Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“My mom was thirty when she got involved with Oscar Redgrave.” I held still, just listening. “Oscar was older than her—by a lot. The night she showed up to family dinner on his arm, they made their assumptions about Mom before she opened her mouth.
“Gold digger. Con woman. Liar. Or worse, another potential threat trying to get close to the Merchants. They shut her out immediately, Kenzie. Didn’t try to get to know her, though they were sure they had her figured out.”
I imagined the scene for myself. A young, pretty thirty-year-old on the arm of a geriatric man. How many assumptions would I make before she opened her mouth?
“They were together for about a year,” River went on. “Adeline remembers her father as a saint, but he wasn’t the easiest man to get along with. He was closed off to everyone but Adeline. Mom said days would go by without them having a single meaningful conversation. It was during a rough patch that she... made a mistake.
“She got involved with an ex. She was sad and lonely and it was a one-time thing. But she didn’t know Adeline had people on her, watching her every move.”
“Oh no,” I breathed.
“Yeah, you can guess what happened. She went straight to Oscar with the proof my mother was everything Adeline said she was. Nothing but a scheming, cheating liar using one boyfriend for money while the ex supplies the sex. Adeline didn’t even give my mom a chance to come clean on her own,” he barked. “Of course, when Oscar heard she cheated, he dumped her on the spot.
“He was done with her. Changed his number and told the doorman not to bother him if she showed up. She got the hint and stayed away, until she had to come back nine months later with me.”
“Oscar didn’t know she was pregnant.”
River tossed his head. “Mom didn’t know either. Not until a few weeks after they broke up. She wasn’t going to keep a son from him though. She went there so they could work things out and make a plan for me. The worst thing was that Oscar was open to it. He let her up and Mom told me they had a great talk. They worked out child support and visitation. Oscar even offered to buy her an apartment in the building so he’d be close. Be a real father to me.”
“Why was that the worst thing?” I asked.
“Because they were on good terms. Everything was fine, until Adeline got involved.” River tensed in my hold. “She pointed out the timing. Oscar could be the father, or it could be the other guy. My mom was latching on to the wealthier option, but she wouldn’t get a thing until the paternity test proved I was his.
“Mom refused,” River rasped. “The two got into a screaming match. Mom told Adeline exactly what she thought of her meddling, insults, and questioning her integrity. Adeline replied that her refusal said it all and she wasn’t impressed by her crocodile tears. She either consented to the paternity test or got the fuck out.
“Mom got the fuck out.”
“River, I’m so sorry,” I said, and no more. I sensed him loosen the tiniest bit.
“It was terrible the way they treated her. It’s always been us versus them with the Merchants. Enemy or family. There’s no in-between.” River tipped his head to the cloudless sky, eyes falling shut. We slowed to a stop on the pavement. “She was too proud, Kenzie. Too proud to let me take that stupid test and prove I was worthy of being in their family. And she was afraid that even if I did, I’d always be the outsider. The bastard son of the gold digger.”
I flinched. It hurt to hear River described that way. I understood why his mom wouldn’t let him live it.
“So, she moved us into that apartment above a Jamaican restaurant and we lived our lives. I was happy, Kenzie. Sure, I wondered about my father and sister, and asked why I couldn’t see them. But I wasn’t missing anything,” River said, “until I lost her.”
I knew this was coming and my eyes teared up all the same.
“I was fourteen,” River said flatly. “My grandparents were gone by then. Mom didn’t have any brothers or sisters. I was headed to foster care until Adeline claimed custody of me.”
“Adeline did?”
“Yep. It turned out she was keeping an eye on me. Oscar was gone by then, so there really was no one else to take me in. Without my mom to stop her, she could finally find out if she was welcoming a brother, or a charity case. The test proved what my mom said all along: I am River Redgrave.”
“So that’s how you wound up in the Fairfield. I can’t imagine how hard it was for you.”