Free Faith by Michelle Larks Page A

of coffee and made no effort to clean up the mess. Wade sprung up out of his seat and took napkins off his desk and handed them to Marcus, who ignored him. Wade sopped up the spilled liquid and waited for Marcus to get off the telephone. Marcus hung up the telephone, stroked his beard, and looked at Wade with an astounded expression on his face.
    Wade raised his eyebrows inquiringly, and asked, “What’s up, man? What was that about?”
    â€œI never would’ve believed that call if I hadn’t heard it with my own ears,” Marcus replied, staring at Wade with amazed filled eyes.
    â€œBelieved what? What are you talking about?” Wade asked impatiently.
    â€œI talked to a man on the phone who said he was Monet’s father. He wants to meet her and the twins.” Marcus shook his head in disbelief.
    â€œI thought Monet’s father was dead?” Wade cocked his head to the side and peered at Marcus.
    â€œThe truth is Monet’s old man deserted his family when she was a kid. He just up and left Birmingham, and hasn’t been heard from since,” Marcus said.
    â€œThat’s remarkable,” Wade muttered, shaking his head. “What are you going to do? Do you think Monet wants to meet him? What about your brothers-in-law? What will their reaction be?”
    â€œI really don’t know. Monet has expressed sadness over the years from not knowing her father. But she never tried to actively seek him. I don’t remember Derek or Duane saying anything one way or the other.” Marcus shrugged his shoulders, and then held up damp pieces of paper and waved them in the air.
    â€œSo, what are you going to do? How did you respond to his request? What’s his name?” Wade asked. His arm was propped on the desk, and his face rested on his hand.
    â€œHis name is Aron Reynolds. I told him I’d think about what he wanted and call him back in a few days,” Marcus replied.
    â€œHow did he track you down?” Wade went into investigation mode, drilling his partner.
    â€œHe said he saw one of the newspaper articles about Monet’s attack.” Marcus frowned. “He also said that Monet’s mother gave him our information.” He set the papers back on his desk, wiped his hands on a napkin, and leaned back in his chair.
    â€œI wonder what he’s been doing all of these years,” Wade mused, shaking his head.
    â€œThe call came from a prison in Illinois, and I plan on finding out what he’s in for before I say anything to Monet or the twins.”
    â€œI don’t know that you’re approaching this correctly. I think you should at least tell Monet’s brothers. I can understand your wanting to protect Monet in the long run,” Wade advised.
    â€œI hear what you’re saying, but I still want to check Aron out myself, and then I’ll take things from there, depending on what I find out. I think they’ll trust my intuition on this. I won’t let too much time elapse before I tell them,” Marcus promised. “Too bad you and Liz can’t go with us on the cruise. I know the girls would enjoy the trip together,” he said, changing the subject.
    â€œI hear you, but all the kids will be home this year, and this is Samera’s first Christmas.” Wade picked up a picture of his nine-month-old granddaughter from his desk and grinned like the proud grandfather he was. “She’s our first grandbaby, and Liz is driving me crazy. She’s been shopping like there’s no tomorrow. I keep reminding her that Samera is a baby and won’t remember a thing about the holiday.”
    â€œI imagine if Nay-Nay and I were in the same position, she would be doing the same thing.” Marcus felt a twinge of longing for the children they would never have.
    â€œI didn’t mean anything by bringing up Samera.” Wade looked away as if he’d committed a fauxpas.
    â€œHey, dude, it ain’t