Page 118 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

Her precious smile lit up her face.

Logan had asked me what I wanted last night. It was simple: a happy child.

I loved that Charlie was wild. I loved that she ran free. New York and Logan’s family might kill her untamed spirit. I couldn’t risk her suffocating here.

So I was taking her home.

Sitting at the dining room table, I’d never been so disappointed in my family. This dinner seemed more like a nightmare than reality. I’d wanted to follow Thea and Charlie out the door, but there were things to be dealt with here first.

Sofia had finally calmed down after her outburst. She was sitting back in her chair, sniffling like a toddler in timeout. Aubrey was fuming in her seat, throwing glares at Dad. Clearly, things at Kendrick Enterprises were not going as smoothly as I’d thought given Aubrey’s overreaction. I’d have to discuss it with her later, but for now, I needed to right things for Thea and Charlie.

“What is wrong with you?” I asked the room. “How could you treat them that way? That is my child and the woman I’m going to marry.”

“Marry?” Mom asked. “You can’t be serious. You hardly know her, Logan. She’s—”

“She’s what?” I cut her off. “Kind. Talented. Loving. Beautiful. Are those not desirable traits these days?”

“That’s not what I meant.” Mom sighed. “She’s . . . she’s come out of nowhere. How can we be sure she isn’t trying to manipulate you?”

Granny scoffed. “Please, Lillian. Thea isn’t trying to manipulate anyone. You’re just being paranoid.”

“I’m just looking out for my son,” Mom told her. “And I have a right to be paranoid. Let’s be honest here. My children don’t have the best taste in romantic partners.”

We all looked at Sofia, who sank deeper into her seat.

“This entire thing is suspicious,” Mom said. “You went to Montana for a business meeting and found a long-lost child. Then she refused to give you a paternity test—”

“No, I refused.”

“Because she’s convinced you that the girl is yours. You’ve obviously fallen in love with them both, but Logan, that’s the problem. Love has made you blind. How do we know that this all isn’t a trap if she won’t give you proof that Charlotte is your child?”

“Charlie.” I fisted my hands on the table, trying to keep my cool. “Her name is Charlie. And she is, without a doubt, my child. I won’t hear another thing about it. Understand? Do not mention the words ‘paternity test’ to me ever again.”

“But—”

“Logan,” Dad stopped Mom’s rebuttal, “your mother has a point.”

“Does she?” I clipped. “Because to me, it seems like Thea and Charlie had to pay the price tonight for Sofia’s poor choice in husbands.”

“We’re just—”

“Looking out for me?” I finished Dad’s sentence. “I don’t need you to look out for me. What I do need is for you to be supportive of the choices I make, right or wrong. I need you to embrace my daughter and welcome her into this family, because whether or not you want to accept it, she is a part of this family. Thea will be too.”

I stood from the table. “Now if you’ll excuse me. I need to go find my daughter. She deserves an explanation for dinner, though I’m not quite sure how to explain to a six-year-old that her grandparents don’t like her because they think her mother’s a gold digger.”

“Logan, I . . .” Mom’s shoulders drooped.

Her actions stemmed from love. I knew that. But it didn’t change the fact that she’d crossed the line tonight.

“Charlie’s not a pawn in some manipulative game, Mom. She’s a little girl. My little girl. And she’s your granddaughter. Maybe tomorrow you could try not to be so cold and indifferent?”

Her face paled as she nodded.

“Good night.” I tossed my napkin on my unfinished meal, then I turned for the door and marched down the hall. I only made it a few feet before Dad called my name.

“Logan, we need to talk.”

“Not tonight.”