They were traveling in first class when they met, only because anything else, other than a private jet, was beneath her. He had dark, penetrating eyes. Eyes that stripped her bare, undressing her to her very soul, seeing her in a way she never felt anyone had seen her before. They shared a glass of wine; they shared dreams and fantasies. Five hours later, they shared a bed. Both were married, so they kept their affair discreet. It was a casual thing. But to Justine, he was like a drug. Consuelo was like the piece of candy or the cookie you were forbidden to eat when you were a child—the one you would sneak and hide away before slowly savoring it. Sleeping with Uri was still good, but there were things you just couldn’t do with your husband.
So, they saw each other when they could, mostly meeting in countries other than their own, to ensure utmost discretion. Like her, his spouse was the one with all the money. They both had prenups with lots of conditions and deadlines, the first of hers looming by their tenth anniversary—a child. She had just had her Implanon removed the day after she had arrived in Austin, knowing that she had to be pregnant by the end of the year. Her arm was still sore. But now, she had a dilemma; maybe she wouldn’t have to be pregnant again.
Timing was everything, and she was quickly running out of it. Once she’d met Sydney, she knew. She was certain Uri was the father. That’s why she had paid extra to have her personal attorney attend to the legal matters at an expedited rate. Within hours of his arrival home, Bill had been served and notified of the blood test requirement. Of course, the paperwork had to be manipulated only slightly, since Uri was technically not American. Not to mention he knew nothing about it. If luck were on her side, she’d have his daughter, at least legally, before the deadline. Justine had already laid the preliminary groundwork. And if Uri believed the story she was weaving—and he always believed her stories—then she knew he’d fight like a badger for his daughter. And he had the money and the inclination to do so. Bill wouldn’t have a chance.
Justine was a noise person. She didn’t watch television; she usually just liked having it on so that she didn’t feel so alone when she was alone. Only it wasn’t Justine who turned it on today. Consuelo, Connie to his closest friends, and to her, was already up making Justine his famous nutritious breakfast smoothie. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bagel from a bag on the counter. Justine cut her eyes at him. Connie talked healthily but indulged in crap. Justine had asked him not to bring junk food into any of the places where they stayed. She had a hard time resisting it herself, so it irritated her when he ignored her wishes.
When she heard Bill’s name, she turned suddenly, walked back into the room, and hit rewind on the cable remote. She dropped into the comfortable chair in shock, and when the report was over, a small smile crept onto her lips. Justine couldn’t have been more pleased. She picked up the phone and called her private investigator, who had been following Bill since she arrived in Austin. Why hadn’t he called her with the news about which she had inquired? Justine ignored his lame excuse until he explained that he was at the courthouse, where he had been digging up information as to why Bill and his mistress were there. She instructed him to continue digging and then she dialed her attorney. She crossed her long, tanned legs and that Cheshire Cat grin appeared, pasted across her smug face. “I couldn’t have scripted this better myself.”
Chapter 51
Bill was out on bail by dinner. Because it was a public hearing there had been plenty of witnesses, and there had been plenty of press because of Winston’s family name. So, like it or not, he made the news. Sydney wasn’t allowed to watch the news, but her friends’ parents did. Within five minutes of the report, there were four phone calls in a row on her cell phone, asking her if her dad was okay. Bill had to break down and tell her what he’d done. She took it well. In fact, she told him she was proud of him for standing up for Destiny. That was little consolation for the attorney’s fees he was about to incur, not to mention his bond, the publicity, and a civil suit that Winston would probably file at some point.
During dinner Destiny was quiet, pensive. The press had already been calling the house. She was concerned about Bill, about Sydney, and about his business. For the first time since taking on her new job, she let all the calls to the Kemper House go straight to voice mail so that she could screen them. Later, when she heard one of the female guests discussing Bill’s arrest with her husband, Destiny could stand the innuendo no more. Discreetly, she took the woman aside and explained what had happened and why they were court in the first place. There was no more gossip from that point on.
