On My Own: Book Three in the Who's Your Daddy series by Rhonda Marks Read Free Book Online Page B

you?”
    “You know I’ll be pulling for my team,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
    “That’s my girl.” He stood and turned to go.
    Before she could stop herse lf, she blurted out, “Every other weekend, alternating holidays, and part of the summer!”
    He smiled and gave her short nod of his head. “Thank you.” Then he was out the door, leaving her wondering what happened.

    Chapter Seven
    A smile the width of the Monongahela River spread across Dirk’s face as the waved to the crowd lining the parade route up Main Street. Kids ran along the sidewalk, keeping pace with the convertible he rode in with Caroline and her father. Man, it was good being home. Yeah, he’d forgotten about this part of living here. The people and the excitement they felt on game day. Home.
    It looked like every citizen of Devinne was out this evening. As long as he could remember, the band, majorettes and cheerleaders marched from the high school to the stadium, with everyone else taking up the rear. Then they’d file inside the stadium and cheer for the hometown team. The visitor’s side sometimes was a bit sparse, but never on the home side of the field. Devinne Stadium was the place to be on a Friday night during football season.
    “So, you finally returned home to the little people, huh Benedict?” The snide remark from Ty Jackson quickly deflated Dirk’s mood. He thought the man’s offer to allow Dirk to ride in his convertible was some kind of peace offering. Obviously not.
    “You of all people know why I haven’t been around, Jackson,” he responded. “This is not the time nor place for this.” He turned to find the film crew following closely behind their car, getting footage for the story.
    “Well, I’m just making conversation.”
    “No you’re not, Dad,” Caroline cut in. “You want to start an argument.”
    “So you’re taking his side, huh? After all your mother and I have done to help you in raising his child.”
    Keeping his voice low but deadly, Dirk leaned forward so only Caroline and her father could hear. “And she wouldn’t have had to do so if you hadn’t interfered and destroyed the letter I left for her.”
    “You weren’t good enough for my daughter, and you’re still not even with all your millions.”
    “Dad, stop it!” Caroline hissed.
    “I get it,” Ty responded. “He’s gotten to you and you’re gonna turn your back on us.”
    By now, despite their efforts to speak quietly, others gave them some strange looks and Dirk clamped his mouth closed. He didn’t want anyone to get a w hiff of any controversy, real or imagined. “We can hash this out some other time, okay.” He dipped his head in the direction of the film crew.
    “You’re damned right we’re not done.” With that, Ty returned his attention to the road and didn’t say a word for the rest of the trip. Caroline gave Dirk an I-don’t-know-what’s-happening look and settled back in her seat.
    What a way to dampen the mood. Dirk knew the man didn’t like him, but to actually say he wasn’t good enough for his daughter was a bit disconcerting. Yes, his family was not as well off as the Jacksons, or most other families in town as a matter of fact. They did the best they could considering his father’s physical disability. Mom worked two jobs most of the time to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Dad fought tirelessly for his VA benefits, appealing each time they issued a denial.
    Just thinking about how his father died at the beginning of his senior year in high school made his throat tighten. And for his dear, sweet mother to pass just two months before graduation almost put him over the proverbial cliff.
    Maybe it was the culmination of everything that happened to him his senior year that made him transfer colleges and head for the west coast and USC. He wanted to get as far away from the place where the most traumatic events of his life occurred. Even if it meant that he ultimately had to