Read Online The Switched Baby Scandal (A Scandals of San Sebastian Novel) (Entangled Bliss) by Theresa Meyers - Free Book Online
Authors: Theresa Meyers
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, small town, enemies to lovers, sweet romance, secret baby, Blended families, Entangled Bliss, Switched at birth, child custody, Theresa Meyers
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graveyard, the dull roar of the waves crashing on the cliffs below in the background and the tang of salt spray in the air.
His feet dragged, and when he came to the spot he knelt in his familiar place, the neatly cut grass a soft cushion under him. His fingers caressed the glass-smooth surface of Alyssa’s headstone, dipping in to feel the little, chubby angel carved on it and then slowly tracing each letter of her name. He laid the pink rose at the base of the stone. His throat ached and his eyes burned. He placed the small plush teddy bear beside the flower and swallowed so he could speak.
“Hi, pumpkin. Daddy’s here. I miss you.” He swallowed again. “I’ve got some news to tell you. I’ve found someone very important to me. She’s funny and bright just like—” His voice cracked, and he could no longer hold back the tears.
Alone, with the light breeze tugging at him, he let them come trickling hot and wet down his cheeks. The pain pierced him, knotting thick in his chest.
This was harder than he had anticipated. He clutched the small, stuffed zebra in his hand. It was for Emily. She already had a favorite bear, so this had seemed more appropriate. He wiped away the tears with the back of his hand and lifted his face to take a breath.
In that moment, the pain of knowing he could do nothing for Alyssa transformed slightly into a greater determination to do everything he could for Emily. He would work to be part of her life no matter what the cost. He looked down at the bright glass eyes of the little zebra and the ache began to recede. By sharing what he could of Alyssa with Emily and her mother, his little girl could still live on, still be remembered, still be loved.
He patted the cold stone. “Good-bye, sweetie. Daddy will come and visit you really soon.”
Reece rose slowly and turned to Rebecca’s grave. “Hi, Becca.” He gently placed the red rose beside his wife’s memorial. While their marriage had never been passionate, Becca had always been his best friend and her sudden loss had left a gap he’d never filled.
His voice was ragged. “I suppose you heard me talking to Alyssa. It’s true. I’ve seen our daughter. Emily…looks like you in so many ways.” He pressed his lips firmly together. “I don’t know where this will all go, but I’m going to keep my promise, Becca…I’ll take care of her.”
For a moment he recalled Taylor. His physical reaction to her made his gut churn with uncertainty now. There was no doubt he found her attractive, and sitting next to her on the bench he had caught the whiff of Becca’s favorite perfume. His mind turned back to the headstone beside him.
“There’s one more thing. Alyssa’s birth mother, Taylor, she’s part of this, too. I can see how much Emily means to her.” He stood up. “I’ll let you know how things with Emily go.”
He stepped back from the graves and buttoned his black raincoat against the wind. As he trudged back to his car parked at the curb just outside the gates, Reece knew something for certain.
Nothing was ever going to be the same.
Chapter Six
Taylor ripped the court summons in half, then started to cry.
Although she’d held out hope Reece would avoid seeking custody for a while, the papers confirmed it. He planned to go forward with the courts. Taylor gave a harsh rub to her cheeks, whisking away the tears. It was just like a man to be nice to a woman’s face and then go behind her back and attempt to take her child as if he were casually shopping for a new tie. Perhaps she had mistaken his open manner for genuine interest and kindness, but she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. But, then, who was she kidding? She’d already made that mistake over and over again, trusting guys to do the right thing and then getting burned for it.
She hated to see him, but if she backed out of dinner, she would lose her only connection to the baby she’d never gotten to hold. For months she had felt her little girl
His feet dragged, and when he came to the spot he knelt in his familiar place, the neatly cut grass a soft cushion under him. His fingers caressed the glass-smooth surface of Alyssa’s headstone, dipping in to feel the little, chubby angel carved on it and then slowly tracing each letter of her name. He laid the pink rose at the base of the stone. His throat ached and his eyes burned. He placed the small plush teddy bear beside the flower and swallowed so he could speak.
“Hi, pumpkin. Daddy’s here. I miss you.” He swallowed again. “I’ve got some news to tell you. I’ve found someone very important to me. She’s funny and bright just like—” His voice cracked, and he could no longer hold back the tears.
Alone, with the light breeze tugging at him, he let them come trickling hot and wet down his cheeks. The pain pierced him, knotting thick in his chest.
This was harder than he had anticipated. He clutched the small, stuffed zebra in his hand. It was for Emily. She already had a favorite bear, so this had seemed more appropriate. He wiped away the tears with the back of his hand and lifted his face to take a breath.
In that moment, the pain of knowing he could do nothing for Alyssa transformed slightly into a greater determination to do everything he could for Emily. He would work to be part of her life no matter what the cost. He looked down at the bright glass eyes of the little zebra and the ache began to recede. By sharing what he could of Alyssa with Emily and her mother, his little girl could still live on, still be remembered, still be loved.
He patted the cold stone. “Good-bye, sweetie. Daddy will come and visit you really soon.”
Reece rose slowly and turned to Rebecca’s grave. “Hi, Becca.” He gently placed the red rose beside his wife’s memorial. While their marriage had never been passionate, Becca had always been his best friend and her sudden loss had left a gap he’d never filled.
His voice was ragged. “I suppose you heard me talking to Alyssa. It’s true. I’ve seen our daughter. Emily…looks like you in so many ways.” He pressed his lips firmly together. “I don’t know where this will all go, but I’m going to keep my promise, Becca…I’ll take care of her.”
For a moment he recalled Taylor. His physical reaction to her made his gut churn with uncertainty now. There was no doubt he found her attractive, and sitting next to her on the bench he had caught the whiff of Becca’s favorite perfume. His mind turned back to the headstone beside him.
“There’s one more thing. Alyssa’s birth mother, Taylor, she’s part of this, too. I can see how much Emily means to her.” He stood up. “I’ll let you know how things with Emily go.”
He stepped back from the graves and buttoned his black raincoat against the wind. As he trudged back to his car parked at the curb just outside the gates, Reece knew something for certain.
Nothing was ever going to be the same.
Chapter Six
Taylor ripped the court summons in half, then started to cry.
Although she’d held out hope Reece would avoid seeking custody for a while, the papers confirmed it. He planned to go forward with the courts. Taylor gave a harsh rub to her cheeks, whisking away the tears. It was just like a man to be nice to a woman’s face and then go behind her back and attempt to take her child as if he were casually shopping for a new tie. Perhaps she had mistaken his open manner for genuine interest and kindness, but she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. But, then, who was she kidding? She’d already made that mistake over and over again, trusting guys to do the right thing and then getting burned for it.
She hated to see him, but if she backed out of dinner, she would lose her only connection to the baby she’d never gotten to hold. For months she had felt her little girl
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