Summer on Blossom Street (Blossom Street #6)(25)

He shook his head, and there was a brief silence. “I asked the neighbor a few more questions,” he said a moment later, “and found out that Dolores had custody of a little girl—Candy’s daughter. When I inquired about the child, the neighbor told me Ellen was eight when her grandmother died.”

“She’s nine now.”

Tim looked directly into her eyes. “It was almost ten years ago that Candy and I lived together. We…didn’t use any form of birth control. It hit me that there’s a possibility Ellen might be my daughter.”

This was what Anne Marie had feared he was about to say. She was ending his visit right now.

“You’re mistaken, Mr. Carlsen. Ellen couldn’t possibly be your daughter,” Anne Marie insisted. “Ellen is my child, and I have the paperwork to prove it.” Bolting to her feet once again, she planted her hands on the edge of her desk. “I think you should leave.”

“No.” Tim didn’t move and his dark eyes burned into hers. “I understand this comes as a shock and I apologize for that. All I’m asking for is the truth. I want to know if I’m Ellen’s father. I don’t feel that’s an unreasonable request.”

“Unfortunately, it is unreasonable. Ellen has been adopted by me. As I just explained, Ellen is my child.”

“When you adopted her did you receive parental consent?”

Anne Marie felt she owed him nothing more than the bare facts. “Your name isn’t on the birth certif icate and the state had no way of contacting you, even if it does turn out that you’re Ellen’s biological father.”

Tim’s features tightened. “I haven’t stopped thinking about her from the moment I heard Candy had a baby.” He ran his hand through his hair. “What you don’t know is that after we split and I was in rehab, Candy twice attempted to contact me.”

“Yes, but—”

“I never read her letter or returned her phone call,” he said, interrupting her. “As far as I was concerned, she was bad news and involved in a life I no longer wanted to live. It’s stupid of me, I guess, but it never occurred to me that she might be pregnant.”

Anne Marie spoke slowly, trying to ensure that everything was clear. “Candy Falk rescinded all parental rights. Nothing can be done to change this. It’s over and done with.”

“I realize that.”

“Good. Then you also realize that you have no rights whatsoever with regard to Ellen.”

“I do have rights.” He obviously wasn’t willing to back down and glared at her unflinchingly. “If Ellen’s my child, and I have every reason to believe she is, then I want to know her. She has a right to know me, too.”

Anne Marie shook her head. “Whether Ellen is your biological daughter or not isn’t the issue. Ellen has another family now.”

“Another father?”

Anne Marie hesitated.

“Are you married?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“I disagree. It’s very much my business. Perhaps I should speak with your husband,” Tim said. He seemed to think he was calling her bluff or, worse, that he’d be able to reason with another man. Either way, his suggestion infuriated her.

Anne Marie paused, unwilling to admit that she was widowed. She saw that he’d noticed her silence and hurriedly added, “I’m sorry, that’s impossible just now.”

“I have no intention of taking Ellen away from you.”

She nearly laughed out loud. “I’d like to see you try. As I keep telling you, Ellen is my child now, my daughter. Whether or not she’s related to you is beside the point.”

“Perhaps it is to you. However, to me, it’s vital. If I’m Ellen’s biological father, I should at least have the opportunity to meet my own daughter.”

“It’s too late for that,” Anne Marie said, refusing to bend.

“I never knew Candy was pregnant,” he told her again. “I might’ve been a lot of things over the years, but at no time would I have abandoned my own f lesh and blood.”

“That’s very noble of you, Mr. Carlsen, but as I said, it’s too late. I’m sure there’s something in the AA rules that will help you sort it all out. My advice is to let go of this. Ellen’s happy. She has a good life with me.”

“Not with your husband?” he pressed.

“My husband…”

Tim’s eyes narrowed and she could tell he already knew she was widowed. His earlier remarks had been a bluff of his own. Continuing the pretense would be senseless.

“I’m Ellen’s family now,” Anne Marie said, sidestepping the question. She was finished with this conversation. “I believe it’s time you left, Mr. Carlsen, otherwise I’ll have to call the authorities.”

Tim slowly stood. “I didn’t want to get an attorney involved, but I will if I have to.”

“You do that.”

Tim waited a moment, as if undecided what to do next. After several seconds, he said, “Thank you for seeing me.”

Arms folded, Anne Marie nodded abruptly.

Tim walked out of the off ice, and Anne Marie sat down again, so shaken that she started to tremble.

A few minutes later, Teresa stepped into the off ice. “Is everything okay?” she asked. Anne Marie managed a wobbly smile. “Not really…”