Take On Me Read online

  “Do you recognize this room?” Uncle Alex asked.

  “I saw it in a picture.”

  “How many pictures have you seen?” asked the new officer.

  Ayla looked at his name tag. Hwang. “The doctors and nurses showed me some of my parents and Uncle Alex. I only remembered him.”

  Uncle Alex put his arm around her and squeezed, then they all sat. The room was filled with pictures of Ayla and her parents. None of it was familiar.

  “What’s the last thing you remember, Ayla?” Hwang asked.

  “Last thing?” She studied him.

  “Before you came out of the woods. You don’t remember what happened in there, from what I understand.”

  She shook her head no. “I can’t remember anything. Just playing with Uncle Alex when I was little. He would hold me in the air and fly me around like a plane.”

  Uncle Alex smiled. “I can’t believe you can remember that.”

  Neither could she, but she kept that thought to herself. No sense in hurting the feelings of the one person she did remember.

  “Do you remember going to school?” Hwang asked. “Or church?”

  She shook her head again, but a playful song ran through her mind. She couldn’t make out the words, though. Maybe she’d sung it at school or church.

  “What about a favorite restaurant?” Hwang asked. “Do you have a favorite food?”

  “Not that I know of.” She sighed.

  The officer asked a bunch more questions Ayla couldn’t answer before rising. “Thanks for humoring me.” He smiled at her. “Now what I’d like you to do is to see if anything jogs your memory while you’re packing. Look around, take in the smells. If anything seems slightly familiar, let one of us know. Can you do that, sweetie?”

  “Sure.”

  Uncle Alex turned to her. “Do you want to walk around yourself, or do you want me to come with you?”

  She reached for his hand again. It was so strange that she knew the simple act made her a baby, but she couldn’t remember who had told her that. Luckily, her uncle didn’t treat her like a little kid. Besides, once she had her bearings, she wouldn’t need anyone’s comfort. Who could blame her after what she’d been through?

  They walked through the living room, slowing at each unfamiliar photo. Then they went through a dining room with a cabinet full of fancy plates and cups. The table had papers scattered on top, and some of it looked like homework. She knew what homework was but couldn’t remember doing any of it. And only she could’ve done it because no other kids lived in the house.

  A chill ran down her spine. She’d lived here her whole life, yet it felt like a stranger’s home.

  Alex led her through a cheery kitchen. It smelled like cinnamon. He turned to her. “Anything?”

  She just frowned.

  He squeezed her hand. “No pressure, okay? If you remember something, that’s great. If not, that’s fine, too. It’s bound to come back when you’re ready.”

  “You think so?”

  “Of course.”

  They wandered through a family room with a big TV and several gaming systems. There were more pictures of her with her parents. It looked like a fun room. A doll lay on one of the couches.

  Ayla let go of Alex and picked it up. It looked like a real sleeping baby and even smelled like powder. It had a tuft of soft black hair and wore a purple sleeper. She held it close.

  “Do you remember that doll?” Uncle Alex asked.

  She shook her head. “It feels familiar, I think. Does that sound stupid?”

  “Not at all. Bring it with you.”

  “Okay.” She followed him down a hall full of more photos. They went into what had to be her parents’ room—it had a huge bed next to a window, his and hers matching furniture, and a love seat. The room was messier than she’d have expected.

  “Anything?” Uncle Alex asked.

  “Nope.” She spun around and went into the next bedroom. Clearly hers, since she was the only kid in the family. The unmade bed had all purple covers and pillows, and even the walls were a soft lilac color. “Apparently I like purple.”

  He gave her a sad smile, then looked around. “Do you want help packing?”

  “I’ll do it.” She rested the doll on the bed, stepped over some sandals, then opened her drawers. It was like going through someone else’s things. How could these actually be hers? Was this a joke of epic proportions?

  If only.

  She pulled out some shirts and turned to her uncle. “How much should I pack?”

  His brows drew together. “I’d say at least a week, to be safe. Maybe more. Hopefully you won’t need that much, though.”

  Her breath caught. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s not that I don’t want you staying with us,” he said quickly. “That’s not it at all. I just hope your parents are found soon and you can be here with them, where you belong.”

  With people she couldn’t remember. Her stomach knotted. “What if I still don’t recognize them? Can I stay with you?”

  “You’re welcome to stay with me as long as you need to. However, I know your parents want you with them.”

  “Why aren’t they with me now?”

  His expression tightened. “I wish I knew. I really do. But I promise you, I’ll do everything I can to help you through this—and that includes trying to find them. I’ll be in contact with Detective Hwang every day.”

  Ayla sighed. “Okay.”

  “Do you mind if I look through your closet for a suitcase?”

  “I don’t even know what I’d be worried about you finding. I have no idea what’s in there—what I put in there!” She spun around and picked up more shirts before he could see the tears fall onto her face.

  Would she ever remember any of this stuff? Or more importantly, her parents?

  Truth

  Nick sank into the couch and closed his eyes. It had been such a long night. He was glad to have been there for Alex and Ayla, but it was exhausting to drive round trip to and from Spokane. Not that he had much to complain about compared to that poor girl. She’d fallen asleep in the backseat before they’d left her neighborhood and hadn’t even woken when Alex carried her from the Mustang to his car.

