Three Hearts

by Susan Perkins

  The grey eyes staring at her were steely with disapproval. She didn't know him, so why on earth would he look at her with such obvious dislike? Recognition dawned as she realized she did know him, or at least she'd seen him before. He was the man who'd talked to Brooke at the ice cream van yesterday.

  "Miss Farrell." The middle-aged man rose and held out his hand. "I'm Herbert Case, and this is my client, Mr. Travis Denton." He indicated his companion.

  "Mr. Case, Mr. Denton."

  The younger man took in every detail of her clothing, and made no attempt to hide the look of disbelief cross his face.

  "If you'd like to take a seat, I think it would be better if I came straight to the point, then we can progress from there."

  "As you wish." Darcy felt disadvantaged as she sat across the desk from Mr. Case. The other man still leaned against the cabinets, arms folded across his broad chest, eyes hard and unforgiving, his whole demeanour intimidating.

  "I believe you have an eight-year-old niece named Brooke, whose mother died giving birth to her." The solicitor looked at Darcy over his half-rimmed glasses, waiting for her acknowledgement of these facts.

  Darcy nodded, bewildered by this opening statement. What does this have to do with Brooke?

  "And you are her legal guardian?"

  "Yes. I'm also her only living relative," Darcy replied.

  "I don't think so." Travis Denton spoke for the first time and she blinked in surprise as his broad American accent cut through the room.

  "I beg your pardon, but I believe I know my own family situation better than a total stranger." Darcy prickled defensively, determined not to be intimidated by the man's dislike of her.

  "Now, now." Mr. Case tried to ease the tension in the room. "Perhaps it might be better if I explained my client's circumstances. Mr. Denton's wife left him almost nine years ago telling him she couldn't stay married to him and was returning home to New Zealand. When he had no further communication from her, Mr. Denton assumed she would eventually contact him when she wanted a divorce. She never did, and of course, we know now the reason."

  "Mr. Denton's private history is fascinating." Sarcasm filled every word Darcy. "But I fail to see what it has to do with me."

  "My wife's name..." A smug smile crept across Travis Denton's lips. "...was Kelly Farrell — your sister. Brooke Farrell is my daughter."

  Chapter Two

  Travis had been astounded when Darcy walked through the door. So far, he'd seen her dressed in her working clothes and her leisure wear. The Darcy Farrell who entered Mr. Case's office in a self assured manner was immaculate in a business suit. She looked like a woman totally in control of herself and her surroundings.

  He had to admit he enjoyed the look of shock that crossed her face at his announcement. However, this was quickly followed by righteous indignation. Travis pushed his body away from the cabinets and mentally prepared himself for the battle ahead.

  "I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING so ridiculous!" Darcy couldn't believe she'd heard the words correctly.

  "Believe me, Miss Farrell—" Mr. Case interrupted. "It is not ridiculous. Mr. Denton has the papers to prove he's telling the truth."

  "Well they must be forgeries. In any case, he can't have documents relating to Brooke. I have her birth certificate and it clearly states father unknown." She looked at Travis Denton, daring him to contradict her.

  "Nevertheless, Mr. Case has seen my marriage certificate which proves Kelly was my wife. Brooke is my daughter."

  "If she's your daughter, and I don't admit for one moment she is, where have you been for the last eight years?" Darcy asked defiantly.

  "Until a couple of months ago, I didn't even know I had a daughter. As soon as I found out about her, I made discreet enquiries then contacted Mr. Case's law firm to find out the best way to gain custody."

  "Over my dead body!" Darcy exploded. "You expect me to hand her over to a complete stranger just because you say she's your daughter? I'll fight you every inch of the way before I let you take her from the only home and family she's ever known!"

  "Please, Miss Farrell. Mr. Denton." Herbert Case desperately tried to restore the peace. "Perhaps we can talk this through in a calm and reasonable manner."

  "You can talk about it as much as you like." Darcy jumped from her chair and walked towards the door. "I'm leaving. The whole idea is preposterous. Mr. Case, I'm surprised such a well-known law firm is being taken in by this con artist. There's no way the courts in New Zealand will allow Brooke to be taken from me by this man."

