He walked to me and took both of my hands into his own. I tried to pull away but he applied just enough pressure to prevent that. He adamantly denied, “I didn't know. If I had known, I would have come for you. I swear to you I didn't know.”
Tears ran down my face, but I just didn't have the energy to wipe them away.
“How did you find me?”
“Your application. It was your art that drew my attention first. It was so inspired but there was so much of me in it that I was intrigued. When I saw your picture, I looked into my own eyes and saw Hunter in your face. I couldn't believe it and then I saw your mom's name. Dylan, like Larkspur, is an unusual name and one I remembered. We can have the test done to confirm it, but I don’t question for a minute that you are my daughter. I can't even tell you what I felt knowing I had a child who was already a young woman.”
Tears filled his eyes as he continued. “You earned the scholarship, Lark, but I added the mentoring so you would come here and meet us. I didn't want to push you, I didn't want to show up so late in the game and demand to be a part of your life, but you're my daughter and I had to know you even if it was only as your teacher.”
“And my mother?”
“It was one night, we were both young and hurting in different ways and we each sought solace in the other. After, I always wondered what happened to her, and if I had known that our night together had resulted in a child, I would have come for you, I would have fought for you, but I didn't know.”
“I think I need to sit down,” I said. Bastian pulled out a chair for me as Logan led me over to it.
“I don't advocate alcohol to minors but I think Lark here could use a few fingers of scotch.”
“Yes, I could.”
Broderick poured my drink and placed the glass on the table in front of me. “So that makes you my uncle.”
He touched my shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. “Yes, and you have no idea how hard it was to keep Logan, hell all of us, from coming for you after learning you existed.” It was like he was speaking the magic words—in the place of hurt the knowledge of a family of my very own took root and warmed me.
Bastian walked over to stand behind me and though he said nothing, I felt immensely comforted. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood when he said, “Well, that explains our very welcoming welcome when we first arrived.”
A reluctant grin tugged at Logan's mouth. “I tried to keep my brothers away but they wouldn't hear of it. And my parents, when they learned they had a granddaughter, well they've been crawling travel sites to book the trip to see you.”
“A trip?” I asked. My eyes met his.
“They live in Scotland but they're coming here to meet you.” He fell silent for a minute. “When did you figure it out, Lark?”
“Almost immediately.”
“Why didn't you say anything?” He asked.
“Why didn't you?”
“Fear of you rejecting me.” The simplicity of his reply only made it all the more powerful.
Emotion moved up my throat to choke me so I reached for my glass and took a sip. I felt it burn all the way down my throat. “This is awful.”
That comment earned me a hurtful expression from both Logan and Broderick.
“What did I say?”
Saffron said, “That's MacGowan scotch, the family label.” She laughed.
Bastian exhaled on a laugh. He threaded his fingers through his hair and shook his head in disbelief. “The MacGowan?”
“Yes.”
“Holy shit.” Bastian started to pace. I was feeling slightly giddy from the alcohol. “He's like a panther when he does that: so damn sexy.” Whoops. That was out loud.
Bastian looked both turned on and embarrassed. “The alcohol is already going to your head.”
“Yeah.”
“I should put her to bed.”
I played with my glass. “There's clearly more we have to discuss, but I'm on overload. I need time to let it all sink in and I need sleep.” I started to rise as a thought popped into my head and brought a smile.
“Hunter's my brother.” I looked up at Bastian because I was fairly stunned by that realization, but there was more. “I have a brother...” I looked at Saffron, “Maybe two brothers or a sister. I have uncles, grandparents and a dad.” A pang of nostalgia moved through me because David Cambre really was my dad. My feet moved me across the floor before I wrapped my arms around Logan's waist. When his strong arms pulled me close, I sighed happily.
“Thanks for finding me, Dad.”
In response, Logan David MacGowan, the finest artist of our time, broke down and cried.
***
That night I woke in the middle of the night and sleep wouldn't return. After a while, Bastian stirred and switched on the lamp which spilled soft light into the room. “How are you doing?”
I turned more fully on my side. “I'm really good, happy even.” I touched his face, ran my fingers down his chest over his abs, then I sat up and folded my legs under me. “He didn't know, and I believe him, if for no other reason than the obvious trouble he and his family went to get me here. In his shoes, I don't know how I would have handled it. I can only hope I would have handled it as well as he did. And I really do believe he wants to be part of my life.”
Bastian leaned up on his elbow as his other hand cradled my cheek. “Yes, Lark, he wants you in his life; there's no question about that.”
“I have a dad, Bastian.”
“You have more than that. You really do have a guardian angel.”
“What do you mean?”
“The MacGowan franchise is huge. They have their fingers into everything. How much do you want to bet that it really is your dad behind the well-aimed and completely justified hits against my parents?”
Happiness burned through me to know that my dad had been watching out for me. Even from a distance, he had my back. “I bet you're right. If we had known him then, it would have made watching him maneuver your parents even more enjoyable.”
“Agreed.” He pulled me down before pinning me under him as his lips brushed over mine. “So I'm like a panther, huh?”
“You've the sexiest swagger. I love watching you move.”
His eyes burned hot when his mouth came down on mine.
***
The phone ringing early the next morning was a pretty good clue that Logan hadn't slept well the night before either. When I took the phone from Bastian, my hand shook a little from nerves. As soon as I heard Logan's voice over the line, I could tell he was nervous too.
“How are you feeling this morning?”
I knew that wasn't what he really wanted to know, so I answered his unspoken question. “I'm not mad. In fact I think you handled it as well as it could have been handled. You didn't know about me and when you did, you made every effort and then some to get to know me. I genuinely like you and Saffron and your life here and I'm really happy you want to include me.”
I heard him exhale in relief. “I was worried that maybe I pushed you away with not being up front with who I was to you. I want you in my life however you'll have me.”
“I've been wishing for a dad my whole life, so I'd like all of you, if that's all right. I don't want just a greeting card or occasional visit kind of thing. I'd like to get to know Saffron, my siblings, my uncles and my grandparents, but mostly I want to get to know you.”
“I really want that too.”
“Okay, Bastian and I are going to Columbia in the fall and I have friends and family I don't want to neglect at home, but nothing is set in stone so we'll just have to figure it out.”
“I'd like that, and Lark, about Bastian…”
I felt my entire body tense. I knew they all got along, but as much as I wanted my dad in my life, I wanted Bastian more.
“I like him. He really understands you.”
I practically sagged in relief. “Are you giving me your blessing?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”