I picked her up and brought her inside, allowing her to wrap her legs around my waist.
“Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” I said after kissing her on her lips.
I set her down near the couch, and she quickly took a seat. “I’d say that I was in the neighborhood, but you and I both know that’s not true.”
She looked so beautiful sitting on the couch, and I instantly knew that I had to tell her about Addison. “Annie, we need to talk.”
She immediately stopped smiling, which broke my heart, but I carried on.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed that something’s been a bit off these past few weeks, and it’s time you find out why. Do you remember Heather, my ex-girlfriend?”
Annie nodded, and all of the colors had drained from her face.
I put up my hand, knowing exactly what she was thinking. “No, we’re not back together. God, no. It’s just, well, I have a daughter that I just found out about, with her.”
“Are you serious? Richard, that’s wonderful. But why did she wait so long to tell you? You two broke up years ago."
I let out a sigh of relief that she wasn't upset but still knew, no matter how hard it would be, I had to cool things off with her. “Who knows, but unfortunately, this does impact our relationship.”
She tilted her head a bit as I sat down next to her on the couch. “Why would you having a kid affect our relationship?”
As I ran my hands through her hair, I struggled to find the right words. “Because that’s not what you signed up for, Annie. You wanted to be with me, not me, and a surprise child.”
Annie started smiling again. “Did you honestly think this would be a deal-breaker, Richard? I don’t mind that you have a kid. You’ve seen me with Caley, right?”
I nodded and smiled, too. Annie had been amazing with Caley all of those years, treating her as though she were her own daughter.
“That’s true. I didn’t think of that part. But still, you’re starting your lifestyle brand. The fact that I’m taking more projects at work, the legal work that’s involved in all of this with Heather, and normal life is a lot. Are you sure that it’s not too much for you?”
“I’d love nothing more than to meet your daughter, Richard. What’s her name?”
I spent the next hour telling Annie all about Addison. How old she was, what grade she was in, some of her hobbies, and I also mentioned the boarding school plan from Heather. Annie agreed with me, though. Boarding school wasn’t always the best idea for a young child.
“And she’s not a fan of her mother, either.”
“From what I can remember about Heather,” Annie said, “she wasn’t always the nicest person. Kind of snobby, too.”
I nodded, then told her about the expensive outfit she was wearing along with the rock on her hand.
“I remember you telling me about how she had scoffed at a gift you once had given her. Didn’t you say the set of earrings were from Tiffany’s, and she made some comment about how there weren’t enough karats.”
“Yeah, that’s Heather. She’s the same one who wanted me to stop working for my father and branch out on my own.”
“But you love working for your father,” she said.
I leaned in and kissed Annie on the cheek. “That’s why I like you so much, Annie. You’d never try to change me, would you?”
She shook her head, flipping her silky black hair into my face.
“Not even that sexy grey hair of yours,” she said while running her hands through it.
"Let me talk to Heather today and see if I can get some alone time with Addison; then you two can meet. Actually, let me show you her picture.” I pulled out my phone and showed her some pictures.
“Richard, she’s the spitting image of you. Look at her eyes, her thick hair, even her nose! Did you still take a paternity test?”
I shrugged my shoulders while putting my phone away. “Only because my attorney said that I should, just to be on the safe side.”
"She was right. But yeah, I could see how you wouldn't have much of a doubt. She's beautiful. She really is."
