Blindsided (Indigo Love Spectrum) Read online

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Is her sister okay?”

  “I don’t know. Dahlia flew to Atlanta this evening. Her plane landed about an hour or so ago.”

  “That’s too bad about her sister, but I’m glad you two are talking.”

  “I wouldn’t get too excited. She’s still not in confessing mode.”

  “But talking is good. Soon everything will be just the way you want it. One of us will finally have that elusive family.”

  “Let’s hope. So, what prompted your call?”

  “We promised to work on keeping in touch, so I’m doing it.”

  Norris laughed. “And what else?” he asked.

  “Okay, I called for another reason, too. I talked to Lane earlier, and our visit is set. We’re coming to Denburg. We’ll finally get to meet Reese.”

  “That’s great, Jules. When?”

  “We should arrive early Wednesday afternoon and stay for ten days.”

  “I can’t wait to tell Reese.”

  “No, don’t tell her. Let’s surprise her. You can take her out to lunch somewhere, and we’ll show up. A wonderful little family reunion.”

  Norris laughed, thinking of his mother’s face at the idea of such a gathering.

  “What are you laughing about?” Julia asked.

  “Mom at a reunion with the three of us and Reese.” Julia scoffed. “Please. Who’s inviting her? That woman has been blowing up my phone. Do you know what she wants?”

  “Uh-huh. You. She wants her time with you.”

  “Just one more reason she’s not invited. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

  “See ya, Julia.”

  Chapter 18

  Norris knocked on Reese’s door. She had said all of two sentences to him since arriving at his place Saturday night. Her request to attend church services with the Monroes had turned into an all-day vacation from his company. When she returned before six Sunday evening, she had locked herself in her room for the rest of the night. Ten o’clock Monday morning, she still remained in her room. Times like this he wished her bathroom was down the hall and not adjoined to the bedroom. At least then he’d see her.

  “Reese, are you going to come out today?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered. “I don’t feel good. I think I’ll just stay in bed.”

  Don’t feel good? Norris knocked again. “Reese, I’m coming in.” She pulled the covers over her head when the door opened. “What’s wrong?” he asked, approaching the bed. “Do you have a fever?”

  “It’s my stomach.”

  “You need an antacid or something?”

  “No, I just want to be left alone.” She curled into the fetal position under the covers.

  “Have you eaten anything?”

  “Norris, I’m not hungry.”

  “You’re still angry with me, aren’t you?”

  Reese said nothing.

  Norris sighed. He had to get her from under those covers. If he saw her, he could try to gauge how sickly she felt. “I know you don’t believe it, but I only have your best interests at heart,” he said, knowing Reese wouldn’t take those words too well and would no doubt let him know in no uncertain terms, providing him the opportunity to assess her well being.

  “My best interests?” Reese roared.

  As expected, she popped out from under the covers, the curls of her dark mane flying here and there. Norris watched her closely. Though anger flashed in her eyes, they weren’t glassy and she didn’t look flushed, so he ruled out a fever.

  Reese glared at him. “Trying to dictate who I spend time with and treating me like I’m a little kid is in my best interests? Jack is a nice guy, and you were rude to him.”

  “All I saw was that kid’s arm around my little girl.”

  “I’m not a little girl!” Reese whipped her fingers through her hair, frowning. “And what’s with this possessiveness? Your little girl? When I was a little girl, you weren’t around.”

  Norris grunted. He hated when she made him out to be some absentee father, when nothing could be further from the truth. “That wasn’t my fault.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You can’t make up for lost time now.”

  “I can try. I know you are a young woman. Intellectually, I get that. But when I see you, after looking at picture after picture of you growing up, I see what I missed. You are my little girl, and no matter how old you get, you’ll always be that to me. That precious little child I didn’t get the chance to know. I love you, Reese. I just want us to be closer.”

  “You love me?”

  “You sound surprised.”

  “How can you love me?” Reese winced and slid back under the covers, curling once more into the fetal position. “You don’t know me.”

