Seer (The Seeker Series Book 3) by Amy Reece

father.”
    “Excuse me?” Why on earth would she need to tell me about my father? “He didn’t want anything to do with me. He deserted you, so why do I need to know about him?”
    She pulled a chair up next to mine and clasped my hands between hers. “Sweetheart, that’s not exactly what happened.”
    “Wait, what? What exactly did happen? Why are you just telling me now?”
    “Shh, sweetie. Please, just listen, okay? This is really hard for me. I’ve been telling the lie for so long I think I started to believe it.”
    What. The. Hell?
     
    ***
     
    “ Mom , what are you talking about? My father was someone you hooked up with at a frat party your freshman year of college. That’s what you’ve always told me.”
    “I know. I’m so sorry. It was easier,” she whispered.
    “Easier for who?” My voice escalated to a near yell.
    She winced and placed a hand on her burgeoning belly. “Please, Ally. Please calm down. I’ll tell you if you’ll calm down.”
    I immediately felt guilty and reached forward to cover her hand. “I’m sorry, Mom. I don’t want to upset you. Okay. I’m listening. I promise to be calm. You just surprised me. That’s all.”
    “I know. I never expected this. Ally, I have not been truthful about your father. It wasn’t a drunken hookup at a frat party. It was my college boyfriend. My first boyfriend. We got way too serious way too soon and you were the result. I found out I was pregnant and I got scared and left. I never told him. He never knew about the pregnancy. He never knew he had a daughter.”
    “And you are telling me this now because—?” I wondered where on earth this was going.
    She sighed. “Because he saw the media coverage of the Ashley Hayes trial. He recognized me. And he recognized you. Apparently you resemble his grandmother to a startling degree. He wants to meet you, Ally.”
    Now I stood up to pace. “Let me get this straight. You have been lying to me about my father all these years. You never told your boyfriend that he got you pregnant. What about Grams? Did she know?” Mom shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “Oh, Mom! Why? Why didn’t you tell anyone? Why the crazy frat boy story?”
    “I don’t know! I was scared and I just had to get away! I ran home and I never told Josh about the baby. I didn’t want to ruin his life. He had a great future ahead of him and I didn’t want to trap him with a baby.”
    Her unreasonable fear of telling Brian about this current baby suddenly made a whole lot more sense. I wanted to be mad at her, and I was—at least I think I was—but I also felt sorry for her. Grams had told me how much my grandfather’s untimely death had messed Mom up, but apparently she had no idea how much. “So, he wants to meet me? What’s he like? His name is Josh? I don’t know if I’m ready to meet him. I think I need a few weeks to think about it.”
    “His name is Josh Harrison, and yes, he wants to meet you. He’s a nice guy, Ally. He always was. I just wasn’t ready for him at that point in my life. And you don’t have a few weeks to think about it because he’ll be here in an hour.”
    “What? No! I should have a say in this! I can’t believe you expect me to meet him like this! In an hour?”
    “I know, sweetie. I’m so sorry, but please do this. He’s been here in Albuquerque for three weeks, waiting for you to get back. He’s desperate to meet you. Please.”
    “Shit!” The curse burst out and, for once, my mother let it slide. “I can’t believe this! He’s coming here?” She nodded miserably. “Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ll meet him.” I looked at my mother, slumped in her seat, and again felt sorry for her. I knelt in front of her and took her hands. “Mom. Why did you keep this secret for so long? You could have told us. What about him? He never knew he had a daughter all these years. He must be pretty mad at you.”
    “Beyond furious. He’s consulted a lawyer about his