A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [21]
Shelly’s smiled widened, knowing that was true. “Yes, in a heartbeat, which is the reason I didn’t tell him. And although it’s too late for either of us to think of ever having a life together again, because we’ve lived separate lives for so long, there’s no doubt in my mind that once I tell him about you he’ll want to become a part of your life. But I need to know how you feel about that.”
AJ shrugged. “I’m okay with it, but how do you feel about it. Mom?”
“I’m okay with it, too.”
AJ nodded. He then lowered his head as his finger made designs across the tablecloth. Moments later he lifted his eyes and met her gaze. “So when can I get to meet him?”
Shelly took a deep breath and hoped that her next words sounded normal. “You’ve already met your father, AJ. You met him yesterday.”
She inhaled deeply then broke it down further by saying, “Sheriff Dare Westmoreland is your father.”
Five
“S heriff Westmoreland!” AJ shouted as he jumped out of his seat. He stood in front of his mother and lifted his chin angrily, defiantly. “It can’t be him. No way.”
Shelly smiled slightly. “Trust me, it is him. I of all people should know.”
“But—but, I don’t want him to be my father,” he huffed loudly.
Shelly looked directly at AJ, at how badly he was taking the news, which really wasn’t unexpected, considering the way he and Dare had clashed. “I’m sorry you feel that way because he is and there’s nothing you can do about it. Alisdare Julian Westmoreland is your father.”
When she saw the look that crossed his face, she added. “And I didn’t make up that part either. You really were named after him, AJ. He merely shortens the Alisdare to Dare.”
She felt AJ’s need to deny what she’d just told him, but there was no way she could let him do that. “The question is, now that you know he’s your father, what are we going to do about it?”
She watched his forehead scrunch into a frown, then he said. “We don’t have to do anything about it since he doesn’t have to know. We can continue with things the way they are.”
She lifted a brow. “Don’t you think he has every right to know about you?”
“Not if I don’t want him to know.”
Shelly shook her head. “Dare will be very hurt if he ever learns the truth.” She studied her son. “Can you give me a good reason why he shouldn’t be told?”
“Yes, because he doesn’t like me and I don’t like him.”
Shelly met his gaze. “With your disrespectful attitude, you probably didn’t make a good impression on him yesterday, AJ. However, Dare loves kids. And as far as you not liking him, you really don’t know him, and I think you should get to know him. He’s really a nice guy, otherwise I would not have fallen in love with him all those years ago.” A small voice whispered that that part was true. Dare had always been a caring and loving person. “How did things go between the two of you today?”
AJ shrugged. “We still don’t like each other, and I don’t want to get to know him. So please don’t tell him, Mom. You can’t.”
She paused for a moment knowing what she would say, knowing she would not press him anymore. “All right, AJ, since you feel so strongly about it, I won’t tell him. But I’m hoping that one day you will be the one to tell him. I’m hoping that one day you’ll see the importance of him knowing the truth.”
She stood and walked over to AJ and placed her hand on his shoulder. “There’s something else you need to think about.”
“What?”
“Dare is a very smart man. Chances are he’ll figure things out without either one of us telling him anything.”
He frowned and his eyes grew round. “How?”
Shelly smiled. “You favor him and his four brothers. Although he hasn’t noticed it yet, there’s a good chance that he will. And then there’s the question of your age. He knows I left town ten years ago, the same year you were born.”
AJ nodded. “Did he ask you anything when you saw him yesterday?”
“No. I think he assumes your father is someone I met after leaving here, but as I said, there’s a chance he might start putting two and two together.”
AJ’s features drew in a deeper frown