  “I know you’re mine. I know you hate to be told what to do, I know you still blame me for your mother not being here, and I know you’re still upset with me about what happened at the mall on Saturday. I get all of that, but I also get you don’t feel well, and I just want to . . .”

  “There’s nothing you can do for me, okay? I just want to be left alone.”

  Irritability. More than usual. She was right. He couldn’t help her. “Fine. I’ll be in the living room if you need anything.”

  “Whatever,” she mumbled, cozying further under the covers.

  Norris left the room and walked over to the phone. She wouldn’t talk to him, but she had to talk to somebody, and he knew it needed to be a woman. “Hi, Lara, it’s Norris. Think you can come over here for a bit?”

  * * *

  Reese moaned into her pillow as severe menstrual cramps continued to rip through her lower abdomen. A heating pad or a Midol, was that so hard to ask for? Why did she have to be stupid and suffer in silence? Times like this she missed her mother even more. She didn’t have to say anything, her mother just understood. It seemed Norris would never understand her or what she needed. Were all fathers that dense? Thinking of his reaction to Jack made the cramps more severe, but she couldn’t stop thinking about it. When would he realize she wasn’t a little kid?

  He loves me.

  Reese fought the smile that bubbled in her with thoughts of his declaration. Something about having the love of her father made her feel good, but she still didn’t like his interference in her life. If he loved her, he’d want her to be happy. She wasn’t happy right now, and that was his fault.

  Another knock rattled on the door.

  Reese groaned. “Norris, please, leave me alone.”

  “Reese, it’s not Norris, it’s Lara. May I come in?”

  “Sure,” Reese answered, sitting up in the bed.

  Lara waddled into the room and lowered her blos soming body to the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling, sweetie?” she said, lowering a beautiful summer handbag off her shoulder.

  “I’m okay.”

  “Norris doesn’t think so. He was so worried about you, he called me over.”

  “He worries about everything and nothing. Lara, he treats me like I’m six. I have cramps, okay? Sometimes they’re pretty bad. I figured if I told him, he might have me rushed to the emergency room in an ambulance or something.”

  Lara laughed. “Is he that bad?”

  “I think so.”

  “He’s trying, Reese. Norris is used to being a single guy, and now he has a beautiful teenage daughter. It’s a daunting experience for him, but he’s making some progress.” Lara reached into her bag and handed Reese a box of menstrual pain reliever and a bottle of Gatorade. “He gathered your troubles might be of the female variety, so Ryan stopped by the drug store on the way over. I got the Gatorade because it worked for me, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt if you gave it a try.”

  “Mom gave me the same thing. Norris figured this out?”

  “Uh-huh. He mentioned you were upset with him, too.”

  “He didn’t explain why?” Reese said, opening the bottle of pills and washing two down with the fruit-flavored beverage. “Maybe he realizes how foolish h
e behaved and is too embarrassed to talk about it.”

  “What exactly should he be embarrassed about?”

  “His behavior at the mall on Saturday. He saw me with a friend and lost his mind. He acted like a total—”

  “Father, I suspect,” Lara said. “Was this friend a male?”

  “Yes. Lara, he’s so nice. His name is Jack and he’s captain of the basketball team, and was just elected president of the student body. He’s an A student, and he’s so gorgeous. He has dark brown eyes and the most beautiful full lips.” A fluttery feeling filled Reese’s heart. She sighed. “I doubt I’ll ever get the chance to kiss them now.”

  “What did Norris do?”

  “What didn’t he do?” Reese hugged a pillow to her chest. “Besides being horrible to Jack, he all but accused me of engaging in foreplay in the mall. I held Jack’s hand, Lara, and he had his arm around my waist. That’s all.”

  “Norris had a fit, huh?”

  “I couldn’t believe it. Then, he laid down all these new rules. Call me at this time, ask before you do this and go there. He’s got such a tight leash on me, I doubt I’ll make it to the front door before being yanked back.”

  Lara laughed, and tugged at one of Reese’s curly locks. “I don’t think he’s that bad,” she said.

