Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 301(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Ever.
Let me see what my sister wants first.
“I never thought I’d see the day when you became a dad.” Magnolia smiled at me as I sat across from her. “I still can’t believe it.”
“It took me a while to accept it, too.”
“I bet. Where’s Olivia?”
“At home.”
“Um, okay…” She tilted her head to the side. “You didn’t think it would be smart to bring her with you to see me?”
“I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Hurt her?” She laughed. “Oh my gosh, you would make her happy, Pierce. I’m sure she’s been asking about when I’m coming to get her.”
She hasn’t mentioned you in a while…
“It’s okay. I’m not mad that you left her at home.” She clasped my hand atop the table. “You still have a lot to learn about being a parent.”
The server intruded with menus before I could respond to her nonsense.
“Nice to see you, Mr. Dawson,” he said, then smiled at Magnolia. “My coworkers are huge fans of your show, and we hope you’ll be a fan of the chef’s special tonight.”
“I’m sure I will be.” She beamed. “I’ll have the three-course special with your best champagne.”
“My usual,” I said, waiting for him to fill our glasses and walk away.
“Here.” I pulled a cupcake-shaped card from my pocket. “I’m sure Olivia would want you to have this.”
“My birthday was a while ago.” She flipped it over. “What’s this?”
“She earned the role of Glinda the Good Witch in her school’s production of Wicked. She’s having a party this weekend to celebrate.”
“What?” She unfolded it, running her fingers over the glittering letters while smiling. “I texted her all day yesterday, and she didn’t mention a word about this. Maybe she wanted it to be a surprise?”
I doubt that. I sipped my water.
“What does this part about ‘sweets made exclusively by me’ mean?” she asked. “You’re not hiring a caterer?”
“Not for the desserts, since she loves baking, too,” I said. “She’s helped cook desserts for me and the twins every night, and she’s getting better with every batch. She’s talented.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.” She set down the card. “Whenever I finally take her back to Los Angeles with me, I will let her cook for me.”
“Speaking of ‘whenever’ you’re taking her back, do you have an ETA?”
“It depends on a few personal things.”
“Like what?”
“Well…” She looked at me uneasily, and I braced myself for an elaborate excuse. “Give me a few seconds to word this properly.”
The server returned with our first course, but I didn’t move to take a bite.
I’d lost my appetite and wanted to go home with my family.
“Even though I’m doing ‘well’ and getting more exposure, the cost of living is super high,” she said. “I’m sharing a place with a costar now, but I know she’d never be okay with me bringing along another roommate. Not to mention the fact that my savings account is—”
“How much money do you need, Magnolia?” I interrupted her rambling.
“I thought you’d never ask!” She let out a breath. Then she pulled a sheet from her purse.
“This is my current credit list, and I’m scheduled for two local ad campaigns next month,” she said, showing it to me. “I’m in the running to be a lead in three pilot shows, but I’ve been promised a minor role in two of them if they get picked up by a network. I’m running low on a few things after traveling, having to run through auditions, and…”
Her words came out in an awful blur, and I watched in disgust as her eyes lit up more about her job than Olivia.
As much as I’d held out a small part for the truth to be different, it was staring me straight in the face.
“Here.” I pulled out a blank check and signed my name, leaving the words “What Really Matters,” in the note line. “Write whatever amount you need, and I’ll make sure it clears by the morning.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.” I pulled a contract from my jacket pocket. “But you need to sign this first or you won’t get a dime.”
“Will do!” She took it from me, and her smile slipped. “Custody papers?”
“You need to relinquish full custody of Olivia to me, and I’ll allow a generous amount of visits.” I kept my voice firm. “However, I’ll be changing her phone number and limiting calls, since she falls apart every time she speaks to you.”
“Pierce, I… I don’t understand.”
“Olivia deserves a parent,” I said. “I’m sure she would love it if it were her mom, but since you don’t want to give her that, you can do what’s second best. Sign over the rights, so I can be her legal father.”
“No.” She shook her head. “This is just a temporary situation. I swear.”
“You said that when she was seven.”
“She’s only eight now.”
“She just turned nine.” I hissed. “By the way, thank you for sending a video message for her latest birthday gift. Her friends thought it was ‘cool’ she knew a celebrity, even though you omitted the fact that she’s your goddamn daughter.”