Page 104 of Fierce- Royce

“I’m fine,” she said. “I guess, today just made me realize how short life is or can be.”

“Yeah,” he said. “The second time I’ve had this scare.”

“I know this is my decision and all, but I think I need to talk to Emily. It just reminded me how fast she might be gone. Maybe there were things I didn’t want to know or care about before, but I do now. I might need to know them for our child. If I wait I might lose that chance.”

“It’s up to you, Chloe. I’m going to support whatever decision you decide to make.”

“I know. I love you for that. I think I’m going to reach out to her this week when things settle down. It won’t hurt to talk. I’d like to know why she reached out now. Maybe it’s a medical reason? I don’t know. But I should know.”

“And you want to know who your birth father is, right?”

“It’d be nice to get a name. I just don’t believe she doesn’t know, but I could be wrong.”

“I’m going to be there for you for it,” he said.

“You don’t have to be,” she said.

“Chloe. This is the thing about love. We are there for each other. You are going to have to get used to it. Or do we need more ground rules?”

She laughed at him. “Fine. You can be there if it works in your schedule. Your father has to come first.”

He reached his hand over to hold hers. “I will make it work. You’re coming first.”

She grinned. “Look at us. Two people who sucked at relationships before and you’d never know it now.”

“Well, it is early yet. I’m sure I’ll still mess up.”

“You probably won’t be the only one,” she said.

He dug into his food while he laughed with her. “It could be a good story to share with our kids someday.”

“What’s that? That I just wanted you for your body?” she asked.

“Maybe you’re right. Some things they don’t need to know.”

36

End Up Alone

Royce looked at his phone ringing on Saturday morning. He was surprised to see it was his mother but knew he should answer it. He hadn’t talked to her since Christmas and it’d been a peaceful several months.

“Hello,” he said.

“Royce,” his mother said. “I heard about your father. When were you going to tell me?”

“I wasn’t aware you needed to know about it,” he said. “You never have anything good to say about him. It’s not like you’re still married.”

“No,” his mother said. “But he’s your father and you’re my children.”

She only pulled that card out when she was annoyed over something. He was assuming he’d find out what that was about soon enough.

“How did you find out?”

“Elise told me. I called her a few days ago and she wasn’t returning my calls. It’s not like her to avoid me that long.”

His sister could be tough when she wanted to be. “What did she tell you?”

“That your father had been in the hospital and had chest pains again. I’m sure it’s putting work first again like he always did. He never cared about anything else in his life but that company. You and your sister are going to end up alone just like him.”