The Naked Truth (7 page)

Chapter Seven

Josh was the first awake the next morning. He
propped himself up on his elbow and gazed down at Abigail as she slept. It was
going to break his heart when she got back on a plane with Hailey, but he had
to keep faith she would be back. Perhaps he could convince her before then that
she belonged in his bed, just as he should have five years ago.

Abigail stirred and then rolled over onto her back.
Her lids fluttered open and she smiled when she saw him.

“Good morning, beautiful. How was your night?” he
asked.

“Best night of sleep I’ve had in years.”

“You’re not the only one.” He leaned down and kissed
her cheek. “I wish we could stay right here forever.”

Abigail lightly rubbed his morning stubble before
sitting up. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek and then trailed her lips
to his. It was a sensual kiss, but enough to get his engines roaring. Wrapping
his hand around her neck, he broke the contact and stared into her eyes.

“I’d love to see where this is going, but…” He
smiled at her. “We have a daughter to take care of.” It warmed his heart to say
the words he did. He still couldn’t believe he was a father.

“We do.” She raked her hands through his hair. “I
really am sorry, Josh. I made the wrong decision all those years ago. I never
should have kept her from you. I can see how much you love her.”

“There’s no need to apologize. We can’t go back and
redo it. Besides, I never should’ve let you walk away. I had the ability to
find you after you gave me that fake number. But I didn’t. I just assumed the
feelings weren’t mutual.”

“They were,” she whispered.

Josh watched as she moistened her lips. One more
taste, that’s all he needed before they began their day. He pushed her onto her
back and climbed on top of her.

An hour later, after what was supposed to be just a
kiss, Josh and Abigail made their way downstairs. In the kitchen, they found
breakfast being prepared by his housekeeper. Hailey sat at the kitchen table,
coloring with Ms. Janet. When she heard them come in, her eyes lit up and she
jumped out of her seat to run and hug her mom. After she released Abigail, she
looked up at him and gave him a big grin.

“Good morning, Mr. Josh.”

“Good morning.” He couldn’t wait until they told her
he was her father. He agreed with Abigail that Hailey was ready. And he
couldn’t wait to hear the beautiful little girl call him Daddy. And with that
thought, he was determined to get Abigail to marry him and give him at least
five more kids.

“Breakfast is about ready,” his house keeper announced.
“Coffee’s done though.”

Abigail got her coffee and then sat down at the
table. He joined them as well with his cup. After a few moments, breakfast was
served. Hailey loved eating a big breakfast each morning. She told him she
didn’t want to go back to cold cereal. But he wasn’t going to push. He had
faith that things would work out and soon she could have that breakfast each
morning.

“What are we doing today?” Hailey asked.

“No big plans today.” Abigail took a bite of her
bacon. “But Mr. Josh and I want to sit down and talk with you though.”

“What about?”

“Right now we’re eating. But after we all get
cleaned up, we’ll sit and talk. Sound good?”

Hailey nodded.

Josh’s heart sped up with the upcoming announcement.
He couldn’t help but worry Hailey would be mad and upset they hadn’t told her.
He watched as she ate. She was such a happy child. Abigail had done a wonderful
job with her.

When breakfast was over, he excused himself first
and headed up the stairs to shower and get ready for the day. He hoped he
didn’t come across to the two most important girls in his life that he was
giving them the cold shoulder, but he had to prepare himself mentally for
today. Things were about to officially change and in some ways it scared the
crap out of him.

After he was showered and dressed, he locked himself
in his study. He pulled out a photo album and flipped through the pages that
were filled with his parents. He missed them and right about now he could use
his mother’s advice, or at least her shoulder to lean on. She’d have loved both
Abigail and Hailey. His mother and father would be spoiling Hailey more than he
was. By now she would have a room filled with anything her heart desired.

He laid the photo album down, but removed a picture
of his parents first. He then opened his brief case and pulled out the envelope
that held the results of the DNA test. Nate had advised him to read the results
before he told the little girl. That before he opened his arms and home to
them, he needed to make sure.

Josh’s finger sat at the edge and lightly pulled the
paper away, hearing the tear. At the halfway mark, he stopped and set the
envelope down. Something warmed in his chest and he felt as though someone was
communicating with him. Looking up at the ceiling, he had a feeling it was his
mom. She was there whenever he needed her.

A tear trickled down his cheek and he felt his
mother’s presence, letting him know the results in the envelope. He no longer
wanted it in his possession. When the time came to legitimize Hailey, he’d have
Nate fax the results to his lawyer. Standing, he picked up the envelope, opened
the top drawer, and removed a lighter. He lit the flame and placed it to the
paper. As it burned in his hand, the warmth that had engulfed his heart now
spread throughout his body. When the flame was nearing his fingers, he dropped
it into the empty waste bucket.

Once it had burned and the fire was out, he left his
study to find Abigail and Hailey, the picture of his parents in his hand.

* * * *

Abigail decided to have the big talk with Hailey out
in the garden. Hailey loved coming out there and playing. Josh was inside
getting the picnic basket. They had agreed on doing a late lunch. She’d gotten
worried earlier when he had disappeared after breakfast, but she was sure he
had his reasons. When he’d returned, he seemed to be himself again. Abigail
hadn’t stopped to think about how this was affecting him.

Hailey ran over and handed Abigail a flower.

“Thank you.”

“Can we get a garden like this at our house?” Hailey
asked.

“We’re in an apartment, honey. That’s a little hard.
Maybe a flower box on the deck.”

Hailey sat down next to her. “I don’t want to leave.
Can we stay here? Do you think Mr. Josh would let us?”

