Logan

164. I Know The Truth

*Craig's POV*

My phone rings and I'm tempted to let it go to voicemail, until I see the contact.

Natalie.

Natalie who never calls me, even if she needs something.

I shoot up out of bed and answer. "Hello? Dear what's wrong? Everything's okay?"

I wait for a response but the only thing I can hear is the sound of breathing, and I should be more annoyed but it's two in the morning.

"Hello?" I say a bit more sternly, "Out with it, I don't have all night."

I hear her sniffle, "I know the truth now."

Jesus. What is she talking about? I impatiently sigh, waiting for her to explain.

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about, Natalie."

"I know." She says more firmly, I know you're not," she sniffles again, "you're not my dad."

There's no way she could've found out, Betty and I had planned on telling her at her birthday party. At least, I had been planning on it. Betty scoffed at the idea and accused me of only caring about the children's inheritance. I remember that day I looked at the punnet squares of Natalie and Alex's blood experiments in Biology and saw they didn't add up. I still didn't know who the father might be, but I had my suspects from living in Newton for fifteen years. The local librarian, town sheriff, I'd seen the way they looked at Betty. Whoever he was, I didn't know him. But I'm sure Natalie would tell me.

"And how did you reach this conclusion?" I asked, at least if she knew maybe she would tell me, let me in.

"You don't have to host my party anymore," she said, "you're free."

I don't have time for this. "Natalie, I'm sorry you're upset. But this discovery changes nothing, the party will still be the same as scheduled. Now, I have an important meeting to be awake for this morning, forgive me if I don't entertain this silly conversation about genetics and truth. If you feel so inclined, I will be available between 12 and three pm, you may call or text."

"Did you leave because I wasn't yours?" She asks.

My poor soft-hearted... daughter... still knows how to pierce an emotional dagger through my heart after all this time.

"My relationship with your mother had run it's course, don't be ridiculous." I cleared my throat, "Listen, get some sleep, okay? You sound stressed, I'll venmo you for breakfast. Be sure to drink some orange juice, lots of vitamins. I must go, my dearest. I love you."

At least I hoped I calmed her spirits a little, and I heard the sound of her breathing in the background, "Okay, I...love you too. Goodnight."

The call ended and I sighed, and silently chided myself. What happened to turning over a new leaf?

Might as well get this over with.

I called Betty, I don't care what time it is, if I'm awake she's gotta be awake.

"Do you realize what time it is?" She snaps.

"Elizabeth, our daughter has finally realized your infidelity."

"Don't call me Elizabeth, Craig."

"Natalie, our daughter? Remember her? I don't know how, or when, but she has discovered the truth of her paternity, she sounded quite distressed. She said she knew the truth and that I didn't have to host her party anymore. I told her that it would still be happening regardless of whatever she was talking about." I turn off the light and tuck myself back into bed. "She knows, Elizabeth, she knows I'm not her biological father."

I hear her sigh, "How do you know she's not out drunk somewhere at 2am? Alex told me she's been out a lot since her friend died."

"Are you still going to hold his identity hostage after all these years, Elizabeth. We were married for 15 years, and you're still going to keep his identity secret?"

"Her party is still on, she can tell you then if she wants to." I hear her say, "What did you even say to her?"

"Nothing really, all she asked was if our divorce was because of her."

"Wasn't it?" She laughs.

"You are far too harsh on her, Elizabeth. I told her that our relationship as wife and husband had run it's course. Which it had, when I found out about our child's biology through a simple academic tradition." I hear her sigh in the background. "Really, I don't have time for this with you. Natalie had nothing to do with our relationship ending, it was this-the fucking mind games and the manipulation." I push the end call button and before I throw my phone back on the nightstand I send Natalie $20, such a small amount for a breakfast I wished she'd have. Plenty of protein and vitamins for a good start to the day, but now that I knew what I knew, to hell with it.

I smiled thinking of the way she would get excited about a cinnamon roll, her eyes wide looking through the display cases. Before I took that smile away pushing something bland instead of something she loved.

I hoped she would be okay, sleep was not easy to find after that call. Just a few more weeks, I would see her, give her birthday gifts and money, make sure she was okay. Maybe...Maybe I'd find out who HE was, her father.