  "Oh, I think they will when they learn how you earn your living." Travis' lips twitched with a derisive smile.

  "How I earn my living?" Darcy hesitated, her hand on the doorknob and a frown on her face. "I don't see why my career as a secretary has got anything to do with this."

  "Secretary? Is that what you call it? I wasn't aware secretaries picked up their clients from passing cars."

  "I'm self-employed and my clients usually contact me by phone." Darcy still didn't have a clue what he was talking about. "Then I either collect the work, or they deliver it to me at home."

  "Oh, come on." Travis looked at her in disbelief. "Do you expect me to believe that? I saw you picking up a client. You were dressed in your working clothes, and what's more disgusting, you had my daughter with you while you plied your trade."

  Into Darcy's mind flashed the scene of Phil picking them up on Friday night and Travis Denton's accusations suddenly made sense to her.

  "You've been spying on us? How dare you! That was you outside the house over the weekend, wasn't it? For your information, you frightened Brooke with your cloak and dagger act. You're also completely wrong about what you think you saw, but I doubt if anything I can say will change your mind, so why don't you carry on thinking your sleazy thoughts? Now if you don't mind, I've had enough of this conversation. In future, I'd be glad if you contact me through my own solicitor, Laura Godwin."

  With a toss of her head, Darcy left the room, amazed that she managed to shut the door quietly behind her.

  TRAVIS STARED AT THE closed door. Have I mistaken her profession? She'd come across as highly indignant regarding his accusations, but she might be a good actress. No, he wasn't wrong. There was no mistaking what he had witnessed on Friday night. He'd also seen men visiting the house on Saturday morning. Naturally, if she was a prostitute, she'd be good at lying.

  Whatever the real truth, it was evident Darcy Farrell cared deeply for Brooke. Travis shook his head. It didn't matter how fond she was of the child. Brooke was his daughter and she belonged with him. The battle might be hard, but he was determined to win custody of the child and take her back to San Diego with him.

  "Where do we go from here, Mr. Case?" He looked at the solicitor.

  "Well, Mr. Denton, I suggest we do as the young lady asks and contact her solicitor. I will supply Ms. Godwin with copies of the documentation you have given me, and then we will ask for a meeting of all parties concerned."

  "And when do I get to meet my daughter?"

  "Patience, Mr. Denton. If you try to rush these matters, it will be seen as not having the child's best interests at heart. That would jeopardize any chance you have of gaining custody of Brooke."

  Travis had to accept this advice, but he left the solicitor's office feeling thoroughly disgruntled with the slowness of the law.

  DARCY HEADED STRAIGHT for Laura Godwin's office in Church Street. The receptionist tried to stop her from seeing Laura, but Darcy insisted and in the end the solicitor granted her fifteen minutes.

  "Now then, Darcy, what's so urgent it can't wait until tomorrow?" Laura frowned as she looked across her cluttered desk.

  "Brooke's father has turned up out of the blue. At least he says he's her father. He's threatening to fight me for custody of her." Tears pricked Darcy's eyes as the words stamped their meaning into her brain.

  "Whoa. Back up a bit. First of all, has he any proof he's Brooke's father? As far as I remember, the birth
certificate states father unknown."

  "It does. This man says he and Kelly were married and he has the documents to prove it."

  Laura looked thoughtful for a few moments. "Being married to the mother doesn't mean he's automatically regarded as the father. Not these days anyway. Did he just turn up on your doorstep?"

  "No, I got a letter from Mr. Case of Chambers and Case. They're acting on his behalf. His name's Travis Denton and he's an American. Laura, what am I going to do?" Darcy's voice rose hysterically. "If he gets custody of Brooke, he'll take her to the States and I'll never see her again!"

  "First of all, you're going to calm down. Panicking will only upset Brooke. She mustn't know what's going on until we sort this out. Did you tell Mr. Case I'm your solicitor?"

