“She wouldn’t tell me who my father was. She said I only needed to know the man who’d raised me. My mother can be a little eccentric, to put it nicely.”
Dr. Withers chuckled. “Yes, I remember that about her.” He then added, “We hadn’t known each other for long before she left me. I accepted her words that I wasn’t right for her and moved on.”
“That would be my mother. If you were a starving college student, then she wouldn’t have been interested. She’s only interested in money and to be taken care of. Don’t get me wrong, I love her, I just don’t like what she stands for.”
Dr. Withers sat down again and sipped his coffee.
“So what makes you think I may be your father?”
Dakota shared she’d found a box in her family’s attic that contained her mother’s personal things from her younger years. She’d come across some items from college that directed her investigation. She confirmed the timing of her mother’s short relationship with him and the time of her birth.
“Did you ask her?”
“A few times actually, but she only said that anything before her husband didn’t exist in her mind. She married the man who raised me, before I was born.”
“What about this man who has raised you?”
“I love him dearly. He’s a good man. It was he that finally confirmed my suspicions that he wasn’t my biological father. But he admitted he didn’t know who my father was and I believe him. He’s an honest man.”
Silence then filled the air for a few minutes. Dakota expected her statement would shock him after all these years. At least she knew he hadn’t abandoned her. She believed he’d had no idea she existed.
“Dakota, I’d like to keep this between us for the time being, if you don’t mind. I need time to digest it.”
“Of course, I don’t expect anything from you. Please know that. I just want to know who my father is and where I come from.”
“I understand, dear. I’d want the same. I’d like to talk to my wife first. We never keep secrets from each other. She’s my best friend.”
Dakota reassured him again she understood and respected his wishes. She watched him walk back to his car. She only hoped he’d be okay. Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she reached for it. The name on the display told her at least one of the two men on her mind lately wanted to talk to her. She answered with a smile.
“Hello.”
“Good morning, did you sleep well?”
She had. She dreamed of him and had woken with his kisses still etched in her memory—not that she’d admit it out loud. “I did, thank you. How about you? How did you sleep?”
“I dreamed of you and our kiss.” His words filled her with happiness.
His response was bolder than hers. It made her only wish she’d been braver in response.
“Have you had breakfast yet?”
She confessed she hadn’t and that she’d called the other man to meet for coffee. He hadn’t asked who he was the night before. He’d respected the fact she wanted to keep that private until she had the chance to talk to him.
“How did it go?” His concerned tone warmed her.
“I’m watching him get in his car as we speak. I just dropped the bomb. He said he’d need some time to digest it.”
“I can only imagine getting hit with that bomb.” He laughed.
Dakota joined him. “Yeah, I’m sure he’s in shell-shock.”
“But as soon as he realizes he might have you as a daughter, he’ll be over the moon.” Tristan’s words comforted her.
“Thanks Tristan, I hope so. I’m just relieved to have gotten that off my chest. Now I’ll wait to see what happens. But I’ve come to realize that it doesn?t matter either way. If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
“Good girl. Remain positive and let me come meet you. I’ll buy you breakfast.”
His offer would definitely satisfy her need to see him and the hunger that her stomach just reminded her of.
“I’d like that.”
“Where are you?”
“On our bench”
“I’ll be there shortly to warm you, feed you, and steal a good morning kiss.”
She liked the sound of that. “I’ll be here waiting,” she paused, and then added, “Hungrily.”
He laughed, “A girl after my own heart. I’m on my way.”
“Well it’s about time.”
Ethel slammed her hand gently on the table. Dakota chuckled as she entered the coffee shop, hand-in-hand with Tristan. “I was about to call him myself,” Ethel blurted out.
Dakota looked at Tristan and whispered, “I’ll explain later.”
He nodded but looked confused. Tristan said good morning to the ladies at the table and then excused himself. “Sit with the ladies and I’ll order us some breakfast.”
Dakota thanked him and sat down with Ethel and Vera.
Ethel leaned over to hug Dakota. “I see you’ve taken the bull-by-the-horn.”
She squeezed Dakota gently as she laughed. Ethel’s sayings were priceless.