“Mia is the result of an affair that my father had,” Neil says. He frowns openly at the pile of letters on his desk. The disgust in his voice is obvious. “My father cast her aside like she meant nothing. My brothers and I took her in to shield her from him.”
“And the mother?” I ask.
He shrugs, then sighs again, deeply. “She disappeared. Maybe out of fear from my father, maybe something else. I don’t know. We offered her a place here. She left the baby and ran. Father never gave her much thought. I’m not sure he believes Mia is his. Maybe he doesn’t care either way.”
I wouldn’t doubt the connection. Mia does look a lot like a Hayes. I imagine the likeness will only grow more apparent as she gets older.
“My brothers and I weren’t sure to do with Mia at first. We aren’t exactly… paternal.