Andy and Lisa both showed up at almost the same time, talking over each other until Destiny assured them that Bill’s and her attorney were taking care of everything. Destiny pulled her brother aside, told him about the blood tests the following morning and then asked Andy if he knew anyone at the testing facility. He did and promised that the lab had a top notch reputation. If anyone could get the information before the attorneys did, he would, but he told her not to hold her breath. Not only was it confidential information, but it was a crime to attempt even to get it. He kissed her and made her promise to have dinner with him on Christmas, as they’d done since her family’s death. She promised she would, but they’d talk about the time later.
Lisa wasn’t as easily appeased. When dinner was over, and the guests were all checked in, Bill took Sydney aside to talk to her about the blood tests the following morning, while Destiny filled her friend in on the past week. She told her about Justine’s pop-in visit, Bill’s meltdown with the phone, and finished up with the blow-by-blow details from the courtroom.
“Wow!”
“Which part?” Destiny asked, cryptically.
“All of it!” Lisa exclaimed. “And you stayed here because you thought it would make your life less complicated?”
“Uh, if you remember correctly, you brought me here. And then you abandoned me.”
“You have a car, and you could have left anytime you wanted to.”
Destiny looked down at her hands, then replied meekly. “I stayed here to help Bill.”
“Uh-huh. Is there something I’m missing here? Something you’re leaving out,” her friend asked coyly.
Destiny averted her eyes.
Lisa looked at her questioningly, then sighed. “Okay, I’m guessing there’s a lot you’re leaving out.”
“There’s a lot I’m leaving out.” Destiny finally faced her. She held up her hand to prevent Lisa from grilling her further. “But I’m asking you to give me some space… for now. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.”
“A little?”
“Okay, a lot overwhelmed.”
Lisa pouted but hugged Destiny anyway. “He never gives you more than you can handle.”
Destiny looked down sadly, wringing her hands in her lap, a tear sliding down her cheek. “Really? With everything I just told you and everything that’s happened, you can still say that?”
“Honey, you’re still missing the big picture.”
Destiny wiped her tear. “I wish I knew what the big picture was. I wish I knew what I was supposed to do.”
“Dee, Honey, you have all these people giving you advice. But, you’re asking the wrong people. You need to ask the one with the answers.”
Destiny looked up at her.
“There’s only one reason you’re still standing,” she raised her eyebrows, pointing upward. “It’s called prayer.”
“I stopped praying a long time ago.”
“Who said I was talking about you?” Lisa smiled sweetly. She took her friend’s hand and leaned forward. “Do you trust me?”
Destiny looked at her, tears in her eyes. After a moment, she nodded slightly and leaned toward her friend.
“Trust Him,” she whispered.
Destiny shook her head and shrugged. She glanced toward the library where Bill was talking with Sydney. He sat beside his precious daughter, his arm wrapped around her. She looked a little sad. But she nodded and hugged her
dad, wrapping herself around his neck. Bill held his daughter tight and closed his eyes. Destiny watched them together and smiled sadly.
For the first time in a long time, she thought of Phillip and Rhett. She could see them together, Phillip holding his son. Her son. Tears filled her eyes. She had spent so many days… so many nights, trying to forget because it was too painful to remember. It had been so long since she had been able to picture them. Putting them out of her mind had been easier, but they were never really out of her mind, or out of her heart. Oh, how her heart ached for Phillip’s wisdom. Oh, how her arms ached to hold her son, just one more time.
Suddenly, she looked back up at Bill and Sydney. They weren’t her family. But she wanted them to be. Bill looked despondent. Gradually his eyes lifted and met hers. Her heart beat faster in her chest. Those eyes spoke to her, calling to her, somehow breaking through the impenetrable barrier of the circumstances under which they met and the distance between them that now was just a matter of yards. Bill smiled and for a brief moment, she felt like she was home.
