Chapter 2: Eighteen Years of Being Daddy
Malcolm remembered the first time Kiara called him Daddy.
It had happened in a grocery store.
She was six years old, wearing pink sneakers with one broken strap, holding a box of cereal against her chest.
Celeste had been pushing the shopping cart while Malcolm compared prices on two brands of orange juice.
Kiara suddenly tugged at his shirt.
"Daddy?""
He turned.
"Yeah, sweetheart?""
She pointed at a bag of cookies on the top shelf.
"Can we get those?""
He smiled.
"Only if you promise to share.""
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Promise!""
He reached for the cookies.
Celeste watched from the cart, smiling.
Neither of them corrected her.
At the time, Malcolm didn't think much of it. He had married Celeste knowing she had a daughter from a previous relationship. He knew the biological father, Darius Coleman, had been inconsistent.
Sometimes Darius called.
Sometimes he disappeared for months.
Sometimes he promised to visit and never showed up.
Malcolm hadn't married Celeste expecting to replace anybody.
He had simply fallen in love with a woman who came with a little girl.
And he had decided that little girl deserved stability.
Years passed.
Malcolm attended school meetings, paid for dance classes, bought winter coats, and sat through elementary school performances where Kiara occasionally forgot her lines.
When she was thirteen, he drove through a thunderstorm to pick her up from a friend's house because she was afraid to walk home.
When she was sixteen, he worked overtime to help pay for a summer program she wanted to attend.
When she turned eighteen, he bought her a used Honda Accord.
He still remembered her reaction.
She had run around the car, screaming.
"Daddy! You didn't!""
"I did," he'd laughed.
She threw her arms around him.
"You're the best dad ever!""
Those words had stayed with him longer than the sound of the engine.
Now, standing in the hotel suite, he wondered whether she had meant them.
Or whether he had simply been useful.
"Malcolm.""
Celeste's voice pulled him back into the present.
He turned.
She had closed the bedroom door behind her. Kiara was still in the adjoining dressing area.
"Can we talk privately?"" Celeste asked.
"About what?""
"About this situation.""
He gave a short, humorless laugh.
"What situation?""
"Don't do that.""
"Do what?""
"Act like you don't understand. Kiara is under pressure. She's getting married in a few hours.""
Malcolm looked at her.
"And I'm under what kind of pressure?""
Celeste rubbed her forehead.
"She wants her biological father to walk her down the aisle. That doesn't erase what you've done.""
"Then why did you tell me to know my place?""
Celeste looked away.
"I was trying to protect her feelings.""
"From me?""
"From an argument.""
Malcolm nodded slowly.
"So you heard her disrespect me, and you decided the best solution was to disrespect me too.""
"That's not fair.""
"What's not fair is that you watched me raise her, then stood beside her when she told me I wasn't family.""
Celeste lowered her voice.
"Her father is coming today.""
Malcolm's eyes narrowed.
"Her father?""
"Darius.""
"He's coming to the wedding?""
"Yes.""
"When did you find out?""
"Last week.""
Malcolm stared at her.
"Last week?""
Celeste nodded.
"Kiara reached out to him. They talked. He said he wants to make things right.""
Malcolm looked toward the closed door.
"Interesting.""
"What?""
"She found time to reconnect with him last week, but nobody found time to tell the man paying for the wedding.""
Celeste crossed her arms.
"Don't make this about money.""
"Then let's remove the money from the conversation.""
He gestured toward the estimate.
"Would you like to explain why that paperwork was waiting for my signature?""
Celeste didn't answer.
"Would you like to explain why the note says Dad's approval needed?""
"Because you offered to help!""
"I offered to help my daughter.""
"She is your daughter!""
Malcolm looked at her.
"Is she?""
Celeste's expression changed.
For a second, she seemed to realize what she had said.
Then she recovered.
"Don't twist this.""
"I don't have to. You and Kiara have already made everything very clear.""
He walked toward the window.
Outside, Richmond was waking up beneath a bright November sky. Cars moved along Broad Street. People hurried past the hotel entrance carrying coffee cups and garment bags.
A wedding was supposed to be a celebration.
But Malcolm felt like a guest who had accidentally wandered into a room where everybody knew his secret except him.
Celeste stepped closer.
"Look, I know you're hurt.""
"Hurt isn't the word.""
"Then what is?""
"Embarrassed.""
She blinked.
"Embarrassed?""
"Yes. I spent eighteen years introducing that girl as my daughter. I defended her when people questioned our relationship. I paid for things because I wanted her to have opportunities I never had.""
He paused.
"And now I'm learning that my relationship with her has an expiration date.""
Celeste sighed.
"You're being emotional.""
Malcolm turned.
"Would you like me to be less emotional and more expensive?""
She stiffened.
"That's not what I meant.""
"Then tell me what you meant.""
The door opened before she could answer.
Kiara walked in, holding her phone.
Her wedding makeup was still perfect, but her expression had changed.
"Mom, Darius isn't answering.""
Malcolm looked at her.
"That's unfortunate.""
She ignored him.
"Mom, can you call him? He told me he'd be here early.""
Celeste glanced at Malcolm.
"Maybe he's driving.""
Kiara shook her head.
"He said he'd be here by ten.""
Malcolm checked his watch.
It was 10:17.
"Have you tried leaving him a message?"" he asked.
Kiara looked at him sharply.
"I don't need your advice.""
He nodded.
"Of course.""
Celeste took her daughter's phone.
"Let me call him.""
She stepped toward the hallway.
Kiara remained beside the table, looking at the estimate.
After a few seconds, she spoke.
"Are you really not paying?""
Malcolm studied her face.
"Is that the first thing you want to ask me?""
"Because the wedding is already planned!""
"I know. I've seen the invoices.""
"Then you know how much is still due.""
"Yes.""
Kiara swallowed.
"Grandma is coming. His family is coming. All my friends are coming. You can't just leave everything unfinished.""
Malcolm looked at the flower box.
"You were perfectly comfortable leaving me unfinished.""
Her eyes flashed.
"You're making me sound horrible.""
"I'm not making you sound like anything, Kiara.""
He paused.
"I'm just letting you speak for yourself.""
She looked away.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
*DARIUS: I'm on my way. We need to talk before the ceremony.*
Kiara's face brightened.
"He's coming.""
Malcolm nodded.
"Good.""
She looked at him as if she expected another reaction.
But he offered none.
Then another message appeared.
This time, it wasn't from Darius.
It was from the wedding coordinator.
*URGENT: Final reception payment must be confirmed by 11:30 a.m. to release ballroom setup.*
Kiara stared at the screen.
Her lips parted.
Malcolm noticed.
"What's wrong?""
She turned the phone toward her mother.
Celeste read the message.
Then both women looked at Malcolm.
And he finally understood why they were so desperate to make him reconsider.
May you like
It wasn't because they wanted him back in the family.
It was because the wedding was about to discover what happened when the family wallet closed.
