Prologue – Gen 3

Four Years Later……

Ages:  Twins 14, Taylor 16, Connie 4, Dannie and Cole 39

Cole watched Dannie making notes on her tablet, while they sipped their coffee in the unusual quiet of a Saturday morning. This was his favorite time of the week.

Their four year-old daughter, Connie (named by Reagan and Taylor, using a combination of Dannie and Cole’s names), was thankfully still sleeping.  She played hard and slept hard. After caring for two babies, even the rambunctious toddler was a piece of cake. Especially with two attentive parents and three older siblings keeping her entertained.

Ryan even tolerated her begging to play with him. He rough-housed with her and she would squeal with delight.

The girls preferred to read stories, dance or play with her dolls.  Dannie had been right, having Connie bonded them together in a way nothing else could’ve.

Of course the three teenagers would probably sleep until noon since it was Saturday and they had no pressing ‘social engagements’ that morning.  Once school started in two weeks, it would be go, go, go.  The twins would be Sophomores and Taylor a Junior, just a year ahead of them.

The last four years had been amazing. But Cole knew, it was time, past time really, to tell Taylor the truth about her parentage.  “Let’s do it now,” he said to Dannie.

Dannie looked up and smirked at him. ”Again? We just did….” she said, her eyes dancing.

Cole laughed. “Normally I would race you to the bedroom for round two, but that’s not what I meant,” he said. Then he sighed, “No, what I meant was, let’s tell the kids about Taylor.”

Dannie looked at him and he saw panic flicker across her face before she could mask it. She swallowed hard before she finally responded. “You’re right,” she said with resignation, “We should tell them.”

Her voice was pained and it hurt Cole. He knew she was worried Taylor might be upset, because not only had her mother been unfaithful, but she didn’t tell her the truth years ago. He felt she was overreacting and the news would be met with joy by all, not sadness. “Today then?” he asked gently.

“Okay, today,” she said softly, “I’m sorry for making you wait….”

“Don’t Dannie,” he said interrupting her, “this isn’t a blame game. Okay? I’m not upset, but we just need to do this. Rip off that band aid.”

Dannie gave Cole a sad smile. “Thanks. So we probably should tell them separately.”

“Tell us what separately?” asked Taylor as she stretched and yawned, still in her pajamas.

“Honey. You’re up early,” said Dannie brightly, pretending they hadn’t just been talking about her.

“I smelled the coffee,” said the very grown up 16 year-old and smiled, “so…..what are you going to tell us?” She narrowed her eyes before she continued. “Are you guys finally getting married? We don’t need to hear that separately.”

Cole and Dannie exchanged a knowing glance. They hadn’t gotten married because of the name thing. Not like Cole hadn’t asked. He did, and was shocked when she’d turned him down. Dannie didn’t want Taylor to be the only one in their family with a different name. Another reason to tell her, at least in his opinion.

“No,” replied Dannie with a sad smile, “It’s not that.” She looked nervously at Cole before saying more.

Cole jumped in, rescuing her, “Taylor, what we need to discuss is just as important. Why don’t you grab some coffee and we’ll go into your Mom’s office so we can have some privacy.”

“Daddy Coooole,” said Taylor rolling her eyes and pointing at herself, “I really don’t need a birds and the bees talk.”

Cole snorted a laugh. “Scoot,” was all he said.  Taylor had been calling him Daddy Cole, sometimes shortened to DC, since she and Dannie moved in with him and the twins. It was hard to believe six years had passed since he found out she was his daughter. His heart started to beat double time in his chest and he began to get emotional. She would finally know the truth.

The three of them made their way into the study where Dannie spent her days writing.  He was glad she wrote under a pen name so the kids wouldn’t get teased at school. It was their ‘dirty little secret’ and he loved it.

Once seated, Dannie looked at Cole for guidance. They hadn’t discussed exactly what they would say ahead of time. He knew she was probably more nervous than him.  “I’ll start,” he offered.

“No,” she said quickly, and took a deep breath, “I need to do this.”

Taylor was looking back and forth between them frowning now with worry. “Mom…if you’re pregnant again, that’s okay.”

Dannie smiled at her daughter. “Honey. I’m not. Thank god! Another one like Connie would be the death of me.”  Dannie’s smile faded as she continued. “But it does have to do with babies, sort of,” she said, then took a shaky breath, “You see, the reason Ryker gave up his rights to you, well, it’s because he isn’t your biological father.”

“Good,” said Taylor bitterly and rolled her eyes. The she frowned as it dawned on her what that really meant and her eyes got wide. “MOM!!! You were having an affair?”

Dannie sucked in a breath. “No, no. Ryker and I hadn’t been happy for a long time before you were conceived. But I wasn’t having an affair. You see, I thought a baby would help fix our troubled marriage, so we agreed to begin trying to get pregnant. A month after that decision, we had a huge fight because I had to go out of town. He didn’t want me to go alone, but didn’t want to go with me.  I defied him and he was very angry.  I was feeling sad and lonely and while away, I made some bad choices. But, until you were born, I was pretty sure you were Ryker’s child. And honestly baby, now, I’m glad you aren’t. He didn’t know you weren’t his until after the divorce.  And Taylor, you are not why we divorced.”