Chapter 52
Bill hadn’t been himself since the arrest. There’s something about being fingerprinted and put into a jail cell that simply humbles a person. His attorney assured him he would work through the details and that he’d try to bargain for community service as a plea deal. Bill would more than likely have to pay a fine as well. No one discussed a civil suit, but they were sure that would come. Not to mention that looming heavily on his mind were the paternity test results. And on top of everything, there was still the press hovering and hounding him. And this was just the first day! When he felt the pressure getting to him, he finally called Charlie, not just for advice, but for help. He had three requests of his uncle.
Uncle Charlie was an ex-United States Marshall and worked specifically with WITSEC, or the Witness Protection Program. He had plenty of connections; deep connections, deeper connections than Winston had deep pockets. Within an hour, there were armed off duty plain clothes police officers watching the bed and breakfast on a twenty-four-hour rotation, compliments of Charlie—who was calling in lots of favors. The second request Charlie had taken care of before Bill even asked. After Bill’s visit to the farm, Charlie had hired several private investigators to check Justine out. Extensively.
Bill’s third request was the first thing he had asked when they had talked previously at the farm. Bill was seriously concerned that the paternity tests might not come back in his favor. If that were the case, he wanted to disappear. He and Sydney and Destiny. Charlie reluctantly promised to help if needed, though he reiterated that he thought that was a bad idea. Bill gave him the address of a place in Canada where he wanted to go. Charlie explained to him that it usually didn’t work that way.
Then Bill made one last phone call. He called his attorney and told him to set up a meeting with Justine. Dale spent the better part of an hour laying out an incredible defense and trying to talk his client out of such a meeting. In the end, Bill simply told him to do it. He didn’t tell Destiny; she would only try to talk him out of it as well. He thought it best not to tell Charlie, either. Bill needed to do this on his own. Although he didn’t care if he ever saw her again, she was Sydney’s mother, and he felt they needed to talk face to face.
After he’d made all his phone calls and the guests were all in their rooms, he tucked Sydney into bed and peeked out the front door. It was close to midnight, and the streets were mostly clear. There were only a few late night strollers wandering through the decorated streets. He put on his jacket and stepped onto the porch, blowing his breath into the air in front of him. He shoved his hands into his pockets for warmth. It had taken so many years and so much work to make the Kemper House what it was. But in the end, it was only a house. What he’d made it was a home. But that would be wherever he and his family were, and that could be anywhere.
The door opened behind him, and he stepped out of the way. Destiny smiled as she walked over to him. “Wanted a little privacy, eh?” she asked, pulling on her gloves.
He smiled and reached for her hand, pulling her to his side. “Nah,” he replied. Bill clapped his hands together and rubbed, and blew on them, cupping them against his mouth. “I haven’t really had a chance to enjoy all this,” he said, waving his hand. He turned to her. “Want to take a walk?”
Destiny grinned. “Sure.” She wrapped her scarf around her face and took his hand as they walked down the stairs together. The Kemper House and its properties cornered the street, so they walked across the street and took a left. “I’ve never been down this street when it’s been all lit up,” she commented, her voice muffled by her scarf as she looked around.
“Yeah, we started all this,” he said, with pride. “We went all out decorating the first year we opened. And slowly everyone else on the block followed suit. Then the next street, then the next. A lot of older houses on these three streets were bought, then converted to businesses. So when traffic started backing up and there were some major traffic jams, not to mention heavy foot traffic, the city decided it was time to close things off and now…” Bill held his hands out wide.
“You should be proud of everything you’ve done here.”
“I am,” he replied a little sadly. “But I didn’t do it by myself. The community, the business owners, and homeowners all came together. We all did it together.” Bill sighed. “I just hate to think that after everything, I could have ruined all this, that I could have hurt what we’ve built here.”
Destiny slid her arm through his. “Oh, I don’t think that could ever happen, Bill.”
He looked down, at her arm, then up to her. “Relaxing the boundaries?” He could see the smile in her eyes.
“It’s cold. I call exception for cold weather.”
