Eden
You never understand how much the truth can affect you until you receive a call that could change your life. Aiden's grandfather did that when he informed us that Dr. O'Neill wanted to set up a Zoom call between a stranger and me. My heart thudded in my chest as my nerves became a wreck through the drive home, changing my clothes into something more respectful.
It didn't help that Dr. O'Neill moved the time to six instead of seven. We sat at my kitchen table and logged on. Dr. O'Neill added us to the call as I stared at a man looking back at me. Once Dr. O'Neill introduced us, he gave us the results. This stranger was my biological father. Talk about shocking.
Eventually, Aiden, his uncle, and a family friend left us to talk with Dr. O'Neill, who acted as a buffer. I brushed the tears away, trying to keep my composure.
"I'm so sorry, Eden. I didn't know," Raymond said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Your mom never told me."
"I wondered for years why I never had a connection with my dad or why I wasn't good enough."
"What?" Confusion laced Raymond's features. "What do you mean you weren't good enough?"
"Do you want to hear the truth?"
"Yes, I want to hear the truth. I don't care how much it hurts. I want the truth."
I took a deep breath and released before telling Raymond about my family. Raymond ran his hand through his hair in frustration while cursing quietly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to upset you, " I said, shaking my head.
Raymond lowered his hand and locked his gaze with mine. "You have nothing to be sorry about since you did nothing wrong. If I had known you were my daughter, no one would have ever hurt you. But now that I know you are, no one will."
I stared at Raymond with lifted brows. "What?"
"Eden, your mom and my mom robbed us of twenty-one years together. I didn't get a chance to raise you like I should have. If I had known about you, I would have ensured you had love."
Something broke inside me when Raymond mentioned love. The man just met me and wanted to love me. A stranger was willing to love me without knowing me. I broke down and sobbed.
"Babygirl, it'll be alright."
"How?" I whimpered while wiping my eyes with the base of my hands.
"Because I'll make sure of it. I want you to focus on that boy you had with you while I take care of a few things here. Until then, I want a chance to get to know you. Would you like that?"
I nodded while sniffling.
"I want you to program my number into your phone."
I added Raymond's contact information to my cell phone
"Now, you call me whenever you want. I don't care what time it is. If you need me, you call. Understand?"
I nodded.
Dr. O'Neill said, "That's a good start for both of you. Take it slow and get to know each other. It's difficult to receive life-altering information, but you have a starting point."
Raymond and I nodded. Since we had lost twenty-one years, we had to learn about each other now. We spoke for a little more before ending the Zoom call. I sat at my kitchen table and tried the number Raymond gave me.
His deep voice answered the phone. "Hello?"
"It's Eden. I was trying out your number to ensure it was correct."
Raymond chuckled. "It's correct, baby girl. Now that I have your number, I can save it in my phone."
"Is this weird?"
"It's a little weird, but it doesn't matter. Hang in there, Eden. Give me a little time to sort some things."
"Okay."
"I'll call you tomorrow, and we'll talk. Sound good?"
"That sounds great."
Raymond wished me a good night before ending the call. I set my phone on the table and laughed, tears streaming down my face. Everything was surreal.
*******
Aiden
I didn't want to leave Eden alone while she talked to her biological dad. Who knows how he would treat her? I didn't have much faith in her family since I witnessed how they treated people firsthand.
I paced the living room while Diego and Marissa watched me. It was the only thing keeping me calm at the moment. Diego opened his mouth, but I gave him a look that said don't. Nothing he or anyone else could say could tamper with my nerves.
If I could protect Eden from people hurting her, I would. She didn't deserve it. She was an innocent bystander who got dragged into a large mess.
Eventually, I heard a knock at the apartment door and flung it open to find Eden with a mixture of emotions on her face. I didn't hesitate to embrace her in my arms. She wrapped her arms around my torso and buried her face into my chest.
I held Eden while she stayed silent. She needed this comfort from the shit show currently happening in her life. How she didn't break was beyond me. I pulled back slightly with my arm wrapped around her shoulders and guided her inside before closing the door. I led her to the couch and sat beside her.
"Are you okay?" Marissa asked as worry clouded her tone.
"I'm glad to find out the truth, but I'm not happy that my mom lied to me," Eden sighed.
"What are you going to do?" Diego asked.
"I want to confront her, but Raymond suggested I wait."
"Why would Raymond want you to wait?" I asked.
"He mentioned he had to sort some things. He didn't say what they were." Eden shrugged.
Why would a guy who Eden barely knows give her the bare minimum information? Was he hiding something?"
"I know that look," Diego said, waving his finger at me.
"What look?" I asked.
"The one that says I don't believe a word from a stranger."
"Can you blame me?" I raised my brow.
"No, but Uncle Elias wouldn't let a stranger around our cousins if he was suspicious of the person." Diego had a point.
Uncle Elias was ultra-protective of our cousins. We noticed that at Thanksgiving. They wouldn't tell us when we asked our dads and grandpa about it. But then again, we didn't press the issue.
"Newfoundland daddies aside, what are we doing about that bitch who keeps causing Eden problems?" Diego asked.
"Nothing yet until the cousins come home." I shrugged.
"Moody cousin say what?"
"Tino offered to help us. If he's on board, so are the cousins."
Diego released a low whistle. "Mia had better run."
"Why?" Eden asked.
"Tino and the others take no prisoners when dealing with trolls."
"What do you mean?" Eden knitted brows in concern.
"Tino had an issue with this troll at school. The troll disappeared before the holidays. No one knows what happened to her," I said.
"Did your cousin do something to her?" Eden gave me a sideways glance.
"Beats me." I shrugged. "But it's better than dealing with the stupid troll. She was a pain in the ass and couldn't take a hint."
"Was she an ex?"
"Oh, God, no. I wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole. Tino, on the other hand, did."
"Hey, in our defense, we warned Tino not to play with skanky toys. He didn't listen." Diego shrugged.
Eden's eyes widened at our frankness. What? Did she think I was lying about my history with girls? I dated one other girl besides Eden. And we know how that turned out. Why the hell would I get wrapped up with someone like Trina? No, thank you.
*******
Eden
You learn something new every day. I learned Aiden and Diego have standards for girls. It amazes me that they do since they're both hot. Not even Wayne could hold a candle to Aiden or Diego in appearance.
What is the problem with people who have the last name Harper? Did God bless them with excellent genes when he created them? Not one single person in their family was ugly. And yet, they didn't act conceited.
I stared at Aiden and scratched my head with my elbow resting on the back of the couch, trying to figure out how he was hot and humble.
"What?" Aiden asked.
"How are you hot and humble? Did God say, 'I'll make you hot and skip the conceited part?'"
Aiden chuckled. "Blame it on our great-grandfather. Grandpa Matt stressed we were no better than anyone else."
"It amazes me that your grandfather thinks that, considering Mia thinks she's hotter than a baked potato."
"Your sister thinks highly of herself, doesn't she?"
"It would amaze you what Mia thinks."
"Trust me. It doesn't. She didn't impress me when she bumped into me the first time. Your idiot sister forgets people remember rude behavior. Batting your eyelashes won't save your ass when you're rude."
"Would batting my eyelashes get me a movie night with junk food?"
"Batting your eyelashes will get you whatever you want," Aiden smirked.
Note to self. Bat my eyelashes more often around Aiden. It might get me a year's supply of free coffee.