Solid: 2 1/2 (Twin Duo Book 3) by Jettie Woodruff Page A

Like how?”
    “Well, you know we have Ophelia. That’s our daughter together, and we’re also raising my sister’s five-year-old little boy. Row-row is constantly changing her clothes, washing her hands, clothes. Oh my, God. This girl is a walking fashion designer. She’s good, too. She knows her style, the only six-year-old I know addicted to Project Runway. You would be very proud.”
    “I am, and a little sad that I’m missing it.”
    Although she was the one who chose to walk away, I felt bad. I mean, if Paxton told me I couldn’t see one of my kids, I would fight him to my death. However…I still felt sorry for her. I couldn’t imagine not seeing them. “Thank you for returning my call. Even though I didn’t get the answer I hoped for, I feel a little closure after talking to you. Don’t ever worry about Rowan, Tatiana. I’m madly in love with her. I can’t fathom the thought of her not being in my life.”
    “That means a lot. Take care.”
    “You, too.”
    “Gabriella?”
    “Yes?”
    “I really don’t think you need a piece of paper to know who her father is.”
    “Thank you.”
    With that I hit end, glancing up to the warm sun with a new sense of direction. Maybe all of this was just plain silly. Maybe I should just stop and forget all about it, but I knew that wouldn’t happen, that I would never be able to let it rest until I knew. Climbing down from the large rock, I decided to continue with the plan. If all went as planned, Mi would be able to tell me if Paxton was indeed the father of both my daughters. I refused to think about the, what ifs, deciding to stay focused on, the positive, believing that he was.

Chapter Seven
    Paxton
     
     
     
    I honestly didn’t know if I would show up to take her. I was so pissed off at her. This was ridiculous and I was sick of the games. My morning was spent away from my employees with a shovel and a fifteen-foot ditch that needed to be dug. The best place for my pissed off energy. Fuck her, fuck all of this shit. Things were a lot simpler when she just did what I told her to do, and didn’t talk. Then again, they was a lot less happy, too. I never thought about Gabriella not loving me. I guess I didn’t care then, but I did now. I wanted her to love me, and I wanted to love her. Hard, like we meant it.
    Sweat running down my back pulled my attention from the ditch that I had been frantically digging to the time. It was nearly noon, and if I planned on being there, I needed to go. I didn’t go to the appointments with Ophelia. It wasn’t unheard of. Lots of men didn’t take off work for that.
    “Mother-fucker,” I audibly said as the nose of my shovel dove into the pile of dirt, and I climbed out. “Hey, Red,” I called to a kid not normally on this crew. The one standing around with his hands in his pockets.
    The red-haired kid jogged over to me, correcting right away. “Jason. My names Jason.”
    “Yeah, okay. Finish this ditch, go to the stake right there, and make a sharp left toward that one,” I instructed with a nod toward the other stake. I didn’t care what his name was. I cared that I paid him by the hour, not by standing around.
    Once I said a few words to Pete, one being to keep that kid moving, I got in my truck. Like a whipped little pup, I went home to my wife. My twenty-minute drive must have been spent in a fog. I didn’t even remember it. The two old ladies, looking at Tricia and Mark’s house pulled my attention from my thoughts. Not at all what I had in mind with this place. It was supposed to be fun. I chose who I sold the lots to very carefully. Young and full of life, like Tatiana. Tricia, Layla, and Candace were all women she could relate to. Gabriella on the other hand, not so much.
    Although there at the end, I really thought she would finally fit in. It may have been fake, but she played the part well. I snorted as I watched the two old women look around the yard, hoping like hell they bought the place. God knew