A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis - Robyn Peterman Page 0,3

save you,” Tim said. “Speak now, or I shall.”

I was ready to puke. I didn’t understand what the heck the holdup was.

“Give me his name,” I said. “Tell me where he is. I won’t let him know how I found out. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Oh, the irony,” Tim said with a chuckle as the Archangel’s body tensed in fury.

“Shut up!” Clarence roared at Tim then turned his angry gaze on me. “I’m your father.”

The next few moments defined the term deafening silence.

The looks exchanged between the Immortals were ones of shock and confusion. Gideon was ready to strangle the Angel.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I shouted, standing up and not caring that Gram heard me drop an F-bomb. “Are we in a Star Wars movie? Is this some kind of sick joke?”

Clarence closed his eyes and shook his head. “It’s not a joke. I am your father.”

I heard a thud and turned to see that Gram had passed out. I had no clue until now that a ghost could do that.

“Help her,” I directed Candy, who hopped to her feet then sat down on the floor next to Gram. “I’m processing a whole lot of shit right now. The words disgusted and horrified come to mind, as well as hatred and revulsion. You have known me my entire life. My entire fucking life.”

“I have,” he said, staring at me. “It was for your own good.”

“My own good?” I snarled. “That’s certainly big of you, John Travolta. Thanks for that, you no-good son of a bitch.”

“There is much you don’t know,” he said.

“Enlighten me,” I replied.

The man who claimed to be my father said nothing.

“I’m talking to you,” I snapped.

“And I hear you,” he replied.

“Then answer me.”

Again, he was silent.

I wanted to hit him. I wanted to destroy him. Why hadn’t he wanted me? What was so wrong with me that he’d been around me my whole life and never acknowledged me?

My mother had preferred death to me, and my father hadn’t wanted me. It was entirely too much to take in.

So, I didn’t. I shut that part down. I’d turned out fine without a mother or a father. I’d had Gram, who had loved me enough for a hundred mothers and fathers. I didn’t need a father. I didn’t want one.

“Your explanation doesn’t matter,” I said flatly. He wasn’t even worthy of my hatred. “You mean nothing to me. All I want from you is to touch me when I go into Steve’s mind and share his death memories with the others.”

“He is bound by honor and blood to obey your request,” Charlie said, still shocked by the revelation.

“Correct,” Heather said, coming to my side and placing her hand on my shoulder. “As the Arbitrator, I consent to the request of the daughter of the Archangel Michael. He is bound by the principles of virtue and goodness to aid in the case against the Angel of Mercy.”

“His noncompliance shall result in punishment.” Gideon stared daggers at Clarence. “By me.”

“And me,” Karma added, sounding delighted by the prospect.

“Your reply?” Charlie demanded of Clarence.

“As you wish,” Clarence said with his gaze pinned on me.

I nodded jerkily at him and held on to my composure only by a thread.

“When shall we begin?” Tim asked, joining Heather at my side.

“Now,” Gideon said. “I don’t trust him to keep his word.”

“My word is good,” Clarence growled.

“Then what’s the problem?” Gideon shot back.

“There is no problem,” he said, sounding old and tired.

“Where is Steve?” Charlie asked.

“Upstairs,” I whispered, light-headed and terrified.

Without another word, everyone stood and made their way to the stairs. My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. This is what I had been fighting for and now that it was here, I was almost paralyzed.

Gideon and I were the last to leave the kitchen.

“Remember two things, Daisy,” Gideon said as his eyes still blazed red. “One, I love you.”

“And two?” I asked.

“The barrier between worlds may be thin, but not all that lies behind it is savage. We will win. Are you ready?” Gideon whispered.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I am.”

Taking his hand in mine, I slowly led him out of the kitchen and into the violent storm that awaited us.

Chapter Two

My mind raced. My thoughts were chaotic. Finding out that the man who I had secretly pretended was my father actually was my father was mind-blowing—and not in a good way. The sorry truth that he didn’t want me was devastating. My childhood dreams had