Chapter Thirty-seven
Karlie squatted on the living room of her mother’s three-bedroom colonial home in Hempstead where she had arranged to have the results delivered by messenger. Neil and Myra wanted to be there with her, but she needed to be with her Mom. Tiffany was gone, but Karlie had good memories in this home. It was where she had had her first kiss and one of the best holidays ever.
She wrapped herself in the Karlie blanket, a gift from Thomas Knightly, the man she had grown up thinking was her father. She had a framed picture of her mother’s final live performance in her lap.
She picked up the picture frame and outlined her mother’s face. How she wished she could hear Tiffany’s voice. “Mom, we’re going to learn the truth once and for all.”
Karlie opened the envelope. She read the letter and dropped her head. She knew it. Somewhere deep down inside of her, she knew Ryan was her father.
A sharp pain hit her midsection, and Karlie clutched her stomach. “Ryan’s my father. God, why? Why him?”
Karlie rocked back and forth but did not cry. She did not know how to feel.
Her cell buzzed. She didn’t have to check the caller ID. Brian had learned the results as well. She wondered if Ryan would call.
The wimp probably wouldn’t.
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Slowly, Karlie drifted to the door.
Brian’s hand reached out to pull her to him. Karlie collapsed against him like a ragdoll, afraid her legs would betray her. “I came as soon as I heard the results. Neil told me you were here.”
Karlie nodded against his chest. “I’m glad you came.”
Brian led her by the hand to the couch. He stretched out with his feet hanging off the ends of the couch and pulled Karlie to lie beside him.
Then the tears came.
Her body shook with tremors as pain wracked her. She wept until every last ounce of pain was out of her system. When her tears subsided, Karlie felt cleansed. Brian excused himself to fetch her some tissues from his truck. He returned and wiped her face.
“Thank you.” Karlie blew her nose. “Bro.” She smiled. “It doesn’t sound right yet.”
Brian wondered if it ever would. “I’m going to make my dad pay for doing this to you. To us.”
His words sliced through her foggy brain. Romans 12:17 sprang into her mind: “Recompense no man evil for evil . . .” She knew she couldn’t encourage Brian’s plan. Karlie shook her head. She adjusted herself on the couch until they faced each other. “I’m angry too. Believe me. But it’s not either one of our jobs to make Ryan pay.”
“Yes, it is,” Brian countered.
“I don’t need you to fight for me,” Karlie said. “I’ve got God on my side.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to forgive him.”
“I. Have. To.”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand you, Karlie. My father does the most despicable thing a man could do, and you’re willing to let bygones be bygones just like that.” He snapped his fingers.
“If only it were that easy,” she said with a sad smile. “I’ve had weeks to prepare for this, but from the time Ryan dropped the news, I knew.” Karlie reached over to touch his cheek briefly. “You knew too. You might not want to admit it, but you knew.”
“I didn’t want to be right, Karlie,” he whispered.
“Neither did I,” she said. “Brian, you were there for me when I found out about Jamaal’s betrayal. I’ve never cried so hard in my life. But a part of me was crying because I was relieved. Relieved he’d moved on . . . because someone had already captured my heart.”
His eyes widened. “Are you saying . . .” Hope glowed in his eyes, and he moved closer.
Karlie allowed the longing to surface from her heart to her face so he could see the emotions she kept banked. Then she blinked, closing the window to her soul. “This moment is the closest thing to a truth you’ll ever get from me.” Karlie placed a hand over Brian’s lips. “Whatever I think I feel ends tonight. When God told me I was ready, I thought it was for me. But it wasn’t until I saw your face when I opened the door that I understood what He meant.”
“I’m lost,” he said, shaking his head.
“I had to be ready to help you.”
He creased his forehead. “What are you saying? Help me do what?”
“Help you forgive by forgiving,” Karlie said.
“I will never forgive that man,” Brian said. “I moved back home to dig and search for evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“My father has a court case, and I’m going to help his opponent win. I’ve been searching his computer files, but so far I haven’t found anything. I’m not giving up, though.”
“You need to abandon your revenge scheme,” Karlie said. “It’s not worth it. Ryan’s your—our blood. He’s our father. I might not like what he’s done, but I don’t want to see anything bad happen to him.”
“You’d rather see it happen to us?”
“No, I don’t,” Karlie said. “But I don’t want you to do anything. If you care for me, I’m begging you not to do this.”
“How can you ask that of me?” Brian asked. “Your request is a devious manipulation of my feelings.”
Karlie nodded. “You’re right. I need you to promise me you’ll let this go.” She gulped. “I have. I’ve been to see a psychologist, and I’ve been talking with my dad.”
“I have no one but you to talk to.”
“That’s not true,” Karlie said. “You have God. He is the Father of all fathers, and He wants to claim you as His son.”
Brian chuckled. “Only you would use my most devastating moment to preach to me.”
Karlie went to the mantle to retrieve her mother’s Bible. Sitting next to him, she began to preach Christ. “You’ve been a churchgoer. However, it’s time you meet the Savior.”
“I want Him,” Brian said. “I want the God who made you who you are.”
Karlie nodded. “This was what God wanted all along for you, Brian. He’s the reason I’m in your life. He brought us together for this purpose and at this time.”
Brian closed his eyes. “I don’t want to feel this hatred and this pain any longer.”
Karlie slipped to her knees. “Tonight, I’ll take you somewhere you’ve never been with any other woman. I guarantee no woman has ever taken you this high.” She took his hand in hers. “I’ll take you to meet the King.”