Vicki hung up and then checked her email. Her store was covered for today, and she had no reason to return to Miami. Life in Homestead was what she needed. Now that Colt and Clara lived here, she'd never return to her lonely, stylish condo on the beach in Miami. A home was more important now.
A knock at the door made her smile, and she finished brushing her hair. "Morning, Colt."
"I heard you talking, princess." He nodded at her. "Do you intend to leave?"
"Not today." She smiled at him. "Or anytime soon. I was speaking to your sister."
"Alice?"
"Yes." She stood and walked closer to him.
He placed his hand on hers. "Next time you speak to her, tell her I want my hat she stole."
A huge smile grew on her face as she remembered high school. "The same one you've argued about since we were children?"
"It would be nice if you were on my side." Colt rubbed his chin and then stood straighter. "I'll make us breakfast while you get dressed."
"Perfect. See you soon." Her heart wished for him, but that was ancient history. His footsteps echoed as he walked across the hall, and she double-checked that the door was closed. She closed her eyes and hoped she'd find her way through the maze of questions. Then she shook off the thoughts, opened her eyes, and raced to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she threw on a pair of old jeans in her size and one of his old Panther jerseys, and ran out of her bedroom. Clara sat in the living room as she listened to music on a headset. Colt was nowhere to be seen. Sidetracked, Vicki headed over to Clara, and tried to get the girl's attention. With her head bopping, Clara was zoned out.
Colt called out as Vicki shook her head. "She loves music. Come sit at the table, eat your breakfast, while I talk to you."
"I love music." She smiled at Colt. Her daughter might get that from her.
He nodded. "I remember."
She was excited to hear what had happened on his end.
He stood as she neared, walked to the kitchen, and grabbed cups. She slid into the seat with the empty plate. Then he brought her coffee. "Thank you."
He massaged the back of his neck. "Where do we get started?"
She nodded at him. "I'm listening."
"We have to trade notes, so I get your side, but I wanted to say I believe you." He leaned over the table and pushed a plate of food in front of her. Then he fixed the fruits on the trays for each of their plates. She picked up her fork and waited. He finished fiddling with the food then ran his hand down his jeans. "I'll start, I guess."
What was the conversation? She nodded, folded her hands around her coffee cup, and tilted her head. "Please."
He leaned forward onto the table. "I was in basic training when I received a frantic phone call from my parents. The only reason I ever received that call was because my dad knew the senator."
She asked, "Why is that important?"
He shook his head. "My mom was a nurse at the hospital where you gave birth..."
"We talked about this already. You said you believed me."
"I do."
"Then what are we discussing?"
"How the past adds to our present." She had no answer. He stared straight at a wall. "We likely created Clara in my truck."
"I thought it was in our hotel room in Paris." Heat rose in her face.
"Victoria, you're distracting me." He shook his head and rolled his shoulders, as if he was tense. "Anyhow, Mom went to work her usual schedule despite the change."
"This is all the past."
"Soon, she'll drive onto the farm and grill you, Vicki."
Vicki nodded. "I'll answer her every question."
Colt clenched his jaw but somehow still spoke. "She saw Clara brought into the nursery, and said something made her stop dead in her tracks. She went over immediately and asked for details about Clara. She wanted to know whose baby she was. She was told, 'Vicki Morgan, but that the little girl is being given up for adoption.' Mom knew about us, and did the math. Department of Children and Family were en route, and Mom took the crib with her to her desk and called my dad."
At least someone had had the guts to go against Vicki's father. Her heart fell to her gut. "How did she know about us?"
"She saw us in my truck after we came back from the trip."
"Thank goodness." Vicki moved her arms to cross at her chest. "I wouldn't give up our baby. Dad had wanted me to get an abortion, but I had refused." She almost knocked over her untouched plate with her elbow, and slammed her fists on the table as she let her hands fly. "This is why I ran and never came home. It was one mistake after another."
"I'm not trying to hurt you." Colt covered his mouth with his hand, and didn't say anything else.
She swallowed and fixed the table from her hysterics. "I'm sorry. Please continue."
Colt's cheeks were red. "Mom said she picked Clara up and knew she was mine. A few minutes later, the official from the DCF came in to collect my baby. Mom refused to let her out of her arms. Dad's lawyer showed up, and then my father. When the DCF lady said I had waived my rights, Mom denied it. She also refused to let Clara out of her arms, and no one was going to stop her."
Vicki's eyes teared up.
Colt massaged her shoulder. "Don't cry."
His mother was strong and powerful. If Vicki had a mother, perhaps her life would have been different, and there was absolutely no way she'd curse Clara with life without her mother.
"Dad got me on the phone during officer school. Next thing I know, I'm told my parents, lawyers, and DCF, that yes, we dated, had sex and, and no, I never signed any papers giving up any rights. We hadn't talked since I left for boot camp. I didn't panic till after I hung up the phone. I wanted my child."
She leaned over and placed her hand on his. "I didn't sign anything either."
"I believed you that day we talked." He slipped his hand away. "To end the story, when the DCF official heard my denial of signing papers, she agreed to give mom custody for the night in my stead."
Vicki dried her face. "The agent had a heart."
Colt dropped his hands to the sides now. "I doubt it. My dad called the senator and the governor. Our lawyer proved fraud. I took a DNA test the next day, and Clara has been a Collins since the day she was born."
"No one called me, including you." Vicki closed her eyes, and memories flooded her of how she'd felt empty for years. She'd have never run away without her baby. "If I had one whiff of Clara being alive, I'd have done anything to be with her."
Colt stilled. "I called you a few times, but you never answered. I stopped when my lawyer received a letter of complaint that threatened harassment."
"My father...for what he did to Clara, I want him to come back alive so that I might kill him."
"I thought we should clear the air about all this, Vicki. I didn't want to cause you more pain."
"You didn't."
She squeezed the bridge of her nose. Then she let out a sigh and answered him. "He must have blocked your phone calls. I did stay in the house a few weeks, but then I saw how my father wanted me to go to school and forget Clara. I couldn't pretend, and finally I walked out the door."