Page 18 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

“Yeah, I saw it the moment she took that frog from your hands. She’s the tomboy version of your sister. But your family is going to insist on proof. You might as well get it over with soon.”

I ran a hand through my hair again. Nolan was right. My family and our lawyers believed in test results to prove paternity. They’d insist on a test and to know everything about Thea’s life. It was the only way to ensure she wasn’t a threat to the family.

The idea of fielding their questions and demands was already more than I could deal with right now. Until I had some answers, they couldn’t know about Charlie.

“I need to ask a favor.” I took a deep breath, hating that I was putting Nolan in this position. He worked for the entire Kendrick family, not just me. “Would you mind keeping this all a secret for now?”

“If that’s what you want, then my lips are sealed.”

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My shoulders relaxed. “Thanks. I’ll tell them soon, but I need to work some things out here first.”

“Here? You’re going to stay?”

“I don’t think I can go yet. Not until Thea and I work some things out. That’s all going to be easier if I’m here.”

“And if someone asks why you’re still in Montana? What do I tell them?”

My mind jumped right into planning mode and plotting logistics. “That I’m here for a vacation.”

I could spend a week here, working from my phone and laptop. Today was Monday, so I’d only have four days of meetings to reschedule. Unplanned absences weren’t ideal, but I could coordinate my paralegal and associate team remotely.

From my career’s standpoint, finding out I had a child in Montana couldn’t have come at a worse time. I was busy as hell at work right now. We’d just onboarded two new clients to my team, both of whom were in the middle of complex mergers.

My firm specialized in corporate law, mostly for prominent businesses in New York. We had a large partnership, with the senior partners focused mostly on the financial well-being of the entire firm and human resources. My role as a partner was simple: marketing. I brought in the clients.

It wasn’t hard. With the last name Kendrick, I could get into meetings most other attorneys couldn’t. Add to that my unparalleled reputation for negotiating contracts and closing loopholes, and I’d brought more clients to the firm in the past year than other partners had in the last five.

But I couldn’t be at work this week. For the first time, my team would have to pick up my slack.

“A week,” I told him. “I need a week and I’ll have this all sorted.”

Nolan chuckled. “You’re going to need more than that.”

I didn’t have longer than that. I had to get back to work.

Ahead of me, I saw the intersection to the highway. I must have walked in a zigzag while I’d wandered, because I could see the sign for the gas station. Which meant I was just blocks from the bar.

“I found my way back to the highway. Just text me Thea’s info, and I’ll catch up with you in the morning.”

“Okay. Good luck.”

Luck. I never relied on luck. I put my mind to something and made it happen.

The next week would be no different.

I’d spend the week getting to know my daughter. Thea and I would figure out a custody arrangement.

I’d spend this week in Montana and then things would go back to normal.

“Goddamn it!” My pliers slipped from my padded glove and clanked on my worktable. I shook off my glove, then switched off the blowtorch in my other hand, setting it down to cool next to the spoon I’d just ruined.

Not long after Hazel’s confession on our back porch, she’d headed inside to read and I’d escaped to my art workshop in an attempt to get my mind off Logan. But no matter how much I tried to focus on my project, all I could think about were his angry eyes as he stormed out of the bar.

My fears were getting the best of me. Every minute that passed without a call from him, I got more and more scared.

What if he wanted Charlie? What if he forced me to split custody? What if he demanded she live in New York?