment he shook my hand, I knew.”

“Why wouldn’t your mom tell you his name?”

“My mom always refused to divulge any information about him. The only thing she said was that he didn’t want us and he was an awful man.”

Luc frowned. “That isn’t the Richard I know, although Heather said a couple of times her dad had a tumultuous past.”

I sighed. “I think that past included me. He had nothing to do with me—the unwanted child. He went on and married someone else. Had a big, happy family. It was only my mom and me. Struggling.” My voice was bitter, the words heavy and sad on my tongue. “She never went back to modeling after I was born. She was no longer perfect.” I barked out a laugh. “I guess I ruined that as well.”

“Stop it.”

Luc’s firm tone made me look up.

“You didn’t ruin your mother’s life. And if Richard wasn’t part of your life, it’s his loss.” He leaned forward. “I have to admit, I have a hard time seeing him rejecting you, knowing the man he is today. But I have no idea what he was like before you were born. As for your mother and her life, only she could speak to that. She made her decisions, but I doubt keeping you was one she ever regretted.”

I sighed, pulling the robe around me tighter. The pizza had arrived just after I’d dropped my bombshell. I got out of the tub, and although Luc poured us more wine, neither of us had touched the pizza box.

“What do you need?” he asked.

“Your expertise. I can only see what is on the internet now. Any information on Richard or my mom. There must be older pictures. My mom was a fairly successful model. He was huge in advertising. There has to be something…” I trailed off.