Bound By His Daughter

CHAPTER 2

Present.

Jules walked to the room next to hers and pushed the door, it was like her little girl knew she wascoming.

"Momma." she was up in her cot smiling at Jules as she walked in. Her little arms were stretched out toher.

Jules’ heart leapt for joy every time her little Munchkin called her that. She had started speaking a fewweeks ago and 'Momma' was the first word that came out of her mouth, the rest were words she pickedup from anyone and everyone. Jules was shocked at first but her heart bubbled with happiness, shewas a proud Momma.

Walking towards her cot she picked her up.

"Happy Birthday, Ivy" Jules said to her, smiling "You turn one today."novelbin

Ivy giggled like she understood what Jules said. She was the perfect child and she couldn’t havewished for a better baby than her little Ivy. Ivy was the most beautiful little baby and she was smarterthan other babies her age.

Jules wondered how her biological parents could have given her up like they did. It was beyond her.But that's all in the past. Now, Ivy belonged to her and her love for her grew every single day and shewouldn't stop loving her because she was just so darn cute and lovable. The dimple on her left cheek,probably hereditary, only made her look even more so.

Today was her day and she was going to make it special for her because it was Ivy’s first birthday withher. She couldn’t wait.

Speaking of waiting, Ceaser wondered what was taking Daniel Smith so long. Bea's lawyer had askedto see him today and he was running late. Since Claire - his assistant – had given him his today’sschedule, he had wondered why Daniel wanted to meet him today of all days. He had expected him tocall a month ago when he became a widower but he didn't.

Why now?

He wondered.

"Sir, Mr. Smith has arrived." His assistant's voice blared out of the intercom.

"Let him in Claire.” He said.

His office door opened after a moment, Claire stepped in and Daniel followed behind. Jack was ayoung and successful lawyer who handled most of Bea’s family’s legal cases. Ceaser stood up asDaniel made his way towards his desk.

“Sorry I’m late.” Daniel began “My last client got me tied up.”

Ceaser stretched his hand out giving Daniel’s a firm shake.

"Please have a seat." Ceaser gestured to one of the seats in front of his desk “Would you like myassistant to get you something to drink?” Taking his own seat after Daniel was seated.

“No, I’m alright. Thank you.” He said.

Ceaser looked at Claire who stood near the door and he gave her a nod which she understood. Sheleft the office giving them privacy.

"Thank you for taking the time to see me.” Daniel began “I know you might be wondering why I askedto see you."

"That I am.” Ceaser replied.

"Well it is very important." Daniel stated the obvious.

"Why today?" He asked.

"That is what you’re about to find out." Daniel said opening his briefcase and he pulled out a brownenvelope.

He looked at Ceaser while adjusting his glasses. "Your late wife Mrs. Beatrice Thompson specificallytold me to give this to you on this particular day. She said I wasn't supposed to give you a day earlier orlater."

Ceaser wondered why as his brows furrowed. He reached out to take the envelope from Daniel andstudied the envelope in his hand. It weighed next to nothing, he thought, but he could feel the weight ofwhatever was inside in his chest.

"You don't happen to know why?" Ceaser asked.

"Not a clue. My job is to deliver and not find out.”

Ceaser nodded.

"I'll take my leave then" Daniel said as picked up his briefcase and got up.

Ceaser got up as well and shook his hand. "Thank you, Daniel."

"Just doing my job Mr. Thompson." He said then left.

After Daniel left his office, his gaze shifted from the closed door to the envelope on his desk. He satdown after a moment of staring at the envelope and beeped Claire telling her he didn’t want to bedisturbed for a while.

He finally picked up the envelope and tore it open. Whatever was inside would satisfy his curiosity, buthe was nervous at what he might find inside. Knowing Bea as well as he did, she could drop a bomband smile seconds after it had gone off like nothing happened.

He emptied the envelope and a piece of neatly folded paper fell onto his desk. Nothing more. The whitepaper laying there on his desk threatened to go off in seconds. He picked it up and slowly unfolded thepaper.

It was now or never.

He thought.

He sighed when he noticed Bea's writing on the paper, his chest tightening as he began reading herwords carefully.

Dear Ceaser,

If you're reading this letter then I'm no longer with you. Even though there was no love in our marriage Istill cared about you. You know that, right?

Yeah, you had a really weird way of showing it. Ceaser thought.

I'm very sorry for what you're about to find out. But know that it is the truth and I kept it away from youfor selfish reasons and couldn’t find the courage to tell you when I knew I wasn’t going to make itthrough.

A month before I left, I found out that I was pregnant. I didn't know how to tell you or what your reactionwould be so I decided to leave.

Ceaser’s eyes widened at this revelation and he continued reading to find out what the heck thiswoman was thinking.

You could have simply said ‘Ceaser we're having a baby.’

Ceaser thought.

I wasn’t ready for a child and I didn't know if you wanted one either...

He didn’t but when is there ever a right time for a child. He thought. He would have accepted it andthey would have figured it out together.

...or if you were ready for one. So, I lied and ran away, like I always do. I couldn’t bring myself to get ridof it so I carried the child and went into hiding. I didn’t want anyone finding out especially the press.

I finally gave birth to a baby girl, at least that’s what I was told. I didn’t get the chance to see herbecause I’d told the nurses to take her away immediately. I honestly don’t know what happened to meafterwards. I planned on coming back to you after I had lost my post-baby weight but I went off therails. My therapist said my reason for getting drunk and doing drugs was guilt from giving up our child.Maybe she was right.

The drinking and the drugs had a way of making me forget it and it became my comfort for a year and ahalf; before you found me.

I've kept this dark secret since then and I knew I'd have to tell you someday. And now that I know Iwouldn’t make it; I realize now that I was a coward for not telling you as soon as you found me.

Ceaser’s sight became blurry as he teared up.

I decided to write a letter to you instead of telling you because I didn't want to spend my last days withyou hating me. We have a child Ceaser, and she's out there, somewhere. I told Jack to give this letter

to you today because it’s her birthday.

I hope you can forgive me for not telling you sooner, I wish now that I had. We could've been with hertogether. I'm sorry. I'm really very sorry. I hope you can forgive me Ceaser. Please...

-Bea.

A tear dropped on the white paper as Ceaser stared down at the letter in shock. No! Shock was anunder-understatement. This was the bomb he had expected and it just went off in his head.

How the heck could she do this to him, to their child...to them? The unanswerable questions began.

How could she? He asked no one in particular.