  His phone buzzed. It was tempting to ignore it, but Genevieve had wanted him to call and let her know he’d gotten home safely. He picked up the phone and saw it was her.

  “Just got home,” he answered.

  “Oh, good. How did everything go with the girl?”

  Nick yawned. “About as well as expected. Ayla was badly beaten and can only remember Alex, who she hasn’t seen in years. She clung to him, and he handled everything perfectly. She relaxed a lot whenever he was close.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me. How are you doing?”

  “Ready to sleep for a week.” He closed his eyes. “And you? Sorry for missing dinner with you and Tinsley.”

  “Don’t apologize. I love that you were there for Alex. Are your kids sleeping?”

  Nick yawned again. “They’re at my parents’ house. I’ll get them in the morning. Or next week. Depends on when I wake.”

  She laughed. “I was thinking I could come over for a bit. You know, to make up for the missed meal. How does dessert sound?”

  He sat up. “Dessert with the most beautiful woman alive? I can stay awake for that.”

  “Perfect. You make some coffee, and I’ll bring over something to eat.”

  “It’s a date.”

  They spent five minutes saying goodbye and I love you before ending the call. Nick stretched and started a pot of coffee, then straightened up. The kids had a bad habit of leaving things strewn everywhere. Not that he was better. They’d have to work on that before moving into a new house after the wedding.

  Once he was happy with the way everything looked, he sat at the dining room table and pulled out the envelope. With the seal now broken, it would only take a moment to read the results.

  To find out if Parker was r
eally his.

  Knock, knock!

  Nick jumped, set the envelope down, and answered the door. All concerns fled as soon as Genevieve smiled at him. Her hair was pulled up into a twisted braid and she wore a rose-colored dress that made his heart skip a beat. He pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

  Concerns? What concerns?

  She giggled and held up a white box. “I’d better get this in the fridge if we’re going to be too distracted to eat it anytime soon.”

  He moved aside and let her in.

  “Should I put it away?” She lifted a brow.

  Nick grinned. “That depends. What is it?”

  “Chocolate and caramel cake.”

  “You’re making me choose between you and that? Not fair.”

  A slow smile spread across her face. “Or I could feed it to you. Best of both worlds.”

  He cleared his throat. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

  She grabbed his hand and led him to the kitchen, where they got the dessert and coffee ready before heading to the table. Genevieve sat close, and they took turns feeding each other the cake. He accidentally got some on the corner of her mouth and kissed it off.

  They laughed and continued making messes just to kiss them away until all the coffee and dessert were gone. She leaned against him. “Is this how I’ll get to end every long day after we’re married?”

  Nick laced his fingers through hers. “You won’t get any complaints from me.”

  “Good.” She kissed his nose, then picked up the plates.

  “Don’t worry about those, I’ll take care of that later.”

  “Oh, I…” Her voice trailed off as she picked up the envelope. “You opened it?”

  “No. Well, technically I did, but I haven’t looked at the results.” He took it from her. “Let’s not think about that now.”

  She tilted her head. “Why didn’t you look?”

  “I was interrupted.”

  “Oh, Nicky.”

  He sighed. “What?”

  “I interrupted you?”

  “What? No. I was going to look at dinner, but then the food came.”

  She frowned. “Why do you keep putting it off?”

  “Why are you worried about that right now?” He cupped her chin with his free hand, and brushed his lips across hers. “When we have more exciting things to think about?”

  Genevieve pulled the envelope from his grasp. “You’ve been putting this off for so long.”

  “Exactly.” He pulled her close and gazed into her enchanting gray eyes. “What’s another night?”

  “You should read it.”

  He frowned. “You’re killing the mood.”

  She pursed her lips. “And you’re putting off the inevitable. Read it. Maybe we’ll have something to celebrate.”

  “Or maybe my world will crumble.”

  Her eyes filled with sadness and her mouth curved down. “No matter what’s on that paper, Parker is still your son. Nothing can change that.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. It’ll change everything. Everything!”

  She ran her fingertips along his jawline. “You’re still his dad, Nick. Legally, emotionally. In all the ways that matter. Genetics may make someone a father, but everything you’ve done for him makes you a dad. You pour your entire heart and soul into those kids, and they know it.”

  His vision blurred. “You’ve definitely ruined the mood.”

  “I think it’s for the best. I love you enough to tell you the truth. You decided to get the test done for a reason, so you can’t keep putting this off. It’s going to torment you more than knowing the truth—whatever it is.”

  Nick slunk down onto the chair and blinked away his tears. “But at least now I still hold the hope that he’s mine. If it turns out he’s not, I don’t even have that.”

  “You’re still his dad, and he’s still your son, no matter what.” She kissed his forehead. “I’m going to grab some beer. We’ll get through this together, then figure out where to go from there—if there’s anything to figure out at all.”

  He rubbed his temples. “What do you think it’s going to say?”

  She chewed on her lower lip. “I don’t think it matters either way.”

  “Who does Parker look like? Me or Dave?”