  “He’s not your father.”

  “No, but he is a father. His behavior doesn’t sound any different than my father’s. And I got it worse, because I had two older brothers, twins, and they were just as bad as Daddy.”

  “Are all fathers like that?”

  “Mostly, yes. I can just imagine Ryan when Angelica and baby girl number two here,” Lara touched her belly, “are your age. I think over-protectiveness is just a good father gene.”

  “You think Norris is a good father?”

  “I’ve seen him with my children, and whether he knows it or not, he has a knack, so I’ll have to say yes. Right now, your opinion is the one that matters. He wants a good relationship with you. Think you can meet him halfway?”

  “Dahlia and my mom are always telling me that.”

  “They are very smart women. I think it’s good advice.”

  “I’ll take it under advisement, but I think Norris could take a few steps, too.”

  Lara smiled. “Point taken. I’ll talk to him.”

  “Thank you, Lara. For everything.”

  “You’re welcome.” Lara cupped Reese’s cheek, with the touch of a caring mother. “Feel better.”

  Reese snuggled under the covers after Lara left. Meet Norris halfway. She could do that. For as much as he tried her nerves, she did love him, too.

  * * *

  Norris stopped talking to Ryan when Lara returned to the living room. “How is she?” he asked, as Ryan helped Lara to the sofa.

  “You made a good call. She’s better,” Lara answered.

  Norris sighed. “Thank you, Lara. I’m not familiar with all that female stuff, but she kinda reminded me of my sister at select times of the month, so it made me wonder. So, uh, you were in there for a while,” he said, curious to know what prompted the delay.

  “We were talking,” Lara said.

  “So I gathered. You want to elaborate?”

  “I can, but I think you already know.”

  Norris grunted.

  “She’s still ticked about Big Daddy Pops over here going uber-paternal at the mall Saturday, huh?” Ryan said, slapping Norris’s shoulder, laughing.

  Norris frowned. “I’m glad I can amuse you, Ryan. You just wait until Angelica is sixteen.”

  Lara nodded. “I told Reese the same thing,” she said.

  “I won’t dog some kid for being interested in my baby girl,” Ryan said. “But this is all hypothetical, because Angelica’s not going to start dating until she’s thirty.”

  Lara kissed Ryan’s cheek. “Keep believing it, sweetie.” She turned to Norris. “I kinda think you might have gone a little overboard Saturday.”

  “What is overboard? Lara, she was—”

  “Innocently holding a friend’s hand.”

  “Did she mention his arm was around her waist, and she was wearing hip-hugger jeans and a shirt missing its bottom half?” Norris grunted. “Her skin exposed to his molesting hand.”

  “Molesting hand?” Ryan erupted in boisterous laughter. “Norris, do you hear yourself? Can you imagine how you would be if she’d been on the beach with this guy and not in the mall?”

  Norris shuddered. “I don’t want to think such thoughts.”

  “I understand where you’re coming from, Norris, but Reese is not a little girl, she’s a beautiful young woman. As such, as much as you might hate it, boys are going to find her very attractive, and they will flock to her like moths to a flame. Justin’s ten, and thinks she’s the best thing since PS3.”

  Norris covered his face, groaning in his hands. He didn’t need to hear Ryan validating his thoughts.

  “You see yourself in Reese, Norris, but you also see yourself in the boys who like her, and it scares you to death, because you know what everybody’s thinking. Except Justin. And he’d better not be thinking it. You can’t protect her from life, but you do have to trust her to do the right thing.”

  “I do trust her, Ryan, it’s these boys I don’t trust.”

  “That can be remedied,” Lara said. “Reese talked a little about Jack, and she really seems to like him. Give him a chance, and don’t put a stranglehold on her. You can’t hold on too tightly, because doing so will only make things worse.”

  “You’re right, you’re both right, and I’ll try. I really will.” Norris rubbed his forehead, groaning. “I knew stepping into fatherhood with a teenager wouldn’t be easy, but it’s even harder than I imagined.”