Abigail smiled.
Mr. Josh
would certainly let
them stay forever if they wanted. And the more Abigail thought about it, the
more she wanted to stay as well. However, she knew this couldn’t be a magical
fairy tale for them. Although she was no longer angry with Josh for putting her
out of a job. In fact, he’d given her an excuse to leave a world she no longer
wished to be a part of. Deep down she knew if they went back to their home, her
heart would still be here.

Looking over at Hailey, who was picking the petals
off the flowers she’d just gathered, she knew her daughter would be sad if they
left. Abigail took a deep breath and decided she would wait to see how this
talk went before making any big decisions.

“Here are my two favorite ladies,” Josh said as he
approached them.

“I’m starving, Mr. Josh. I hope whatever you have in
there is good.”

“How does a BLT sound?”

Hailey shrugged. “I don’t know. What is it?”

Josh laughed. “It’s a sandwich with B for bacon, L
for lettuce, and T for tomato.”

“I’ll take a BT then.”

Abigail laughed. “Okay, sweetie.”

Josh sat down on the blanket that Abigail had
brought out with her. He set the basket in the middle and looked over at
Abigail. She knew he was nervous, because she was too. Hailey’s life was about
to change. She had never really asked about her father. Only once at a school
function had she asked. Abigail had frozen but hadn’t gone into detail. She
knew that would come later. She’d simply explained that Hailey had been a gift
from God to her. And that had satisfied her for the time being.

Abigail removed the sandwiches from the basket. She
opened her daughter’s and removed the lettuce before handing it to her. Hailey
took a big bite of the sandwich. “I like it.”

“It’s my favorite sandwich,” Josh told her. “My mom
used to make them for me all the time.”

“Does she still?” Hailey asked.

He shook his head. “Not anymore. She’s in Heaven
now.”

Abigail reached out, rubbing his arm. “I’m sorry to
hear that.”

Josh reached into his back pocket and removed a
photo. He handed it to Hailey. Abigail leaned next to her and peered at the
picture. “Are these them?”

“Yes.”

Abigail stared at the face of his mother and swore
she was looking at Hailey. The resemblance was striking. “What were their names?”

He cleared his throat. “My dad’s name was Phillip
and my mother’s,” he paused and took a deep breath, “my mom’s name was Hailey.”

Abigail thought her heart stopped beating. Tears
built up in her eyes and began to spill out. She couldn’t believe her daughter
shared the same name as her grandmother. And that it hadn’t been planned.

“Mommy, why are you crying? Do you not like that his
mom had my name? Because, you know, a little girl in the room next to mine at
school is called Hailey too and I didn’t cry.”

Abigail laughed. “That’s why I am.”

“That’s silly.”

Abigail reached out, pulled Hailey into her lap, and
looked at Josh. He nodded, knowing what she was about to do.

“Hailey, sweetie, Mr. Josh and I have something to
tell you.”

Josh moved closer as well but didn’t say anything.

“Tell me.”

“You know how you went to take that test with Mr.
Josh?”

Hailey’s head moved up and down as she took another
bite of her sandwich.

“Well, sweetie, Mr. Josh is someone very special to
you.” The tears started again. Josh handed her a napkin, but before she could
take it, he wiped away her tears.

“Who are you?” Hailey asked him.

Abigail nodded this time, letting him know he could
go ahead and tell her.

“I’m your dad.”

“Really?”

Abigail squeezed her daughter’s shoulders. “Yes, he
is.”

Hailey set her food down and then left Abigail’s
lap. She took a few steps and plopped herself in Josh’s lap. “I’ve always
wanted a daddy. I’m glad it’s you.”

Abigail smiled and her heart melted. Josh reached
out and tugged her to him, wrapping his arm around her as well. She laid her
head against him.

“Do you have any questions?” Abigail asked.

“Do we get to live here?”

Before she could speak, Josh reached with his other
hand toward the picnic basket. He pulled out a small black box and Abigail’s mouth
dropped open. He couldn’t be…was he?

“Hop up a minute,” he said to Hailey.

Her daughter obeyed, taking a seat next to her. Josh
turned to Abigail. “I love you. I never want you to leave here. I want to make
every dream of yours come true. I can’t imagine having you and Hailey over a
thousand miles away. Please tell me you will do me the honor of being my wife.”
He opened the box and a gorgeous diamond glistened in the sunlight.

“What are you going to say?” Hailey asked, staring
at her.

Abigail stared at the gorgeous ring. More than
anything she wanted to say yes. But things were moving so fast. Just last night
she’d told him she wanted to take things slow. As she took in the site of the
diamond nestled inside a black box, her heart rate beat at a rhythm so fast she
worried a panic attack was about to start. “Oh, Josh, it’s beautiful, but I
can’t say yes.”

She couldn’t look at him as he asked, “Why not?”

“It’s too soon. This is all happening so fast. I’m
not ready.”

Josh closed the velvet box. Glancing up at him, she
saw he appeared sad and she hated knowing she had hurt him. But this wasn’t
some fairytale and he couldn’t just swoop in and make everything the way it
should be.

“I think Hailey and I need to fly home. Would your
jet be able to take us today?”

“So soon?”

Abigail nodded. “I think its best we go.”

She started to put everything back in the basket
when he reached out, catching her wrist. “Tell me one thing…that it’s not over.
And you’re going to give this a real chance. I don’t want to lose you or
Hailey.”

“You’re not losing either of us. It’s just too much
too soon,” she repeated, not sure if it was for him or her. Abigail glanced
away and saw Hailey had lost interest and wandered back over to the flower
garden. “Hailey, come on. We need to go pack.”

Taking her daughter’s hand, she looked back at Josh
and smiled. He didn’t return the gesture. Instead, he pulled his cell phone
from his pocket. As she and Hailey walked toward the house, she heard him ask
for his jet to be readied.