“Ah,” he smiled back. “Why not?” he added looking back down at his feet, shuffling as he walked. They arrived at the end of the street and crossed it before taking a left and walking back toward the house. They walked in silence for the rest of the trip, making the block back to the wrought iron gate at the front of the walkway. Bill turned to her and took her hands. He looked into her eyes and opened his mouth as if to say something, but then changed his mind; drawing in a deep breath. Destiny smiled as he turned and offered his arm to her. They walked back up the stairs and sat on the top step.
After a few moments of silence, he stared straight ahead. “I’m sorry about today,” he said. “I hope I didn’t make things worse, but I’m so afraid I did.”
“Bill…” she began.
“No, please, let me finish.” He rubbed his hands together again and blew into them to defrost them. “I will make everything right. By you and by Sydney.” He opened his arms wide and added, “By all these fine folks,” he said aloud to the quiet neighborhood. Sincerely, he turned to her. “I promise.” He nudged her.
Destiny smiled behind her scarf. After a moment, she nudged him back.
“Had enough?” he asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Destiny laughed. “Yup. Freezing.”
They jumped up and walked hurriedly to the door. Once inside, they hung their jackets on the antique oversized coat rack. Bill took her hand. “Walk you home?”
Destiny smiled, motioning with her head for him to follow. They walked up the stairs quietly, occasionally glancing at each other. When they arrived at her door, they stood facing each other. “This is me.”
Bill glanced inside. “Nice room. Looks more like a broom closet.”
“Yeah,” she replied with a sigh. “Came with the job. What can I say, it was this or the pool house.”
“Pool house, huh?” he wrinkled his lips. “Man, your employer sounds cheap.”
Destiny tilted her head. “No, actually, he’s a pretty cool guy.”
“Cool?” he chuckled. “I don’t think anyone has referred to me as cool since high school. Especially not my eight-year-old daughter.”
“Nine-year-old,” she corrected him.
“That’s
right,” he smiled, his finger to his chin. “I do think I remember something about a birthday party. I think I saw you there. Your hair was a different color.”
Destiny smiled.
“I love it when you smile,” he said, stepping toward her.
“Really?” she grinned. “What else do you like about me?”
Bill took another step toward her. “I love the way you make me feel when I’m around you.”
“And?”
Bill took one last step to her, leaning toward her as he took a deep breath. “I love the way you smell.” His hand moved to her hair, and he brushed it with his fingers. After toying with her hair, they moved to her cheeks. “I love the way you feel.” He took her face carefully into his hands, leaned in, and kissed her. “And I definitely love the way you taste.” He kissed her once more.
Destiny closed her eyes and felt herself melt into his arms again as they wrapped around her. When they parted, she held up her finger. “I think I should go,” she gasped, pointing inside.
Bill drew in a deep breath. “Good idea.” He exhaled. “I don’t think I could handle another night like last night.”
Destiny stepped inside her door. “Thank you for walking me to my room.”
“Not a problem. Didn’t want anything to happen to you.” He looked around and lowered his voice. “You never know who might be lurking around the corners.”
Destiny dropped her head, cutting her eyes at him. “Good night.”
“Good night.” He tapped on the door knob. “Don’t forget.” Destiny closed the door, slowly separating them once more. He reached down and wriggled the door knob. It was locked. He grinned to himself, as he spoke to the door, “Just testing.”
Chapter 53
The following morning, they prepared breakfast as usual for their guests. And yet everyone seemed to be distracted, their smiles forced. Bill and Sydney were supposed to report to the lab by noon. As the time neared, Bill didn’t know if he could follow through. He’d awoken that morning determined to fight the court order, but a last minute call to Dale was sobering. They talked through his options, and together they agreed his choices were limited. Then Bill reminded him he wanted to see Justine. Her attorney hadn’t returned Dale’s call, but Dale promised to call Bill as soon as he did. Bill stressed that he wanted to see her before the paternity test results were released; his attorney stressed once more that he still didn’t think it was a good idea.
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