  “It’s going to get easier, Norris,” Ryan said. “Trial and error and give and take, that’s what it’s about.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Good.” Ryan tapped Lara’s knee. “We gotta get going, babe,” he said, helping Lara to her feet.

  “What’s the rush?” Norris asked.

  “Doctor’s appointment.” Ryan rubbed Lara’s tummy. “Once a week every week until delivery day. Fifteen days and counting, or less.”

  “Less?” Norris questioned.

  “Twins usually come early, but everything looks good, so it’s wait and see,” Lara said. “I’m going to stop by the bathroom before we go. I’ll be right back.”

  “Can you make it?” Ryan asked as she waddled down the hall.

  “Yes, Ryan. You guys talk.”

  “She wanted to give us a minute, right?” Norris asked, when he heard the bathroom door close behind Lara.

  “She did, but lately she stays in the bathroom, so she would have made that run anyway. How’s Dahlia? What’s the word on her sister?”

  “Dahlia is trying to be strong, but she sounded tired when I talked to her last night. Her sister is still in a coma, but the baby is holding his own. He weighed only four pounds, but his lungs were fully developed, so doctors are cautiously optimistic.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Yeah. I really want to see her. Dahlia puts up a good front, but I know being there is very hard for her. The relationship with her sister is strained, and with the emergency C-section, the coma, and the baby’s health, I’m just very worried about her. I want to be there for her.”

  “Has she talked to you about this issue with her sister?”

  “Not really. Just enough to know whatever it is, it’s very painful for her.”

  “Hmm.” Ryan paced around the couch. “I wonder if Lara fell in.” He laughed nervously.

  “It hasn’t been that long.” Norris watched Ryan curiously. “You know what it is, don’t you?”

  “Not it, they. A boy and a girl. You know that, too.”

  “I’m not talking about the babies, pal. You know what happened between Dahlia and her sister.”

  “Lara mentioned something to me, yes. I could tell you, but you don’t want to h
ear it from me.”

  Norris nodded. “You’re right.” He could have hired any number of detectives to unearth this secret, but he wanted to hear it from Dahlia. So, he would wait for her to tell him, just like he would continue to wait to hear her say she loved him. Two things he had no doubt she would tell him soon.

  Lara returned from the bathroom. “I’m ready to go,” she said. “I looked in on Reese, and she’s resting peacefully.”

  “Thanks, Lara.” Norris kissed her cheek and draped his arm around Ryan’s shoulder. “You guys are the best,” he said, hugging them to close his side. “I must be rubbing off on you.”

  “Oh, boy,” Ryan grumbled. “That’s our signal to leave.” He pulled open the door to find Genevieve on the other side. “You have company, Norris.”

  Genevieve flashed a tight smile. “Hello, Ryan.” Her eyes widened when they dropped to Lara’s distended abdomen. “Oh, hi, Lori. . . . . . .idn’t see you there.”

  “It’s Lara, Mom!” Norris spat, not at all happy to see his mother darken his doorstep. “This is not a good time.”

  “No, Norris, it’s a great time,” Ryan said. “And, look, your mother just paid Lara the ultimate compliment. I’ve been telling her for the longest she hadn’t gained that much weight, considering she’s having twins. Now it’s been confirmed.”

  Norris and Lara laughed as Genevieve stood fuming outside the door.

  Ryan wrapped his arm around Lara. “Come on, babe.”

  “Bye, guys.” Norris closed the door and turned to his red-faced mother who now sat on the couch. “Why are you here?”

  “You didn’t tell me Ryan’s uh-”

  “Wife. She’s his wife.”

  “You didn’t tell me his wife was pregnant.”

  “You didn’t ask. However, I did ask a question. Why are you here? I thought you’d said it all when you said nothing.”

  “I needed some time to think.”

  “What’s changed? My daughter is still biracial.”

  “How do you know?” Genevieve said.

  “What do you mean how do I know?”

  “Not that’s she’s biracial. If you say she is, there’s no disputing that. My question is how do you know she’s your daughter. Have you done a paternity test?”