Page 114 of Blind Date
“Not really.” She lowered her head.
I looked at Wes. “Talk to her,” I whispered.
Weston
I took in a breath, walked over, and climbed on the bed next to Zoey.
“I had to tell your mother about Kleinfeld’s.”
“What?” She looked at me. “But you?—”
“I know,” I sighed. “But I didn’t have a choice.”
“How did she take the news?”
“I’m not sure yet. She’s too focused on you right now. But trust me, I’ll hear about it later,” I smirked.
She breathed out a laugh. “Yeah, you definitely will.”
“Listen, sweetheart. I know seeing him today was tough, and there’s no right way to feel about it.”
“That’s what Mom said.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Mom said he gave you his number.”
“He did.” I nodded.
“Why do you think he did that?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps he wanted me to have it in case you wanted to get in touch with him.”
“I don’t. I really don’t. But I feel like he has to answer for leaving us. I have questions. I’ve always had questions.”
“And you have every right to have questions, sweetheart.”
“I want to know why he took off when my mom told him she was pregnant.”
“I can probably take a guess,” I said. “He was young, scared, and didn’t know what to do. So, he took the coward’s way out and disappeared. After my parents died, people told me how lucky I was to have my grandparents. How lucky I was that my grandfather would teach me the business one day and prepare me to take over when he retired. But none of that changed the fact that my parents were gone. I spent years wondering why they left me.”
“But they didn’t leave voluntarily,” she said.
“No. They didn’t. But grief doesn’t care about the actual facts. The one thing I’ve learned in life is that the people who leave aren’t a reflection of the people they leave behind. Scott made his choice the day he left and never looked back. And you know what?”
“What?”
“You are who you are because of it. You’re a strong, independent woman who stands her ground. You know what you want out of life and aren’t afraid to go after it. You can choose to never see him again or get answers to the questions you’ve had your whole life. Answers your mother could never give you because she didn’t know herself. You get to decide what happens next. Not him, not me, not your mom. You and only you. You don’t owe him anything. Not your time. Not your forgiveness.”
“And if I decide I want those answers?”
“Then I’ll be right by your side. You don’t have to go through this alone. I won’t allow it.”
“Really?” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Zoey, when I asked your mom to marry me, I wasn’t just choosing her. I was choosing you too. And, if I’m being honest, I got a little emotional when you told Scott I was your dad.”
“You are my dad. Because blood doesn’t automatically mean family.”