  "Yes, I lost my temper and said if they wanted to contact me further, they would have to do so through you."

  "Good. Let me have a word with Herbert Case, then I'll get back to you. In the meantime, I'd suggest you keep a close watch on Brooke."

  Darcy's stomach lurched with fear as Laura's words hit home.

  "You don't think he'd try to snatch her, do you?" Her voice shook as the words forced their way through her suddenly frozen lips.

  "I don't think it's something we need worry about yet. He'll probably try all the legal methods before he considers anything more drastic. I'm merely telling you to be careful until we find out what sort of man this Travis Denton is. You've got the upper hand, you know. Kelly left legal guardianship to you. I drew up the papers, remember?" Laura smiled and stood as Darcy picked up her bag. "The only way he can get around those documents is to prove you're an unfit person to have control of a minor."

  "That's just what he tried to do. I soon sorted him out though." Darcy smiled grimly as she remembered Travis Denton's accusations.

  Laura asked for the details and Darcy filled her in on the American's misunderstanding. Cautioning Darcy once more to be careful, Laura showed her out of the office.

  Darcy returned home to find several clients had left messages on her voice mail and dictation tapes in the letterbox. For a while, she succeeded in losing herself in her work, but the sound of her mother's old hall clock striking the quarter hour brought her back to the present. Looking at her watch, she gasped. Fifteen minutes until Brooke left school.

  Usually her niece walked home with Minnie and a few other friends, but Laura's last words echoed in Darcy's mind and racing out to her car, she sped off towards the school.

  Brooke came through the gates and catching sight of her aunt, immediately showed signs of concern. Leaving her friends, she hurried across the footpath to the car.

  "What's the matter, Darcy? Why have you come to pick me up? You only do that when something's wrong."

  "Don't be so melodramatic, Brooke." Darcy succeeded in keeping her voice calm and slightly amused. "I had to deliver some work to a client. I was passing the school on the way home and as it was almost three o'clock, I thought I'd give you and Minnie a treat and save you the walk home."

  "Oh! Okay. Wait a minute, I'll get Minnie."

  Brooke scampered over to her friends and Darcy waited, glancing casually at the other cars parked outside the school. She froze as she recognised Travis Denton's handsome profile inside a car identical to the one she'd glimpsed outside the house on Saturday. He was spying on them again.

  Brooke and Minnie getting into the back seat distracted her and when she turned back, the American had driven off. Darcy worried about his motives and made up her mind to take Brooke to and from school every day from now on.

  WHEN HER NIECE HAD gone to bed that evening, Darcy went over her meeting in Mr. Case's office. Is Travis Denton really Brooke's father? If he'd married Kelly then why hadn't her sister told Darcy or their mother?

  Kelly had gone to work in America and stayed for a year. She hadn't written or phoned much while she was there, but Darcy and her mother hadn't worried. It was typical of Kelly. If life was lively and interesting, she forgot about keeping in touch with her family in New Zealand.

  Then one day, she was back. No warning. No phone call from Christchurch Airport. She appeared on the doorstep of their Timaru home, acting as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Over the first few days, she seemed withdrawn, but they put that down to jet lag. By the end of the week, Kelly was out partying with her friends, apparently without a care in the world.

  Darcy realized her sister was showing a brave face to the world when she found the older girl crying into her pillow. Luckily their mother was out that evening, and the two of them had a heart-to-heart talk, just as they'd done when they were children.

  Kelly confessed her pregnancy, and Darcy insisted they tell their mother. No husband had been mentioned and both Darcy and Mrs. Farrell assumed Kelly had allowed America to turn her head, the baby being an unfortunate result of the fast living.

  Nobody but Kelly had foreseen any complications with the birth, and when she'd insisted Laura Godwin prepare guardianship papers a few days before the baby was due, everyone told her she was being overly concerned about a perfectly natural procedure. To keep her happy they went along with her wishes, but as the birth drew near Kelly seemed to give up.

