"Right." His mouth curled into a sneer. "Her house. Her life. I hate her, Brynn. I hate her for what she did."

"Did she tell you why she left you?" I asked.

"She didn't just leave me, she left you," he reminded me. "She left her precious girls. After everything I did to make us a family. She betrayed me."

My gut twisted into a painful knot. "Did she tell you why?"

"Why she left her daughters with a man who wasn't even their father?" he asked. "No, she didn't tell me why. I'm so tired," he said, his eyes closing.

"Dad, wake up," I said, my heart jumping. "What do you mean? Mom left us with you. You're our father."

I shook him by the shoulder, but his eyes remained closed, and a snore escaped his parted lips. My blood was racing once more. I looked over at Kade. "Did you hear what he said?"

"I'm not sure," Kade said carefully.

"He said my mom left me and Dani with a man who wasn't even our father. But he is our dad." I pressed my hands to my suddenly throbbing head. "I had to have heard him wrong. He's drunk. He's confused. He's always been my father. Wake up," I shouted.

"He's out, Brynn," Kade said quietly. "You're not going to get anything out of him tonight." He held out his hand to me, and after a small hesitation, I took it. He pulled me into his arms, and I wrapped my arms around his waist. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart.

"It's going to be okay," Kade said. "You'll get your answers in the morning."

"I don't think it's going to be okay." Lifting my head, I looked into his eyes. "For the first time since I got here, I don't want the answers. I thought I knew everything about my life, but I knew nothing. If he's not really my dad…"

"He might not have meant it the way it sounded. You'll know more tomorrow."

"That's what I'm afraid of," I whispered.

He shook his head as he gazed at me. "I wish I could say it was going to be all right."

"I wish you could, too. But you can't. It's too much, Kade."

"You need to go to bed, Brynn."

"I won't be able to sleep now."

"Then take the violin with you."

I stared back at him, thinking I'd rather take him with me. But he was already letting go of me, adding a chill to my fevered body. He looked at me, then shook his head, his jaw tight. "Go to bed, Brynn. I'll keep an eye on your dad."