Taylor’s bottom lip began to quiver as she took in everything and tried to make sense of what it meant to her. After a minute she spoke as a fat tear rolled down her cheek. “Mom, I don’t want another father, I have one,” she said softly, then looked at Cole, “Daddy Cole is the only father I need.”

Cole immediately relaxed, his frown became a smile as his heart filled with joy and love for his daughter. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and make her sadness disappear. But instead he stayed put next to Dannie.  He spoke up before either of them could say more. “Taylor, I’m still your father…” he paused and looked at Dannie for affirmation to continue. Her barely perceptible nod was all it took. “In fact sweetheart, I’m your real father. And not just because I love you, and you know I do, but sweetheart, you are my biological child.”

Taylor appeared confused as she processed the information looking back and forth between the two of them. He grabbed Dannie’s hand to give them both comfort and strength to answer her questions.

Taylor suddenly began to cry hysterically and lashed out. “Why didn’t you tell me before? I went all this time wishing you were my real dad and Reagan and Ryan were my real brother and sister.” She stopped and swiped at her face as more of what they said sunk in. “Wait, have you guys been having an affair all these years? Mom, is that why my Dad…uh Ryker…left you?”

Dannie closed her eyes for a minute before responding. “No,” she said firmly, “We weren’t. Cole and I have been close friends since high school, but we were lovers for only one night. A night when we were both badly hurting and needed the comfort of each other’s arms. It was a moment of weakness and opportunity. And you were the result. Just one night baby. I tried to make it work with Ryker after that, because by the time I realized you weren’t his, Cole was married, so I let Ryker believe you were his.” Dannie was crying hard now. “I’m sorry sweetie. That was so wrong of me.”

“Then, why did you divorce Dad…I mean Ryker?” asked Taylor frowning.

“I told you, we weren’t happy baby, probably never were,” said Dannie.

Taylor was quiet for a minute, her sobbing having momentarily subsided, simply taking it all in. Then she looked at her mother and said something that surprised them both. “Mom, please, don’t cry anymore. I think, maybe I understand.” Then she looked at Cole and smiled, melting his heart. “So Daddy Cole, can I just call you Daddy now?”

Cole could see Dannie visibly relax, as he did the same. A warm feeling rushed through him at the love and hope in Taylor’s big blue eyes. He couldn’t help the smile that split his face and the tears that welled in his own eyes. “You can sweetheart,” he said thickly, his emotions getting the better of him.

Taylor got up and went to Cole.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. “I love you Daddy,” she said in choked whispers, “I’m glad you are my father.”

Cole looked over at Dannie. She was smiling and crying at the same time. “I love you too Taylor, more than you’ll ever know,” he said while he held his daughter in his arms.

Finally he released her. “We’ve given you a lot to think about. So why don’t you grab breakfast and we’ll get the twins in here and tell them. Then we can talk as a family.”

“Okay,” she said then looked at her mother, “But Mom, really? Why did ya’ll wait? Is there anything else I should know?”

“Bad decision maybe?” replied Dannie sheepishly, “Its complicated, but we can talk more. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

“I guess,” she said.  Apparently satisfied with her mother’s answer, Taylor looked at both of them, talking as much to herself as to her parents. “My parents…not my mom and her boyfriend.  And Reagan and Ryan are my half brother and sister, I’m really related to all of ya’ll…And Connie, O.M.G! She’s my whole sister! Not half! That’s totes awesome!”  With that, she finally turned and headed out of the office.

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When Cole and Dannie assembled the twins, Ryan just leaned back like he wanted to get it over with, probably thinking he was in trouble again. But Reagan’s interest was piqued, much as Taylor’s had been.

“Why isn’t Taylor here?” asked Reagan suspiciously.

Teenage girls, always trying to second guess everything, thought Cole, at least Ryan is chill.

This time Cole did the talking since they were ‘his’ children.

When Cole finished his narrative, Ryan started to laugh. “So…” said Ryan with a smirk, “you two fucked while Dannie was still married? Cool.”

“Ryan Benjamin Murdock!” exclaimed Cole, shocked, angry and embarrassed that those words came out of his 14 year-old son’s mouth. Dannie was embarrassed as well. And poor Reagan, who usually just giggled at him, looked like she wanted to disappear into the cushions of the chair.

“Well, it’s true!” said Ryan, shrugging like it was no big deal.

“Ryan, apologize to everyone,” demanded Cole through gritted teeth. When Ryan just shrugged again, he added more forcefully “Now!”

“Fine. I’m sorry,” he said and theatrically rolled his eyes.

Apparently satisfied with his apology, Reagan spoke up softly. “Is she going to change her name?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” said Cole, “we haven’t discussed it.”

“Oh god, everyone will know!” exclaimed Reagan.

“Will know what sweetie?” asked Dannie.

“That you two,” she said with a grimace and waved her hands around, “you know! Had an affair!” She got up and ran out of the room crying.

Cole looked at Dannie.  “I’ll go talk to her, she was just embarrassed,” he said, more for Dannie’s benefit than anything because she looked like she was about to cry too. When he got up he addressed his son. “Ryan, I’ll deal with you later!”

“Yes sir,” he said, hanging his head, finally having the decency to look repentant and probably feeling awkward since he was left in the room alone with Dannie.

Go to Chapter 3.1 >>>>>>

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