  Mrs. Farrell stayed with her daughter during the birth but called Darcy in when it became apparent the older girl was not going to survive. Kelly made Darcy and her mother promise they would care for the baby girl as if she was their own daughter, then with her last gasp she named the baby Brooke. Darcy was convinced her sister had been about to add another name, but time had run out for Kelly. They registered the baby as Brooke Kelly Farrell, father unknown.

  Now the 'father unknown' had turned up to claim his daughter. At least he said he was Brooke's father. And if he wasn't — why would he try to get custody of her?

  Darcy wondered whether a man as gorgeous as Travis Denton was also devious. Surely no man would want to saddle himself with an eight-year-old child if she wasn't his?

  ON TUESDAY MORNING, there was no sign of Travis outside the house when Darcy took Brooke to school. However, when she stopped for a coffee about eleven o'clock, she glanced out of the living room window and saw his car across the road. She decided not to let him know his constant surveillance bothered her, and returned to her work. When she took a break for lunch at one, the car had gone.

  Darcy bit into her cheese and tomato sandwich and wondered how long it would be before she knew the truth about him. As Laura said, he might have been married to Kelly, but that didn't prove he was Brooke's father.

  "Who am I kidding?" she berated herself. "Kelly wasn't the type to cheat on her husband. Her inbuilt honesty would stop her."

  But if that was so, why didn't Kelly tell us about the marriage? What can I do if Travis proves he's Brooke's father? If he gains custody, he'll take her to America. I can't give Brooke up. I just can't.

  OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, Darcy caught sight of Travis several times. Every day when she collected Brooke from school, he was there. His car often sat outside her house when Brooke was at school. At other times, he watched from a distance as she and her niece went shopping, or when the two of them were in the front garden. Everywhere Darcy went, the first thing she looked for was Travis Denton.

  Eventually her temper snapped and on Friday, while Brooke played with Minnie in the back garden, Darcy stormed across the road to confront him. Travis started the engine, but Darcy was too quick for him. She jumped in front of the car and placed both palms on top of the bonnet to stop him from driving off. With a shrug he turned off the engine and unfolded himself from the driver's seat.

  Darcy's gaze travelled up his six foot frame until she reached his face. The thought crossed her mind again that he was a handsome devil. Pity they hadn't met under different circumstances. She could see the attraction her sister would have felt. His looks were exactly the type Kelly used to daydream about.

  Pull yourself together, girl! You came out here to tell him what you think of him.

  "Can I
help you, Miss Farrell?"

  His eyes remained hard as granite and this helped Darcy maintain her anger.

  "Yes, you can, Mr. Denton. Just what the hell do you think you're doing following us around? If you don't stop, I shall report you to the police and have you arrested for harassment." Her anger spent, she stood, hands on hips, her breath coming in short gasps.

  "I apologize if I've disturbed you, but surely you realize I want to see my daughter, even if I can't meet her yet." Travis' eyes softened and Darcy almost believed he meant what he said, until she wondered if this was his sneaky way of trying to get around her.

  "Well, Mr. Denton, you'll have to wait until the law says you can meet Brooke. That's if they believe your ridiculous story. Now please stay away from us until we hear from our respective lawyers." Darcy turned to cross the road, but stopped when Travis put his hand on her arm. Her breath caught in her throat as a tingling sensation rippled through her body, and she found it hard to listen to his words over the loud beating of her heart. Her face flooded with colour when she realized her headlong dash across the road had loosened the top two buttons of her shirt.

  "I really am sorry. I got caught up in my own wants and needs, and I didn't think of how this would affect Brooke."

  "Well now that you have thought of it, perhaps you'd stop bothering us."

  Darcy shrugged off his hand. Turning on her heel, she stormed back to the house and it was only after she'd closed the front door behind her that she realized her legs trembled. She desperately needed to sit down before she fell down. Stumbling to a chair, she was vaguely aware of the sound of Travis starting the car and driving off.

  Several minutes passed before she regained her composure, and she wondered why the man had such a strong affect on her. The best way to deal with the arrogant American would be with calmness and politeness, but unfortunately Travis Denton seemed to bring out the worst in her.