  “He looks like Parker.” She walked toward the kitchen. “I’m going to grab those drinks.”

  Nick’s vision blurred again. Finding out the results was the right thing to do. Parker deserved the truth. Not only emotionally, but medically. It was the responsible thing to do.

  Genevieve returned with the open beer bottles and sat next to him.

  He blinked, and the tears spilled onto his face.

  “Oh, Nicky.” She kissed them away. “No matter what happens, I’m here for you.”

  His heart thundered, his pulse drummed in his ears. “I can’t do this.”

  “You can. You’re the strongest person I know, Nicholas Fleshman.”

  He drew in a deep breath. “You open it.”

  She placed her soft hand on his arm. “I think you should.”

  Nick stared at the envelope until it grew blurry. He reached for it and blinked more tears onto his cheeks. “Here goes nothing.”

  Genevieve squeezed his arm.

  He struggled to breathe. His hands shook as he pulled out the paper. Unfolded it. Stared at the words. It took him a moment to find the result.

  Negative.

  Parker wasn’t his son.

  Nick collapsed against Genevieve.

  Headache

  The pounding in his head woke Nick. Or was it the smell of coffee and eggs? He rolled over and pulled his pillow over his head.

  Then the result came back to him. He wasn’t Parker’s father. Not genetically. Corrine had cheated on him and lied to him. Lied to Parker. To everyone.

  How was he supposed to tell Parker? How was he supposed to process the news? Nick himself could hardly wrap his mind around it. His mind spun with memories. The first moment seeing Parker’s red, crying face. His son. Only not his son. Dave’s son.

  The thought made his stomach lurch. Or was that last night’s alcohol? How much had he drunk? He could hardly remember anything after reading the result. It was like someone had hit him across the face. With a truck.

  He yanked the pillow off his face and rested his head on it. A lump was growing in his throat.

  Genevieve poked her head in the room. “Oh, good. You’re awake. I made breakfast. You should have some.”

  He moaned.

  “Your mom called. They need you to pick up the kids in an hour.”

  “Perfect.”

  “I can get them.”

  He shook his head. “No, I should.”

  She lifted a brow. “I could take the girls for manicures while you take Parker.”

  Nick’s stomach lurched again, his head pounded harder. He needed ibuprofen, but he needed food first. “I’ll think about it over breakfast.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” She came over and kissed his cheek before heading back to the hallway.

  “I never should have ordered those results.” He forced himself up and swung his feet to the ground. The room spun around him.

  Parker wasn’t his. The words bounced around his mind and he rubbed his temples again. How he wanted to go to the prison and tell off Corrine. To shout profanities at her then shake her senseless. Her selfishness had hurt so many people. Mason was hers, and Parker was Dave’s.

  How had all this happened? How blind and stupid was Nick? Why hadn’t he seen any of it? Had he been so blinded by love, that he trusted a pathological liar? Or was it because he had always been what Corrine had accused him of being—a workaholic? Maybe on some level he’d always suspected her indiscretions, and that was why he’d thrown himself into work—to stay away from her.

  “Nicky?” Genevieve called. “The food’s going to get cold.”

  “Coming!” The sound of his own voice made his head throb more.
He pulled on some sweats and a Pearl Jam t-shirt then stumbled his way to the dining room.

  Genevieve helped him sit.

  “Thanks.” He gulped down the coffee first. “How much beer did I drink last night?”

  “You didn’t have any.”

  “Then why do I feel hungover?” He finished the coffee.

  She rested a hand on his back. “You were distraught. To be honest, I was really worried.”

  He frowned. “I can’t remember anything. You sure I didn’t take anything?”

  “You told me you took some sleeping pills.”

  “How many did I take?” He rubbed his temples again.

  “I don’t know. You told me after the fact.” She pushed his plate closer to him. “Maybe you should eat.”

  He took a bite of scrambled eggs.

  “Are you still planning on telling Parker today?”

  Nick choked on the food. “Is that what I said?”

  She nodded.

  “I don’t know that I’m in any state to do that right now.”

  “I’ll bet you’ll feel better by the time we pick up the kids.”

  He took another bite and a horrifying thought struck him. “I’m going to have to tell all the kids. They all need to know. They’re going to want to know why. What am I going to tell them?”

  “Tell them to ask their mother.”

  Nick stared at her for a moment. “You know what? That’s brilliant.”

  She arched a brow. “It is?”

  “Yes! I should have Corrine tell them all. She’s the one who did this. That woman destroyed this family long before it even started.”

  Genevieve took a deep breath. “Are you sure you want her to break this news to them? Wouldn’t you be able to do a better job? You know, speak with maturity and wisdom. I just picture her making the whole ordeal as melodramatic as possible.”

  “That’s true. I suppose I could break the news then tell them if they have specific questions, I’ll take them to the prison where they can ask her.”

  “That sounds like a plan.”

  Pain squeezed his chest. “How am I going to tell him? Where do I even begin?”

  “With the truth. Tell him what Corrine told you, then go from there. You’ve had nothing but his best interest in mind this whole time. That’s why you haven’t said anything until you knew the results. You didn’t want him worrying about nothing.”